Who we are
Who we are
The idea for starting a wireless internet provider began with connecting a local farm to nearby homes using networking antennas. Around the same time, Luke Grocholl and Wyatt Borchardt were searching for faster, more reliable internet for his own home. He was promised affordable gig-speed service, but the final cost ended up being far higher than expected.
While that provider didn’t work out, it sparked a bigger idea. By combining reliable wireless technology with a need that had long been ignored, Luke Grocholl and Wyatt Borchardt formed Silo Communications LLC to bring fast, reliable, and affordable internet to rural northern Illinois.
What sets us apart
Fed up with slow internet, co-owners Luke Grocholl and Wyatt Borchardt founded Silo Communications with a vision to bring fast, affordable, and reliable internet to rural communities.
In early 2020, we began building fixed wireless access points on local silos, grain legs, and towers. By April—just weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic began—we connected our first broadband customers.
In summer 2021, we expanded into fiber-optic infrastructure across rural Winnebago County, investing in construction equipment and hiring our first employees. Alongside network growth, we’ve also built a strong reputation as a trusted electrical and utility construction contractor, serving both agricultural and commercial customers.
Our Past
We currently provide high-speed internet to residents and businesses across five townships in Winnebago County, with our newest expansion underway in the Village of Pecatonica.
Our construction services division has grown to represent a majority of our annual work. We’ve completed large-scale fiber-to-the-premises projects in three states for major providers such as AT&T, Frontier Communications, and CenturyLink, and we also hold ongoing maintenance contracts for both copper and fiber networks.
In addition, we sell and service Eaton/Cutler-Hammer commercial electrical equipment and Generac generators. Our team provides 24/7, personal response for electrical services including installations, repairs, and underground or overhead work.
What we do now