In response to the lack of telephone service provided to Alabama s rural areas, a handful of local residents joined together to form what would later become the Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative, Alabama s largest member-owned telephone cooperative. Originally called the Farmers Telephone Cooperative, the name was changed in 2005 to reflect the company s commitment to more modern telecommunications services. FTC offers wireless, local and long-distance service, toll-free access to the Internet and high-speed broadband to approximately 20,000 subscribers in seven exchanges across DeKalb and Jackson counties. In 2002, FTC opened its new, expanded headquarters and business office in Rainsville, Ala.