Happy to share a press release from Paul Bunyan on more people getting better broadband…

GigaZone Activated for Thousands More Locations in Bemidji
20,000+ expected to be within GigaZone after construction and upgrades in 2015

(Bemidji, MN) (June 10, 2015) – The GigaZone is quickly becoming one of the largest Gigabit networks in the United States. While only activated just 3 months ago, Paul Bunyan Communications has announced another 2,800 locations in the Bemidji area have recently been upgraded and are now in the GigaZone.

“When we announced this initiative back in September we made a commitment to bring the GigaZone to our entire service area which we know will take a few years. That said, I did not anticipate we would be able to reach so many locations so quickly. What a testament to our entire team. It’s exciting, particularly for those who are included this year, but we will continue to do as much as we can to bring the GigaZone to all our members and communities we serve as fast as we can.” said Gary Johnson, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager.

“I’m not aware of another Gigabit project that has been activated to so many in such a short period of time. It’s a benefit of having the region’s only all fiber optic network, a project that started in 2004 and is nearly completed. This provides the capacity to roll out the GigaZone much more quickly and efficiently that most other providers. It also will allow us to meet the increasing demands of broadband innovations” said Steve Howard, Paul Bunyan Communications IT & Development Manager.

The GigaZone is currently available to over 7,300 locations including all of the cooperative’s service area of rural Park Rapids, the Trout Lake Township east of Grand Rapids, and areas of Bemidji. GigaZone upgrades are expected during the remainder of the year for over 12,000 additional locations in Bemidji, Cass Lake, Park Rapids, and Grand Rapids.

Paul Bunyan Communications recently mailed out information to the new locations in the Bemidji area that are now in the GigaZone and the cooperative has an online map available showing the active areas of the GigaZone as well as those areas that will be constructed/upgraded during the remainder of 2015.

“We have already seen the demand for GigaZone services from the region with lots of people wondering when it will reach their location. The online map of the active areas and plans for this year is a great resource for those interested in checking on their specific location.” added Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.

GigaZone service options include unprecedented Broadband Internet speeds of up to 1000 Mbps – a Gigabit. Members who subscribe to GigaZone Broadband can also add PBTV Fusion and/or low cost unlimited local and long distance GigaZone voice service. All current service options also remain available to cooperative members within the GigaZone.

Most current wireless routers cannot support blazing GigaZone Internet speeds. To help, the cooperative is offering GigaZone Integrated Wi-Fi that uses the latest in advanced Wi-Fi technologies to maximize the in-home wireless experience. This service is free to all new GigaZone customers for the first six months, with a minimal charge thereafter.

Paul Bunyan Communications has the region’s largest and fastest all fiber optic network with over 5,000 square miles throughout most of Beltrami County and portions of Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, and St. Louis Counties. The Cooperative provides Broadband High Speed Internet Services, digital and high definition television services, Smart Home services, digital voice services, and more.
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