CL Tel

What CL Tel does

CLtel (legal name: Clear Lake Independent Telephone Company) is a privately held, fifth-generation family-owned telecommunications provider incorporated in Iowa, USA, and headquartered at 107 N. 4th Street, Clear Lake, IA 50428. The company has operated continuously since 1895 and serves residential and business customers across North Iowa – including Clear Lake, Mason City, Ventura, and surrounding rural communities – with a sales-led, community-focused go-to-market model executed through phone sales, a walk-in business office, online ordering, and in-territory field technicians.

The core product is Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband delivered over an underground fiber optic network with symmetrical upload/download speeds and no data caps; Clear Lake and Ventura were blanketed 100% in fiber by 2012, supported by the Calix broadband platform and managed GigaSpire routers. Complementing fiber internet, CLtel offers cable TV with Watch TV Everywhere streaming, landline and hosted VoIP phone service, home and business WiFi (including a weather-resistant Outdoor WiFi product launched July 2024), home security and medical alert systems, and managed digital-safety services via a Bark integration on Calix. Wholly-owned subsidiaries include CLtel Long Distance, Ventura Telephone Company, Northland Communications, and SkyBlue Solutions.

CLtel generates revenue primarily through monthly recurring subscriptions across internet, TV, phone, security, and medical-alert services (residential and business tiers), supplemented by hardware sales and rentals of networking equipment and backup batteries ($149.95 for 8-hour, $252.95 for 24-hour units). Service is regulated as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier under FCC and Iowa Utilities Board oversight, providing access to the federal Universal Service Fund (Lifeline). Distribution is direct-to-customer inside a single domestic region, with marketing concentrated on website content, Facebook, YouTube, local sponsorships, and customer testimonials.

Name

CL Tel

Legal name

Clear Lake Independent Telephone Company

Website

https://cltel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CLtel is a fifth-generation family-owned, Iowa-incorporated fiber-to-the-home telecommunications provider serving residential and business customers in North Iowa (Clear Lake, Mason City, Ventura, and surrounding rural communities) with broadband, TV, phone, WiFi, and managed security services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Telecommunications Services

NAICS

Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111)

SIC

Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841), Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Broadband & Cooperative Fiber Operators (HDAIACAG)

Keywords

• Fiber internet services
• Broadband telecommunications
• Residential phone service
• Cable TV provider
• Home security systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Clear Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Internet Services: Monthly subscription internet services including fiber and DSL plans. Residential and business tiers with varying speed options. No data caps or overage fees.
2. TV Services: Cable TV and streaming options including Watch TV Everywhere. Channel lineup packages for residential and business customers.
3. Phone Services: Local and long distance phone services including VoIP and traditional landline options. Residential and business phone packages.
4. Equipment Sales and Rental: Sale and rental of networking equipment including routers, modems, and backup batteries. Installation and maintenance services.
5. Home Security and Medical Alert: Home security systems and medical alert monitoring services for residential customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CLtel is a rural incumbent local exchange carrier delivering fiber-to-the-home Internet, Cable TV, landline/VoIP Phone, and Home Security and Medical Alert services to residential and business customers in North Iowa. Services are delivered over an owned underground fiber network with DSL fallback, managed through the Calix broadband platform, with no data caps, no long-term contracts, and symmetrical upload/download speeds on fiber tiers.

Product overview

CLtel is a telecommunications service provider offering a comprehensive suite of connectivity and related services. The core offerings include Fiber Internet (high-speed residential and business internet), Cable TV, and Phone Service. These are complemented by add-on services including Home WiFi and Outdoor WiFi (weather-resistant outdoor connectivity), Home Security Systems, Medical Alert, Business WiFi, Business Phone (including hosted VoIP), Business TV, Business Security Systems, Bark Digital Safety Companion (parental monitoring), CLtel WiFi App (mobile management), Watch TV Everywhere streaming, and bundled Service Packages. The company operates as a local provider serving North Iowa communities including Clear Lake, Mason City, and Ventura, with a fiber-to-the-home network infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CLtel Long Distance: Long distance telephone services offered by CLtel as a subsidiary brand.
• CLtel Outdoor WiFi
• Digital Harmony

Products and services

• Fiber Internet (Residential) High-speed fiber Internet with symmetrical upload and download speeds delivered over CLtel's owned FTTH network to homeowners in North Iowa. Includes no data caps, no contracts, and no hidden fees.
• Cable TV Cable television service providing live TV channels for residential customers in North Iowa, with bundled streaming options available.
• Phone Service (Residential) Residential landline phone service offering local and long-distance calling with crystal-clear voice quality for households in North Iowa.
• Outdoor WiFi Weather-resistant outdoor WiFi solution extending high-speed connectivity to patios, yards, workshops, and outdoor entertainment areas for residential and business customers, with speeds up to 1 Gig.
• Home Security Systems Smart home security and monitoring solution for residential customers, enabling control of lights, doors, thermostats, and security cameras from a mobile device.
• Medical Alert Emergency medical alert monitoring service providing peace of mind for seniors and individuals requiring medical monitoring in the home.
• Service Packages Bundled service packages combining residential Internet, TV, and Phone services at discounted monthly rates for households.
• Business Fiber Internet Ultra-fast symmetrical fiber Internet for businesses in North Iowa, with customized telecommunications solutions and bundled hosted VoIP unified communications for SMB and enterprise customers.
• Business Phone Business telephone services for commercial customers, including hosted VoIP unified communications solutions.
• Business TV Cable television service tailored for commercial environments such as waiting rooms, hospitality, and retail.
• Business Security Systems Security and monitoring solutions for commercial properties, including cameras and alarm systems integrated with CLtel's network.
• Bark Digital Safety Companion Parental control and digital safety service deployed on the Calix broadband platform that monitors children's online activity and alerts parents to potential issues, offered to CLtel residential subscribers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Homes with Fiber Internet can sell for up to 3.1% more than homes without Fiber Internet (Fiber Broadband Association)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TVOnMySide.comminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLtel belongs to an alliance of independent cable providers working to retain flexibility and fair pricing in cable television programming. Partnership provides access to competitive programming rates and industry advocacy.
• BarkcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital safety companion for families that monitors digital activity and sends alerts for potential issues. CLtel deploys Bark on the Calix broadband platform to ensure safer internet experiences for local youth in North Iowa communities.
• CalixcoreTechnology or IntegrationBroadband platform provider used by CLtel for network management and service delivery. Enables deployment of digital safety features like Bark and network performance monitoring.
• Mason City Water TreatmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal municipal partnership where CLtel provided emergency communication infrastructure support during a storm that kept water treatment operations running. Example of community emergency response partnership.
• City of Clear LakecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for public WiFi deployment and smart city initiatives. CLtel and the City collaborated on WiFi projects for downtown areas and community spaces. Exploring integration of smart technologies throughout the town.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mahaska Communication Group: Iowa-based rural communications cooperative offering fiber internet, phone, and video to homes and businesses in southeast Iowa. Directly comparable as a community-rooted Iowa telecom operating its own fiber network in small/rural markets.
• Premier Communications: Sioux Center, Iowa-based cooperative delivering fiber-to-the-home internet, TV, and phone across northwest Iowa. Comparable as an Iowa rural fiber cooperative with a similar community-based service model.
• ImOn Communications: Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based fiber and cable provider offering internet, TV, and phone to residential and business customers in eastern Iowa. Comparable as an Iowa-headquartered wireline ISP serving small-to-mid-sized markets with bundled services.
• South Slope Cooperative Communications: North Liberty, Iowa-based rural cooperative delivering fiber internet, TV, and phone services in eastern Iowa. Comparable as a small Iowa cooperative telecom operating its own fiber network with a community-focused model.

Broad incumbents

• Metronet: Indiana-headquartered fiber-to-the-home provider serving mid-sized cities and towns across the Midwest, including parts of Iowa. Comparable as a wireline fiber ISP competing in similar Iowa markets with symmetrical gigabit offerings.
• Mediacom: One of the largest cable operators in Iowa, offering internet, TV, and phone via hybrid fiber-coax networks. Comparable as a pay-TV and broadband competitor with overlapping service categories across Iowa.
• CenturyLink / Lumen Technologies: Major national wireline telecom with a significant rural Iowa footprint offering fiber and DSL internet, phone, and TV. Comparable as a legacy wireline carrier competing in CLtel's served markets with broader scale.
• Windstream: National wireline carrier focused on small and mid-sized markets across the Midwest, including rural Iowa. Comparable as a wireline telecom providing internet, voice, and bundled services to similar customer segments.
• Consolidated Communications: Regional wireline telecom operating fiber and copper networks across the Midwest, including rural Iowa and surrounding states. Comparable as a wireline ISP/telecom serving rural and small-town customers with bundled services.
• Sparklight (Cable One): Midwest-headquartered cable operator providing internet, TV, and phone to small and mid-sized markets, including parts of Iowa. Comparable as a regional cable/broadband competitor offering overlapping services to similar rural and small-town customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCE7R0nSeuVyCg8UlrxJ4faQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CLTel
• Xx.com/CLTel

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CL Tel