Founded in 1958
Founded in 1958
Embedded Files
IF you want telecom services and you want it done right this is the place...
Its owned by the member-owners not out of state FAT Cat investors such as Goldman Sachs or the Carlyle Group etc that can just pump it and dump it. The co-op is in it for the long hall.
The member owners either either get dividends yearly or accrued Capital credits when they die or have a pay out what ever comes 1st.
the non-management staff is unionized under the CWA local 7101 the workers all get living wages with good pay bumps benefits and a pension so the staff is vested in the long term of the co-op.
they are really what a TRUE co-op should be and not just some tax break scam like a lot of credit unions etc...
Official History
South Slope Cooperative Telephone Company Inc. was formed in 1958 as a Cooperative Telephone Company. By establishing itself as a Cooperative, South Slope embodied itself in the best traditions of American self-reliance and independence. Co-ops are successful because they provide non-profit services to their communities that may not be readily available otherwise. South Slope's goal is to provide it's members and their communities with the best telecommunications service available at the lowest possible price. The cooperative movement will continue to thrive because it is based on the most powerful force in the world -- a good idea.
The beginnings of the modern cooperative movement can be traced back more than 150 years. The principals that the cooperative philosophy was founded are:
Open membership - Anyone who can use a cooperative's services and is willing to accept the responsibilities of membership is eligible to join.
One member, one vote - Power is shared equally among all members, rather than concentrated in the hands of a few. Cooperatives are based on democratic principles. Members elect a board of directors and, when necessary, vote on specific issues.
Limited return on investment - The purpose of a cooperative is to provide a service to its members, not to make a profit.
Surplus is returned to the members - Margins above and beyond the costs required to cover operating expenses are returned to the members in proportion to their patronage. The more business a member does with the co-op in a given year, the greater the amount of the patronage refund for that year. (Patronage refunds are paid in cycles specified in the bylaws.)
Service Area
Service Area
Some of this is Incumbent local exchange carrier some competitive
South Slope Cooperative Communications Company is committed to providing quality service and the best telecommunication services to our members at the lowest possible cost. South Slope serves the communities of...
ILEC
Amana, Ely, Fairfax, Newhall, North Liberty, Norway, Shueyville, Watkins, Walford, Western,
CLEC
Tiffin, Oxford, Solon
small parts of Cedar Rapids & Coralville.
CEO's
CEO's
Orval R Blough
Orval R Blough
Worked at & GM/CEO from 1958 to 1971
Was the 1st employee was just the GM or general manager
Page 6 of Benton County Star, published in Norway, Iowa on Thursday, February 16th, 1961 is where the above image is from.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45195230/orval-r-blough
https://www.vintontoday.com/articles/obituaries/article104583.html
His Son Bill worked at the Cooperative Telephone Exchange in Stanhope, Iowa, https://www.cooptelexchange.com/ becoming the manager from 1986 until 2001 when he retired https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199198288/william-orval-blough
the bio info below is from Benton County Star, Page 6, 1961-02-02
W. Wayne Edmundson
W. Wayne Edmundson
Worked at & CEO from 1971 to 1982
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19461040/winfield-wayne-edmundson
https://iagenweb.org/benton/obits/schmuecker.htm
Francis Kahle
Francis Kahle
CEO from 1982 to 1997
Worked from May 1960 to Aug 1997
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55339874/francis-j-kahle
J.R. Brumley
J.R. Brumley
CEO from 1997 to 2011
worked from 1968 to 2011
Justyn M Miller
Justyn M Miller
CEO 2011 to 2017
Chuck Deisbeck
Chuck Deisbeck
Worked at & CEO from 2017 to today
Getting started 1958 to 1962
Getting started 1958 to 1962
1st new office 1961
1st new office 1961
Page 1 of Benton County Star, published in Norway, Iowa on Thursday, February 2nd, 1961
1st employees & Directors
1st employees & Directors
from Benton County Star, Page 6, 1961-02-02 both are same newspaper directors are on page 1.
Union Labor problems CWA local 7101
Union Labor problems CWA local 7101
The co-op unionized in 1970's under the leadership of J.R. Brumley
Uncooperative in North Liberty – CWA Lock out
The company has 30 managers 55 bargaining unit members.
https://blogforiowa.com/2013/11/04/labor-update-south-slope-phone-cooperative-locks-out-workers-2/
https://web.archive.org/web/20141024072700/http://iowalabornews.com/?p=3265
Justyn M Miller
Page 1 of Solon Economist, published in Solon, Iowa on Wednesday, November 6th, 2013
Page 3 of Solon Economist, published in Solon, Iowa on Wednesday, November 6th, 2013
News and sources
https://norway.advantage-preservation.com/
https://solon.advantage-preservation.com/
https://cedarrapids.advantage-preservation.com/
https://cwalocals.org/local-7101/about-us
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/420819332
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/420819332/201803139349302165/IRS990
South Slope Cooperative Telephone Company Inc
North Liberty, IA
Tax-exempt since March 1962
EIN: 42-0819332
New Economic Model for Telecom
New Economic Model for Telecom
February & March 2010
What is a co-op
50th anniversary
50th anniversary
50th anniversary 2008
South Slope history 2010 newsletters
South Slope history 2010 newsletters
South Slope Cooperative Telephone Co. partners with IOWA WIRELESS SERVICES IOWA WIRELESS LAUNCHES SERVICE WITH SOUTH SLOPE COOPERATIVE TELEPHONE COMPANY
DES MOINES, Iowa – October 21, 1999 – Iowa Wireless Services announces a partnership with South Slope Cooperative Telephone Company dba South Slope Wireless, with offices in Norway, and North Liberty, Iowa to provide GSM PCS service to wireless customers in that area. On August 21, 1999, Iowa Wireless and South Slope Wireless officially began providing expanded coverage in and around the communities of North Liberty, Walford, Fairfax, Newhall, Norway, Watkins, Shueyville, Ely, Oxford, Tiffin, and coming in early November, Solon. Expanding Iowa Wireless’ local service area gives customers greater coverage, access, and clarity when making telephone calls to these locations.
"We think Iowa Wireless and South Slope customers will greatly appreciate the expanded local service area and increased coverage they’ll get as a result," says Mike Haskins, Vice President of Operations for Iowa Wireless. "This added customer benefit complements Iowa Wireless’ already strong digital network and services. Iowa Wireless looks forward to working with South Slope in providing Iowa Wireless services to all our customers."
In addition to voice communications, Iowa Wireless and South Slope customers can use built-in features such as sending and receiving e-mail, voice mail, and data transmission. For more information about South Slope Wireless, customers can call 1-800-272-6449 or (319) 227-7111, or visit our Norway or North Liberty office.
For information about Iowa Wireless’ expanded local service area, customers can call 1-888-550-4497, or visit the Iowa Wireless web page at www.iowawireless.com. Iowa Wireless is a member of the North American GSM Alliance LLC. The GSM Alliance is a group of U.S. and Canadian digital wireless PCS carriers, which helps provide seamless GSM wireless communications for their customers throughout North America.
Iowa Wireless Services, headquartered in Des Moines, is the result of the alliance between Western Wireless and Iowa Network Services. Iowa Wireless Services is the first to offer the 100 percent digital wireless network in eastern Iowa, providing better voice quality than cellular service, and next-generation features such as sending and receiving e-mails, caller ID, error-free wireless faxing, and protection against fraud and eavesdropping.
News letter 2002 jan
Wireless Service starts
Wireless Service starts
Page 14 of Solon Economist, published in Solon, Iowa on Wednesday, October 27th, 1999 i wireless
Page updated
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