It all started in 1949

In 1949, a group of local Wilkes County citizens petitioned Central Telephone Company for phone service. In 1951, Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation was first introduced to the world. This small group of individuals had no idea what would become of their efforts or the lasting impression they would have, and continue to have, on the communities we serve today.

In recent years, we have re-branded as Wilkes Communications, a broadband company. RiverStreet Networks, a subsidiary of Wilkes Communications, caters to our customers outside of Wilkes County service area, and the RiverStreet Productions is our full-service video production studio. As a family of businesses, the services we provide have grown and changed for the better, but the way we do business has not changed. We are owned by our members and are dedicated to providing the best services possible.

Our Story

1951

Incorporated

✔ Certified of incorporation filed with the State of North Carolina for Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation (WTMC)
1958

First phone call made

1992

Fiber build started

✔ Wilkes County, NC
1995

Internet Service Launched

2001

High speed internet services launched

2002

Started scholarship program

2003

1400 River St headquarters opened

✔ Wilkesboro, North Carolina
2006

TV services launched

2009

Security services launched

2013

Growth & certifications

✔ Launched Gigabit Internet Speed
✔ Earned National Gig Certification from NTCA
2014

Wilkes & RiverStreet

✔ WTMC becomes dba Wilkes Communications, Inc.
✔ RiverStreet Networks established
✔ Wilkes County fiber build completed
2015

Productions established & new acquisitions

✔ RiverStreet Productions established
✔ Acquisition of:
  • Barnardsville Telephone Company
  • Saluda Mountain Telephone
  • Service Telephone
2016

Fiber build started

✔ Stokes County, NC
2018

Office opened

✔ Opened Stokes County office
Merged with Tri-County Broadband
✔ Acquisition of:
  • Ellerbe Telephone
  • Peoples Mutual Telephone Company
  • Gamewood Technology
  • Red’s Cable
2019

Acquisitions & awards

✔ Acquisition of:
  • Mountain Broadband
  • North Carolina Wireless
  • SkyTek Communications
✔ Awarded Smart Rural Award
✔ NC Electric Membership Coop
2020

Fiber build started

✔ Service Telephone in Fair Bluff, NC
2021

Acquisitions & construction

✔ Acquisition of:
  • Stokes Wi-Fi, LLC
  • SCS Broadband
  • Electronics Service Company
✔ Belhaven, NC copper to fiber cutover is completed
✔ King & Queen County, VA fiber construction starts
Hidden Crowdfiber form