Our History

Wabash Telephone Cooperative was incorporated April 23, 1952 and provides telephone service to nine exchanges located in the counties of Clay, Edwards, Effingham, Jasper, Marion, Richland, Wabash, and Wayne in south-central Illinois.

Through the acquisition of the Daniels Telephone Company, Bible Grove Mutual Telephone Company, Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, Mt. Erie Mutual Telephone Company, Peoples Independent Telephone Company of Southern Illinois, Browns Independent Telephone Association, and the Bone Gap Independent Telephone Exchange. Wabash Telephone Cooperative now services approximately 4,000 customers.

In February 1957, three exchanges were converted to a modern dial system. By 1963, construction was completed and the remaining six exchanges were converted to dial. The old magneto system became a thing of the past. By 1979, all members-customers were receiving one-party service. ANI conversions were made in 1973 through 1975 and three exchanges' central dial offices were converted to electronic switching in 1979 and 1983. The digital conversion began in 1983 with installation of the Stromber-Carlson DCO in Louisville. During the next seven years each of the other exchanges were converted to digital switching, connected via fiber optic cable. Equal Access conversion followed in 1991. Dial-up Internet Access followed in the 1990's with Digital Subscriber Line service being made available in 2000. Video deployment was first introduced in 2003, with additional improvements being implemented to date.

A board of nine directors representing the exchanges served by the cooperative governs the cooperative. The members of the cooperative at an annual meeting held each year elect these directors to three-year terms. The current directors are Rodney Byars, President; Duane Poehler, Vice President; Dwight Edgington, Secretary-Treasurer; Robert Jones, Larry Washburn, Richard Bennett, Donnie Barnard, Jack Enlow, and Steve McKnelly. Managers of the Cooperative have included, Vaughn Brown, Don Grove, Gene Chiodo, Steve Barlett, David Grahn, and Jeff Williams. There are currently twenty-nine full-time and three co-op student employees.

Wabash Telephone also operates two wholly owned subsidiary, Independent Telcom Associates, Inc. (ITA) and Wabash Independent Networks, Inc. (WIN). ITA installs and maintains telephone business systems and provides engineering-consulting services, with offices located in Flora, IL and Effingham, IL. Cellular Agency service is also provided through Independent Telecom Associates. There are seven full-time employees in the subsidiary. WIN provides Long Distance Service, Internet Service, and Video Service via its office located in Flora, IL. There are currently ten full-time employees in this subsidiary.

Because of funding available through the Rural Electrification Administration, Wabash Telephone Cooperative has been able to keep up with industry changes and maintain high quality service for its members. Through the continued efforts of our board of directors, managers, and employees, we strive to bring our customers the highest quality of service available.

	The 1st Board of Directors: Front-L-R: Oval Eytchison, Ernest Hawn, Farrell Tolliver, Chloren Krutsinger Back-L-R: Roy Watson, Lyman Goff, Jim Liston, Charlie Atteberry
Right: Hazel Hilliard receives the first telephone in the Geff exchange from Fred Fatherlee. Standing to the left is Warren Baker.
	Left: Glen Hilliard, president of the old Geff exchange, is shown here in his office going over records with Fred Fatherlee.
Right: Vaugn Brown, Manager, Left, and Chloren Krutsinger, Pres., watch Ernest Hawn, Sec. throw the switch giving complete new dial system to Enterprise, Cisne, Johnsonville, and Rinard area.