The Lehigh Telephone Company was established at the turn of the 20th century and was passed down through multiple owners. The last owner was Harold Aringdale. Lehigh Valley Co-op Telephone Association was incorporated on December 3, 1949. The telephone system was purchased from Mr. Aringdale in 1953.

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On July 1 1959, Lehigh Valley Co-op Telephone purchased the exchange of Callender from the Callender Mutual Telephone Company. The Harcourt Exchange from the Harcourt Co-op Telephone Company was purchased  the same year.

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In 1961 the Callender, Lehigh, and Harcourt exchanges were changed to a Stromberg-Carlson rotary dial system. All exchanges were still party lines. It wasn’t until 1967 the exchanges were upgraded to single lines, both in town and rural.

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In 1984 Lehigh Valley Cooperative Telephone Association purchased the Dayton exchange from General Telephone of the Midwest. In 1986 more construction began in all exchanges including the installation of Northern Telecom DMS-10 Digital Switches.

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In 1998 the digital switches were removed and were replaced with Northern Telecom RSCS remote switches. The main switch, a Northern Telecom DMS-100, is located in Kamrar, Iowa. This is owned by Iowa Networks Services. Also in 1998, new fiber optic equipment and cable were installed to connect all exchanges.

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What is a Coop

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What is a Cooperative?
Lehigh Valley Coop Telephone (LVCTA) is a cooperative, owned by its members and it does not earn profits. Instead, any revenues over and above the cost of doing business are considered "margins," which represent an interest free loan of operating capital by the membership of the Coop. This capital allows LVCTA to finance operations and construction, with the intent this capital will be repaid to the member in later years.

 

When & How Do You Start Accumulating Capital Credits?
You automatically become a member when you start telephone service with Lehigh Valley Coop Telephone, and patronage is calculated based on your usage of telephone, internet, and IPTV in a year that margins were earned.

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What is the Difference between Allocated & Retired Capital Credits?
Allocated Capital Credits appear as an entry on financial records of the Coop and reflect your equity/ownership in Lehigh Valley. When capital credits are retired, a check is issued to you (the member) and your equity in the coop is reduced.

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What Happens to Capital Credits If I move out of LVCTA Service Area?
Your capital credits remain on LVCTA records in your name and member number until they are retired and a check is issued to you. It is very important to provide LVCTA with your current mailing address.

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What Happens to Capital Credits when a Member Dies?
A representative of the member's estate must submit the proper paperwork to LVCTA. Upon approval of the Board of Directors, a check for the regular dividends is issued and the account is closed.