“I remember dial up Internet. You couldn’t use your phone if you were going online.”
— DUO began offering ‘dial-up’ internet access in 1996. While it did allow people to connect to the internet from home for the first time, it wasn’t until the introduction of DSL connections (beginning in 2000) that you could use the telephone and the internet simultaneously.
Here’s what it the dial-up modem connection sounded like:
“I remember party lines and being able to dial a ‘6’ and then the remaining four numbers to call someone local.”
— In the earlier days of DUO’s telephone service you could shortcut the Jamestown and Russell Spring prefix (343 and 866 respectively) with just the last digit: “3” for Jamestown and “6” for Russell Springs. Life was a little simpler then.
I was an early internet user. Took computer classes back in the late 80’s and a college class in ‘91, connected to the internet shortly after it was made available to the public in ‘93. I am an information junkie and once I signed up with AOL by using one of those free discs they used to send in the mail, I was hooked.
“I’m not that old but I remember when Jamestown had a 502 area code and the old school caller IDs. And then there was dial up internet.”
— Area code 270 became the new number to remember in 1999.
“Back in the day when there was party lines my aunt used to pick up and listen to whoever was talking to someone else. She would wind up coughing and give away she was listening so she would join the conversation.”
— For those too young to remember ‘party lines,’ a party line was a system where several telephone subscribers were connected to the same land line. In order to determine who was supposed to receive a call you had to be attentive to the ringing pattern assigned to your household. DUO discontinued party lines in 1984.
My daddy Welby Thomas worked for RECC as a Foreman/Lineman for 35 1/2 years. He began in the 60’s. The RECC Co Op provided us with a landline phone at that time to receive outage calls from customers and was one of the first to have such.
I remember daddy working very closely with Duo County linemen when there would be outages. We was so grateful for the ability to have a phone in our home as prior to that people would come to the house to report their outages. Momma would answer the phone and radio them to daddy. Duo County Broadband has been a constant in our families lives since I can remember and we have received wonderful service throughout the years. I am grateful for the wonderful working relationship my daddy had with Duo co and for the exemplary service we have received throughout the years.
Also our son Jansen was given the opportunity to work there several years ago and we are grateful that he has a great place to work with great folks to work with. Thank you Duo Broadband for your wonderful service throughout the years and for your continued dedication to quality service to come.
Rabon Smith of Russell Springs was among the very first to sign up for service in 1960. His late wife, Sue, was a 33-year employee of the co-op.
“I had one of the earliest cell phones. If I got hung up on the farm or had a breakdown I could call someone to come and get me.”
“I think that DUO may have been one of the best run companies I have ever known anything about. They haven’t just been good for me, they have been good for Russell County.”
We want to remember our history as a part of this community. If you have memories of what it was like in the early days of DUO… Party Lines… Dial Up Internet… static lines… the joy of hearing a loved one’s voice, we’d love to hear your story!
We may share your stories at a future date.*
Adair Co./Columbia, 270-378-4141
Casey Co./Liberty, 877-343-3131
Clinton Co./Albany, 877-343-3131
Cumberland Co./Burkesville, 270-433-2121
Russell Co./Headquarters, 270-343-3131
877-343-3131 (long distance toll-free)
Taylor Co./Campbellsville, 877-343-3131
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