RESERVE — Reserve Telecommunications has expanded its reach from St. John the Baptist, St. James and northern Lafourche to a 10-parish region covering the Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge, thanks to a merger with EATELCORP, LLC.

The two companies tied the knot May 31, when RTC acquired 100 percent of EATEL and its subsidiaries.

Current RTC customers can expect the same customer service for telephone, cable, Internet and home security needs, according to Katie Klibert, marketing and public relations director for RTC.

“We are still the small company you have known and have come to love since 1935, for the past 84 years,” Klibert said.

She said the combined company would be a true technology powerhouse dedicated to serving business and residential customers in innovative ways.

“This really creates a true network that combines 10 parishes together, and the opportunity for growth in our region is endless,” Klibert said. “For our residential and business reach, this also creates a more reliable network for all of our customers.”

The merger has been in the works since August, according to Klibert. Plans were announced in December, and the union became official last week to create one of the largest local providers in the state.

Both founded in 1935, RTC and EATEL have similar philosophies emphasizing local presence, personalized service and quality product offerings.

According to a press release, “The two companies plan to maintain their nearly identical product portfolios to ensure customers experience the same continuity in service and quality.”

RTC CEO William Ironside said EATEL has seen remarkable growth and expansion of services through the years. Fiber-to-the-home services have made the company an industry pioneer in Internet, video, phone, home security and datacenter services.

“We are excited about the future and are confident that EATEL will continue to thrive under RTC’s ownership,” Ironside said.

Josh Descant, president of EATEL, said combined operations leave both companies positioned for growth.

The new headquarters of the combined organization will be located in Gonzales.

RTC will maintain its business office at 105 RTC Drive in Reserve and its LaPlace customer service center at 129 Belle Terre Blvd in LaPlace.

Both locations are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the business office is also open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

For more information, visit rtconline.com or call 985-536-1