History
More then 1.2 million Americans receive their local telephone service from a telephone cooperative like Canby Telcom. We are proud to be one of approximately 260 telephone cooperatives across the nation who provide state-of-the-art services in 31 states to people just like you.
Telephone cooperatives are a living example of democracy in action. The independent telephone industry was developed throughout the country by farmers who were unable to receive telephone service in the small rural communities where they lived and worked. These farmers pooled their resources to establish telephone cooperatives.
As a Canby Telcom customer, you can be assured that your local telephone company has your best communications interests in mind every day of the year since 1904.
Four-Line Switch has Grown Over the Years
In 1904, the local telephone service in Canby was provided by the Macksburg Mutual Telephone Association located in Macksburg. Within two years, demand for telephone service had surpassed the four-line switchboard. The switch was moved and upgraded to 50 lines in 1906. Residents of Canby paid association membership dues of $24 for phone service ($9 if they provided their own phone) and they could call to surrounding areas such as Molalla, Oregon City, Marquam, and New Era.
The Macksburg Mutual Telephone Association became the Canby Cooperative Association in 1906. It was managed by a paid board of directors. Employees were few in those days. A switch tender (operator) and a lineman served all cooperative members. The switch tender received $2.00 per customer per year, and the lineman's wages were 25 cents per hour.
Today, Canby Telcom serves over 11,000 access lines. Seventy employees work together to bring telephone service to aproximately 9,000 customers within the 84-square miles of service area.