When you sign up for communications services from SMTA, you become a member of the community cooperative. A co-op is essentially a business that is owned and run by the people that use its services. When services are rendered, members earn capital credits, which are shares of the co-op’s profits, that are then allocated to its members. Capital credits are calculated based on the services you subscribe to and the length of your membership. 

The co-op’s elected Board of Directors can choose to use these capital credits to fund various company initiatives, like network and infrastructure improvements or payment of debt, or distribute them as payments to members. While SMTA has historically paid out members around the holiday season, a distribution is not guaranteed each year and is dependent the co-op’s current projects and financial standing, as determined by the Board. 

For more information on capital credits, visit www.SMTA.coop/about/credits.