Company Profile
Smithville Communications
Company Overview
Recognized nationally as a Top 100 broadband provider, Smithville Communications is built from the ground up by Hoosiers, for Hoosiers. An award-winning communications technology company, Smithville had modest beginnings nearly a century ago as an Indiana telecommunications company. While its products and services have changed as technology has, its commitment to its customers has remained steadfast. Today, that commitment is reflected in Smithville’s dedication to bringing the best available technology platform to Indiana residents for state-of-the-art communication and data services, all with the highest possible level of customer satisfaction.
Company History
For over 100 years, Smithville has been a leading provider of telecommunications services in Indiana and throughout the United States. In 1922, J. K. Johnston, a telephone engineer who pioneered the industry in several areas of Indiana and Ohio, built a communications system linking the stone quarries in Monroe County, Indiana. Originally, there were three exchanges: Clear Creek, Smithville, and Ellettsville. From those humble beginnings, the Company carved its future in Southern Indiana. The Indiana Chapter of the Independent Telephone Pioneers is named in honor of Mr. Johnston.
In 1930, the Company was bought by Mr. Guy A. Draper, who continued to carve the Company's future until his untimely death in 1942. Mr. Guy A. Draper's son, Mr. Byron A. Draper, assumed control and continued to expand the Company throughout 14 other counties in Central and Southcentral Indiana.
In 1955, the Smithville Exchange converted to dial, and the Stanford Exchange was created out of open territory in Southern Monroe County. The Smithville and Stanford Exchanges absorbed the Clear Creek Manual Exchange. The Ellettsville Exchange converted to dial in 1957. The Owen County Exchange of Gosport merged with the Smithville Telephone Company and replaced the existing dial office in 1957. The Company then acquired the Star Telephone Company at French Lick and converted it to dial in 1958.
The Smithville Telephone Company also acquired eight properties formerly belonging to Mr. Max Hosea, several of which started as adjuncts to strip mining operations in Sullivan and Greene Counties. Those properties were Hymera, Lyons, Marco, and Switz City, in Sullivan and Greene Counties; Sharpsville and Goldsmith in Tipton County; Griffin in Posey County; and Lizton in Hendricks County. These exchanges converted to dial in 1960. Goldsmith combined with Sharpsville; Marco and Switz City merged with Lyons. The Greene County Communities served by the Scotland Cooperative Telephone Company and The Farmer's Cooperative Telephone Company were combined with the previously acquired Owensburg Cooperative Telephone Company in 1962 and converted to dial operation.
The Smithville Telephone Company also acquired the Stewartsville Mutual Telephone Company combined with the existing Griffin Exchange in 1966; the Newberry Telephone Corporation merged with the Lyons Exchange in 1967, and the Pleasantville Incorporated Telephone Company was absorbed into the Lyons Exchange in 1969.
Patricia A. Earles succeeded her father, the late Byron A. Draper, as President and Chairwoman of the Board in 1974. Under her leadership, the Company continued to grow by converting to Digital service the following exchanges: French Lick, 1980; Lyons, 1983; Owensburg, 1984; Lizton, 1986; Ellettsville, 1987; Lake Monroe, Gosport, and Griffin, 1988; Sharpsville, 1989; Hymera, 1990; Smithville, 1990; and Stanford, 1991. All twelve exchanges are digital.
Additionally, three Microwave Towers were placed in operation in 1990 at Lake Monroe, Smithville, and Deckard Ridge.
A fiber optic ring was placed into service in 1991, linking Ellettsville COE, Stanford COE, Smithville COE, and Indiana Bell Bloomington facilities. In addition, Smithville Telephone Company was responsible for the first interactive full-motion distance learning connection in the state by tying Eastern High School in Greene County to Edgewood High School in Monroe County and teaching German to both schools simultaneously. Smithville Telephone Company also entered the new millennium with its long-distance Company and offered high-speed Internet service with its Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service.
In 2003, Smithville Digital was formed to provide fiber optic digital data transformation to its customers, offering Indiana businesses the highest technological services and networking throughout the state.
In 2008, Smithville requested and received a 90-million-dollar loan from USDA’s Rural Utility Service (RUS). RUS ensures that rural areas have access to affordable and reliable telecommunications services comparable to those available throughout the rest of the United States. This 20-year loan was for overbuilding the copper network with fiber optic, which meant improved quality of life for residents in the Smithville service areas. The loan was used in total, and Smithville continues to build in areas where the loan did not reach. Improved educational opportunities, health care, safety, security, and higher employment were the desired outcomes of this visionary development.
In 2015, the company started a $15 million construction project on its Jasper GigaCity project and completed the build in 2019. Smithville, a top 100 National Broadband Company, continues to grow its fiber footprint with strategic partnerships with South Central Indiana (SCI) REMC (Rural Electric Membership Cooperative) and the Utilities District of Western Indiana (UDWI) REMC. These projects leverage Smithville's years of proven expertise in telecommunications and the physical infrastructure owned by SCI and UDWI to build the fiber network and meet customers' needs professionally and reliably.
Smithville is now Indiana's largest privately held telecom firm, whose mission is to be a leading provider of world-class communication services in Indiana and throughout the United States. A laser focus on company values means that Smithville provides extraordinary quality and cost-effective communication services to our customers at home and work.
Patricia A. Earles passed away in 1998. At that time, her husband, William H. Earles, became President and Chairman of the Board. William H. Earles passed away in 2003. After Mr. Earles' passing, Darby A. McCarty, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Earles, became President and Chairwoman of the Board. Cullen McCarty, Darby's son, is the Executive Vice President. Paul Quick serves as the President of Smithville.
Benefits
Insurance Plans include: Medical | Prescription | Dental | Vision | Term Life | Long-Term Disability | Voluntary Insurance
Health Savings Account with generous annual company contributions to your HSA
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a valuable company matching contribution
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) program
Paid holidays
Tuition reimbursement
Paid training and professional development opportunities
Discounted company products and services
Wellness incentive program