Richard Schmidt
Home Telephone Co.
St. Jacob, Illinois

Home Telephone Co. is one of 48 telephone companies in Illinois, and has been in the Schmidt family for 77 years. Mr. Schmidt is president-manager of Home Telephone Co. and has been actively involved in the company since 1953. The company serves 1100 customers in a 52 square mile area in and around St. Jacob. 64% of the internet customers in St. Jacob have DSL. Dial-up internet service was first offered in 1995, followed by DSL in 1996. Home Telephone Co. also provides long distance service from their exchange since 1996, with a 92% penetration rate. The company constructed a competing cable TV system for St. Jacob in 2002. Since 1999, they have also provided dial-up and Wireless internet in Highland, an adjoining community. St. Jacob is located in eastern Madison County, 25 miles east of St. Louis. Mr. Schmidt received his BSEE from Washington University in St. Louis in 1961.