About Chibardun Telephone Cooperative/CTC Telcom
Communicating Solutions. It's What We Do.

History:
"Chibardun", how do you pronounce it?" (Sh-bar-dun).  Where did we come up with that, you ask? The name is derived from the first three letters of the original three counties in Wisconsin that we provided service in; Chippewa, Barron, and Dunn.

The formation of Chibardun Telephone Cooperative in 1957 was the result of a group of telephone patrons who recognized that the existing single exchange farmer's telephone companies of the area were no longer able to meet the growing needs of subscribers. This group of patrons worked to create an entity that could.

The newly formed Cooperative's first order of business was to purchase the options of the local, single exchange companies that served the area. Initially, there were 8 small towns and 7 exchanges, some of which were later consolidated. The company headquarters was established in Dallas due to the fact that the existing central office there was the largest. In 1979, the Cooperative expanded from telephone offerings to cable television when it acquired several small cable television systems within its exchanges.

The pace of changing telecommunications technologies began to pick up and the Cooperative opened up a second office in Cameron and began to offer many diversified products and services. Mobile communications, voice mail, CTC long distance, and Internet access were just a few of the new service options we began to offer.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 afforded new opportunities for growth and Chibardun's wholly owned subsidiary, CTC Telcom, was launched. CTC Telcom was among one of the first facilities based competitive local exchange carriers in the country. CTC Telcom expanded service territories to Barron, Rice Lake and Chetek and three new offices were constructed to serve customers in those communities. CTC Telcom was the first company in the nation to provide Digital Video service via an Open Video System (OVS) certification; and Chetek, WI is the first community in the nation to receive Digital Video service via an OVS certification.

Digital Video service, Open Video System certification, DSL high speed Internet, a web portal, online community trading center, telecommunications e-store and other technology and industry firsts became commonplace achievements for the Cooperative. The most recent technological advancements include wireless broadband service, WildBlue satellite broadband and CTC’s i·call VOIP (voice over IP) broadband phone service.

The Cooperative provides nearly 70 people with jobs. New technologies to enhance the quality of life in Barron and the surrounding counties continue to be deployed. The Cooperative enjoys financial stability and growth in what have become turbulent times for the telecommunications industry. Throughout its lifetime, Chibardun has remained true to its purpose of serving the residents of the area, both in terms of providing necessary services and being an involved corporate citizen.

Leadership:
Our Chief Executive Officer and a handful of managers have been key speakers at USTA (United States Telecommunications Association), NTCA (National Telecommunications Cooperative Association), OPASTCO (Organization for the Advancement and Protection of Small Telephone Companies), WSTA (Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association) RICA (Rural Independent Competitive Alliance), and NRTC (National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative) events, among others too numerous to mention.

Mission Statement:
To provide quality "state-of-the-art" communications-related services and products at the lowest possible cost with the highest commitment to service in a manner that is mutually beneficial to the company, our employees, co-op members and our communities.

The Press:
Chibardun has been featured in considerable national press and is recognized throughout the United States as an industry leader. In addition, the Cooperative has been the recipient of many national awards including recognition by the Foundation for Rural Economic Development for rural economic development efforts.

We have been featured in the May, 2000 issue of Telephony magazine, the April, 2000 issue of Telecommunications magazine, the May, 2000 issue of Outside Plant magazine,  the August 21, 2000 issue of Cable World, the December, 2000 issue of Rural Telecommunications, the February, 2001 issue of TeleTimes magazine, the February,  2001 issue of X-Change magazine, and the September, 2001 issue of America's Network Magazine.

Chibardun Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Board of Directors: Picture