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Meet our Members: Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative

Interstate Telecommunications Coop headquarter building in Clear Lake, South Dakota
ITC headquarters in Clear Lake, South Dakota

Headquarters: Clear Lake, SD

Other physical locations: Brookings, Webster, and Milbank.

Name of CEO/GM and years with company: Tracy Bandemer, 28 years

Other members of executive team: Josh Cokens, Network Operations Manager, Jim Canaan, Support Services Manage

Year formed: 1954

Number of employees: 66

Executive team of Interstate Telecommunications Coop sits at a table.
Executive team at ITC includes (from left to right): Jim Canaan, Josh Cokens, and Tracy Bandemer

Website: itc-web.com

History: Since beginning operations in 1954, ITC has transformed from a dependable telephone service provider into an innovative cooperative offering fiber-fast Internet, phone, and streaming TV services. ITC initiated its Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) build-outs in 2006 and achieved 100% fiber coverage for all members in 2020. The expansion continued, reaching Lincoln County, MN, and parts of Grant, Codington, Hamlin, and Brookings counties. In 2022, ITC began fiber-optic construction within Ivanhoe, MN, and expanded to a section of Lake County, SD, the following year. Recently, ITC launched a fiber-optic expansion in the western portion of Yellow Medicine County. Governed by an 11-member Board of Directors representing nine districts, ITC remains at the forefront of technology, committed to bridging the digital divide and connecting communities.

Services offered: Fiber-Fast Internet, Phone, Streaming TV, Hosted Voice, Managed IT Services

Square miles in service area: 5,500 square miles in northeastern South Dakota and western Minnesota.

Population in coverage area: Approximately 50,000.

Expansion areas/current construction: Since 2020 we have completed six expansion projects. Currently, ITC is expanding to areas of rural Canby in western Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. This project will be completed in 2025.

Notable towns, cities in coverage area:

Arco, MN
Arlington, SD - rural only
Astoria, SD
Big Stone City, SD - rural only
Bradley, SD
Brandt, SD
Brookings, SD - rural only
Bryant, SD
Canby, MN - rural only
Castlewood, SD
Chester, SD
Clark, SD
Clear Lake, SD
Elkton, SD
Estelline, SD
Florence, SD
Gary, SD
Goodwin, SD
Hayti, SD
Hendricks, MN
Ivanhoe, MN
Lake Benton, MN
Lake Norden, SD
Madison, SD - rural only
Milbank, SD
Minneota, MN - rural only
Nunda, SD
Porter, MN
Revillo, SD
Sinai, SD
South Shore, SD
Stockholm, SD
Toronto, SD
Tyler, MN - rural only
Watertown, SD - rural only
Waubay, SD
Webster, SD
Wentworth, SD
White, SD
Willow Lake, SD

ITC employees getting ready to participate in one of their many parades they take part in

Organizations/charities that ITC supports: ITC supports numerous organizations throughout the communities it serves. Each year, ITC awards a total of twenty-four $700 scholarships to high school seniors. Scholarships are awarded to one graduating senior from each of the 23 school districts, plus one open enrollment student in the ITC service area. Also, in 2023, ITC launched an additional initiative to support school districts by offering a grant program for the development of esports programs.

Other interesting facts about company:

  • We are celebrating 70 years of operation this year.
  • We participate in over 25 parades throughout the year.
  • The employees of ITC have more than 1,000 years of combined years of service.