About Us

In the Beginning

The Farmers Mutual Telephone Company (FMTC) was organized June 27, 1904 and incorporated in 1906. A group of 28 farmers and merchants realized the need for a telephone system for rural Okolona. The purpose of creating this company was “to put up equipment, maintain, and operate a system of telephone lines with central exchange for the benefit of its members.”

With this thought in mind, they purchased a one hundred drop switchboard fully wired with 15 drops installed. Poles were placed, wire was strung, phones were installed and an operator was hired. A membership fee of $1.00 per month was assessed and was used to pay for the equipment required to activate this communications system. With a common goal and the concentrated efforts of the members, The Farmers Mutual Telephone Company was created.

What does bright.net north have to do with Farmers Mutual Telephone Company?

Brief history of the 2 companies.