Our Local Cooperative Benefits Our Member-Owners.
In 1954, a group of ranchers and farmers in Clinton, Montana who were tired of sharing party line phones came together. They each pitched in $50 and started Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, named after the Blackfoot River that ran through their communities. That's how Blackfoot began; and while we've expanded our services and footprint over the last seven decades, our cooperative is still core to who we are today. Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative operates as a nonprofit corporation in rural Western Montana and is member-owned. Customers who buy services from the cooperative become members and part owners in the company.
What Are Capital Credits?
Blackfoot Communications is a cooperative, which means we are owned by the members we serve. Because we are a not-for-profit, we don’t pay profits to outside investors. Instead, any extra money (profits) is shared with our members. These profits are called capital credits. Capital credits reflect your ownership in Blackfoot Communications and are based on the amount of services you use.
How the Process Works
Each year, there are two steps:
-
October — Allocation Notice - click to view an example
- Every October, we send members a notice showing their share of margins for that year and their total balance.
- This capital credit notice is simply a record of ownership. It is NOT a payment, and NO MONEY is issued in October.
-
Spring — possible payouts
- Each spring, our Board of Trustees reviews Blackfoot’s finances.
- If they determine that the financial condition of the Cooperative is satisfactory, the Board may “retire” (pay out) capital credits from past years. The payout is usually not the same as your October notice, as the newer credits stay in the cooperative to keep it healthy.
- When payouts are approved, members may receive either a bill credit or a check.
This system helps us stay transparent with members and financially stable as a company.
Why Didn't I Get a Check in October?
The October notice is only information about your account. If a payout is approved, it occurs in the spring.
What Members Need to Do
To make sure you don’t miss out on future payments:
- Keep your mailing address current. Checks go to the address we have on file.
- Share your email address. We’ll send notices and announcements quickly by email.
- Contact us if anything changes. If you move, change your name, or aren’t sure we have the right details, please let us know. Questions or updates? Email us at capitalcredits@blackfoot.com
Special Situations
- Divorce or Joint Accounts – Capital credits must be paid out the same way they were earned. Splitting accounts may require forms or documents.
- Estate Payouts – If a member passes away, their capital credits can be paid to the estate or next of kin once we receive the proper paperwork (like a death certificate).
To start either process, contact us at capitalcredits@blackfoot.com. We’ll guide you step by step.
Why Capital Credits Matter
- They are one of the biggest benefits of being a cooperative member.
- They show your ownership in Blackfoot Communications.
- They help keep rates affordable, because margins go back to members or are reinvested locally instead of leaving the community.