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
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| 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
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| 2002 |
Opened Redwood Falls office |
| 2003 |
Digital Video TV offered in Springfield
Computer sales and servicing offered
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| 2004 |
High-speed Internet and Digital Video TV launched in Sanborn
Branded our DSL as Fetch
Launched "The Wall" as a paid advertising channel
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| 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. |
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