History

The first telephone service in the New Ulm area dates back to 1887, prior to the formation of New Ulm Rural Telephone Company, now known as New Ulm Telecom, Inc.  By the early 1900's, area residents were frustrated with the lack of progress in expanding telephone service in rural areas.  That frustration led to the start-up of the company that's thrived for over 100 years.

On March 15, 1905, New Ulm area farmers and businessmen met at the Opera House to discuss concerns about the existing telephone service.  There was soon wide-spread agreement that a local company should be formed to better service the needs of the area.

A committee of 26 men, appointed to pursue discussion of a new company, met just three days later at Schell's Hall in New Ulm.  The vote was unanimous in favor of forming a single new telephone company for New Ulm and the surrounding areas and townships.  They agreed that the new company would begin operating on May 1, 1905.

Timeline

1905	Company incorporated as New Ulm Rural Telephone Company
1910	100% more cable added to accommodate rapid growth
1917	Construction completed for new building at the corner of German and 1st North Streets in New Ulm Purchased new Stomberg Carlson Switchboard with capacity for 2000 lines
1953	New switchboard took over long distance in New Ulm
1959	First automatic switchboard ended operator-assisted calling and "direct dialing" began
1965	Direct dialing for long-distance calls began
1980	First digital switching equipment
1982	Company added retail phone sales
1984	Company changed name from New Ulm Rural Telephone Company to New Ulm Telecom, Inc.
1986	New Ulm Telecom acquired Western Telephone Company, serving Springfield and Sanborn
1988	Initial investment in cellular rural service areas
1991	Conversion to Northern Telecom DMS 100 switch; enabled new calling features (call forward, call waiting, 3-way calling, etc.)
1993	New Ulm Telecom acquired Peoples Telephone Co. in Aurelia, IA
1996	New Ulm Telecom became an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
1997	New Ulm Telecom website was created
1999	High-speed DSL Internet offered in New Ulm
2000	"NU-Telecom" used as marketing name and logo changed
2001	High-speed DSL Internet offered in Springfield and Aurelia Company began offering Digital Video TV in New Ulm New location in New Ulm opened at 27 N. Minnesota Street
2002	Opened Redwood Falls office
2003	Digital Video TV offered in Springfield Computer sales and servicing offered
2004	High-speed Internet and Digital Video TV launched in Sanborn Branded our DSL as Fetch Launched "The Wall" as a paid advertising channel
2006	New Ulm Telecom acquires a one-third ownership in Hector Communications Corporation
2008	New Ulm Telecom acquired Hutchinson Telephone Company and Hutchinson Telecommunications, Inc serving the Hutchinson and Litchfield areas. Opened TechTrends, a technology retail store, in New Ulm
2010	New Ulm Telecom purchased the cable television system from Midcontinent Communications in and around Glencoe, MN.