Our Story
Farmers Mutual Telephone Company (FMTC) is a member-owned organization. Our customers always come first because customer-members like you decide how our cooperative is run. Everything we do is designed to bring you world-class telecommunications services and connectivity.
A Birds Eye View of FMTC, With over 30 employees working locally to provide you with the best in Internet and phone service, FMTC is THE premier Internet provider in Fruitland, Payette County and Malheur County. Thank you for choosing the local provider for fast, reliable Internet. Not yet a customer? Call 208-452-2000 or stop by our office, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm at 319 SW 3rd St in Fruitland, Idaho.
FMTC started in the early 1900’s, when local Fruitland residents recognized the need for more effective communications. They established a telephone cooperative, working together to install telephone poles, lines and a manual telephone switchboard. This cooperative effort has been the guiding theme of FMTC since the beginning — we’ve always worked together to keep up with the latest technology and we’ve done it independently.
In 1956 FMTC made the leap to dial, installing a switching system that allowed customers to place their own calls. As a result, we retired the need for a manual switchboard and central operator who had, up to that point, made every connection between telephone customers.
By 1979, we became the first telecommunications company in Idaho with a digital switching system, and not long after were able to discontinue the need for party lines.
More recently in 2017, we became a residential Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider, once again leading the way to new technology in our area. VoIP brings a quality telephone voice connection as an Over the Top (OTT) service through our customers’ internet connection. This provides a cost savings for customers and enables us to offer free calling features, which includes making the first 500 minutes of long distance in the Continental United States free each month.
Also in 2017, as part of our Fiber to the Home (FTTH) expansion project, we rolled out Gig Internet — (1,000 megabits per second), which is offered in nearly 100% of locations in Fruitland and NuAcres and in select areas within New Plymouth, Idaho and Payette, Idaho. Fiber optic Internet is available to both business and residential customers and provides our customers with the broadband speed they need while ensuring a world-class Internet user experience with the best Wi-Fi and supported by cutting-edge routers.
The Conference Center can be utilized free of charge to Members who are having a meeting. It is also utilized for local Toastmasters speaking group, SREDA (Snake River Economic Development Alliance) HOA groups, 4-H groups, as well as being a polling location.
The idea that all Americans should have reliable access to communications at a reasonable cost has been a national objective for over a century. When we’re connected, America thrives. The federal Universal Service Fund helps rural Americans connect to high-quality, affordable broadband services, and supports critical connections for low-income families, schools, libraries and healthcare facilities. With the USF, we are expanding and sustaining connectivity for all.
Access to broadband fosters local businesses and strengthens local and national economies. Rural communities with high broadband adoption rates enabled by local providers see 213% higher business growth and 44% higher GDP growth than those with low usage.
With the growing demand for broadband, the Universal Service Fund supports advanced and sustainable services so that rural communities will not fall behind.
Robust and reliable broadband access is essential to improving health care outcomes in rural America.
By expanding the reach of medical care through telehealth, broadband services supported by the Universal Service Fund are enhancing health care across small-town America.
Today, the Universal Service Fund helps rural consumers get and stay connected to #BroadbandBuiltToLast with services comparable in price and quality to urban areas.
Learn More about the Universal Service Fund through NTCA, The Rural Broadband Association at https://bit.ly/465ddgc
First began providing telecommunications services in Fruitland
Changed to dial and installed a switch system that let customers place their own calls
Became Idaho’s first telecommunications company with a digital switching system
Began providing telecommunications services in Nu Acres
Rolled out Gig internet (1,000 megabits per second)
Fiber Optic Internet is now available in nearly 100% of Fruitland & NuAcres locations.
It is the mission of Farmers Mutual Telephone Company to provide dependable, viable, and affordable communication services: to pursue new ideas, new services and educate its customers as to all services provided by the company: and, to establish new markets in an innovative manner that will benefit the company and its customers.
We pursue new ideas and innovative services to provide our customers with world-class technology and connectivity.
Doing good in the Community.
We want to make the world a better place starting with Fruitland, Nu Acres and the surrounding area. FMTC is a catalyst for building community and connecting people through more than just technology.
The 2022 Payette County Fair is in the books and FMTC was so excited to be a part of it. The heart, time and effort that goes into bringing an animal to fair is incredible and we are so glad to have the opportunity to support our local kids.
We are members of the following organizations:
Fruitland Chamber of Commerce
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Nyssa Chamber of Commerce
Vale Chamber of Commerce
Payette Chamber of Commerce
Snake River Economic Alliance (SREDA)
WTA – Advocated for Rural Broadband
NTCA The Rural Broadband Association
FRS Foundation for Rural Services.
