Category Archives: Cooperatives

EVENT Jan 13-15: Clearfield launches Tribal broadband technician training program in Brooklyn Park MN

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Telecompetitor reports…

Tribal residents will have access to certified broadband training through fiber optic equipment company Clearfield Inc.’s new Tribal Broadband Training Initiative.

The free three-day course is accredited by the Fiber Optic Association for Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) training. It combines hands-on elements with classroom learning. The course covers inside plant, outside plant, and access network applications.

The goal is to offer a broadband training session each quarter near Tribal lands. The inaugural session will be held January 13–15 at Clearfield’s headquarters in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Subsequent sessions will be held from April 7–9 at the Hopi Telecommunications office in Keams Canyon, Arizona, and from July 21–23 at Tri County Tech in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) invests $913,000 in Paul Bunyan Communications

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The Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) reports…

At today’s Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) Board meeting, approximately $18.8 million in projects were reviewed that expand an existing business, advance mining operations, support higher education offerings, extend broadband service, increase the housing inventory and modernize infrastructure and public facilities.

$913,000 went to broadband grants…

  • Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative: $600,000 to construct fiber optics to serve 128 unserved and 18 underserved households in Field, Alango and Sturgeon Townships in rural Saint Louis County. This is Phase 2 of a larger fiber optic expansion initiative.
  • Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative: $313,000 to construct fiber optics to serve 146 unserved and underserved households in the communities of Cook, Marble, Keewatin and northeast Hibbing in Saint Louis County and rural Itasca County.

Lismore Coop talking to Nobles County about extending FTTH to Rushmore and Ellsworth

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The Worthington Globe reports…

Travis Halbur of Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company met with the Nobles County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning to discuss a new project endeavor with intent to request funding assistance from the county.

Carter Grupp, consulting project manager at Finley Engineering Company, was also present to offer more information on the project, which is intended to bring a fiber line into Rushmore, Ellsworth and other non-grant subscribers throughout the county.

Some specifics on the proposal…

The total cost of the project is estimated at $682,000. Nobles County was asked to provide 20%, or $136,400, as a local commitment toward an application to secure more funding through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Broadband Line Extension Connection program . The program awards grants for the extension of existing broadband infrastructure to unserved locations, which includes Ellsworth, Rushmore, Worthington and Fulda. …

With the line extension grant application due Nov. 25, there isn’t much time to gather funds. Though, the project is not meant to be a large-scale investment.

The proposed project would include about 18.74 miles of mainline cable, serving about 55 passings, which is an umbrella term to define an end user, such as a home, business, school, library or farm. Of those, 53 would be in Nobles County, while two would be in Murray County.

The cost per subscriber comes in at around $12,400, with the cost per mile at $36,000, which is pretty standard according to Grupp.

“We’re looking to leverage existing state funding to not only build last mile fiber, but also feed potentially four communities in Nobles County that don’t have access to fiber,” Grupp said.

 

Paul Bunyan Communications’ broadband Expansion continues in Itasca and St. Louis Counties

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Another update from Paul Bunyan Communications…

The end of construction season is near but Paul Bunyan Communications is still on track to complete its planned broadband expansion projects across parts of Itasca and St. Louis Counties.
Status of Paul Bunyan Communications Broadband Expansion projects:
• Itasca County:
City of Coleraine- COMPLETED. Network is operational and services are now available.
City of Bovey- Construction is in progress. Services expected to become available by mid-December
Bearville(s) Township- COMPLETED. Network is operational and services are now available.
• St. Louis County:
Sandy Pike, & Wuori Township- COMPLETED. Network is operational and services are now available.
Alango, Angora, & Owens Township- Network testing in progress. Services should become available by end of November.
Balkan Township- Construction is in progress. Services expected to become available by end of December
French Township- COMPLETED. Network is operational and services are now available.
Great Scott Township & unorganized township north of Great Scott- Construction has started. Services projected to be available by end of January
Once the network is operational in a project area, customers who signed up for service will be contacted to schedule service installations.
Service Applications Still Accepted for Fiber Optic Connection
Residents and businesses in these expansion areas who did not sign up for services already are welcome to do so at any time, The cooperative will still install the fiber optic connection up to the location with no construction fee. When the network can be installed depends upon when the service application is received. Service applications can be completed online at http://www.paulbunyan.net, by phone, or in person at our Grand Rapids Customer Service & Technology Center.
Services Available Upon Completion
Once the network is live, customers will have access to Paul Bunyan’s GigaZone® services, including high-speed fiber-optic Internet with speeds up to 10 Gig and dependable, low-cost unlimited local and long-distance GigaZone® voice services.

Paul Bunyan Communications expands FTTH to 480+ homes and businesses in Coleraine

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Paul Bunyan Communications reports…

Paul Bunyan Communications has completed expanding its all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, to over 480 homes and businesses in the city of Coleraine. Those who have signed up for service are being contacted to set up service installation.
““Reliable, high-speed Internet is a necessity in today’s world, and we’re thrilled to bring our broadband technologies and services to Coleraine. We have built an advanced, all-fiber optic network and will continue to extend that network to more areas of the Iron Range in the years to come,” said Chad Bullock, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager.
“We’re proud to bring world class connectivity to the city of Coleraine,” said Leo Anderson, Chief Technology Officer at Paul Bunyan Communications. “Our GigaZone all-fiber optic network opens up new possibilities for residents and businesses alike, allowing them to connect and thrive.”
Anyone interested in getting connected to the all-fiber optic broadband network in these areas can still sign up for service. The cooperative will return to bring the network up to locations with no construction fee when feasible.
There is no membership fee to join Paul Bunyan Communications, membership is included by subscribing to either local phone service or GigaZone® Internet service.
To check to see if a specific location is within an expansion area and learn more about the expansion construction process, visit www.gigazone.com

Paul Bunyan Communications completes broadband expansion in French and Bearville(S) Townships

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Paul Bunyan Communications reports…

Paul Bunyan Communications has completed expanding its all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, to areas of French and Bearville(S) Township that included over 200 homes and businesses. This expansion included areas east and north of Side Lake including Perch Lake, Luna Lake, and Beatrice Lake. Those who have signed up for service are being contacted to set up service installation.
“We remain fully committed to bringing all-fiber optic gigabit broadband to the underserved areas in our region. Reliable Internet is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity, and we’re proud to now serve more of the French and Bearville Townships.” said Chad Bullock, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager.
“This is a major upgrade for both residents and businesses,” said Leo Anderson, Chief Technology Officer at Paul Bunyan Communications. “With our all-fiber optic network now offering Internet speeds up to 10 Gig, things like remote work, distance learning, telehealth, and streaming are not only possible, but they are seamless. It is a true game changer for these communities.”
Anyone interested in getting connected to the all-fiber optic broadband network in these areas can still sign up for service. The cooperative will return to bring the network up to locations with no construction fee when feasible.
There is no membership fee to join Paul Bunyan Communications, membership is included by subscribing to either local phone service or GigaZone® Internet service.
To check to see if a specific location is within an expansion area and learn more about the expansion construction process, visit http://www.gigazone.com
This project was made possible through the USDA ReConnect 3 Grant Program. The grant area also included areas of Pike, Sandy, and Wuori Townships and is estimated to cost $13,588,555 with the USDA grant contributing $10,191,416. Paul Bunyan Communications investing $3,381,112, and Wuori Township contributing $16,026.

Paul Bunyan Communication expands to Itasca and St. Louis Counties

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From Paul Bunyan Communication…

The end of construction season is near and Paul Bunyan Communications is still on track to complete its planned broadband expansion projects across parts of Itasca and St. Louis Counties. The first project started this year was Sandy, Pike and Wuori townships and the network is now in service!
Status of Paul Bunyan Communications Broadband Expansion projects:
• Itasca County:
City of Coleraine- Construction is done, fiber splicing is almost done. Services expected to become available by the end of October
City of Bovey- Construction is in progress. Services expected to become available by mid-December
Bearville(s) Township- Construction is done. Fiber splicing will start this month. Services expected to become available by mid-November
• St. Louis County:
Sandy Pike, & Wuori Township- COMPLETED. Network is operational and services are now available.
Alango, Angora, & Owens Township- Construction is done, fiber splicing is in progress. Services should become available by end of October.
Balkan Township- Construction is in progress. Services expected to become available by end of December
French Township- Construction is done. Fiber splicing is in progress. Services expected to be available by early November
Great Scott Township & unorganized township north of Great Scott- Construction has started. Services projected to be available by end of January
Once the network is operational in a project area, customers who signed up for service will be contacted to schedule service installations.
Service Applications Still Accepted for Fiber Optic Connection
 Residents and businesses in these expansion areas who did not sign up for services already are welcome to do so at any time, The cooperative will still install the fiber optic connection up to the location with no construction fee. When the network can be installed depends upon when the service application is received. Service applications can be completed online at www.paulbunyan.net, by phone, or in person at our Grand Rapids Customer Service & Technology Center.
Services Available Upon Completion
Once the network is live, customers will have access to Paul Bunyan’s GigaZone® services, including high-speed fiber-optic Internet with speeds up to 10 Gig and dependable, low-cost unlimited local and long-distance GigaZone® voice services.

Bois Forte-CTC extends NECS middle mile broadband to 2,000 locations around Lake Vermilion (St Louis and Koochiching Counties)

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The Timberjay has a nice article on the history of broadband in parts of St Louis and Koochiching Counties – from NESC middle mile in 2015 to the Bois Forte-CTC extensions today. It’s proof that, like Rome, FTTH was not built in a day. I’m going to share an abridged version below, but I strongly suggested checking out the original.

Roughly a decade ago, the Northeast Service Cooperative strung a massive web of fiber across northeastern Minnesota. But what you’re seeing today isn’t a duplication of that work. It’s the follow-through. Thanks to a partnership between NESC, the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and the broadband company CTC, more than 2,000 homes and businesses around Lake Vermilion’s south shore, Pelican Lake, and Nett Lake are finally getting high-speed broadband service.   …

NESC’s “freeway” network was completed in 2015 after four years of construction and $43.5 million in federal investment. The goal wasn’t to wire every house. It was to build a middle mile, essential infrastructure that future projects could plug into.

Joe Weber, divisional director for the NESC middle mile system, said the project was originally built to serve schools, libraries, governments, and other public entities in places where private providers couldn’t justify the cost of running fiber.    …

The original network spanned eight counties and connected about 320 public facilities. Since then, it has grown to over 1,300 miles of fiber stretching from Cambridge to Grand Portage.
The Bois Forte–CTC project wouldn’t have been feasible without the NESC backbone. Without it, CTC would have faced the enormous expense of building long stretches of new fiber just to link the project area to the larger internet. By tapping into NESC’s existing system, those costs were avoided.  …

A common question that’s cropped up in recent months is whether a network built in 2011 to 2015 can keep up with the skyrocketing internet demands of 2025 and beyond. Both Weber and Buttweiler say that’s not a concern with fiber optics.
“The fiber itself has not changed at all,” Weber said. “The same investment 12 or 13 years ago is still working with new technology.”

Paul Bunyan Communications Returns over $3.6 million to Members

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Paul Bunyan Communications reports…

Paul Bunyan Communications is returning over $3.6 million to its members!

Paul Bunyan Communications is a not-for-profit company that strives to provide the highest quality service at the most affordable rates.  As a cooperative, membership in Paul Bunyan Communications includes the opportunity to share in the financial success of the company. When profits are earned, they are allocated to the members based on their proportional share of the allocable revenues.  These allocations may then be returned to the individual members through capital credit retirements.

For current members with a distribution amount of $150 or less, a credit has been applied to their August bill. Checks have been mailed out for distributions of more than $150.

 

Paul Bunyan Communications completes broadband expansion in Sandy Pike, & Wuori Townships (St Louis County)

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From Paul Bunyan Communications…

Paul Bunyan Communications has completed expanding its all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, to areas of Sandy, Pike, and Wuori Townships that included over 680 homes and businesses. Those who have signed up for service are being contacted to set up service installation.
“We remain fully committed to bringing all-fiber optic gigabit broadband to the underserved areas in our region. Reliable Internet is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity, and we’re proud to now serve Sandy, Pike, and Wuori Townships.” said Chad Bullock, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager.
“This is a major upgrade for both residents and businesses,” said Leo Anderson, Chief Technology Officer at Paul Bunyan Communications. “With our all-fiber optic network now offering Internet speeds up to 10 Gig, things like remote work, distance learning, telehealth, and streaming are not only possible, but they are seamless. It is a true game changer for these communities.”
Anyone interested in getting connected to the all-fiber optic broadband network in these areas can still sign up for service. The cooperative will return to bring the network up to locations with no construction fee when feasible.
There is no membership fee to join Paul Bunyan Communications, membership is included by subscribing to either local phone service or GigaZone® Internet service.
To check to see if a specific location is within an expansion area and learn more about the expansion construction process, visit http://www.gigazone.com
This project was made possible through the USDA ReConnect 3 Grant Program. This project is estimated to cost $13,588,555 with the USDA grant contributing $10,191,416. Paul Bunyan Communications investing $3,381,112, and Wuori Township contributing $16,026.

Vibrant Broadband spread broadband in rural MN with hybrid fiber and fixed wireless infrastructure

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Lightwave reports…

Vibrant Broadband, part of Meeker Energy, is another example of how electric cooperatives are taking their rural broadband matters into their own hands.

In 2018, Vibrant Broadband began building its hybrid fiber optic and fixed wireless infrastructure for rural members who had electricity. This hybrid system allows us to offer brilliant speeds throughout a widespread area.

Vibrant Broadband provides fiber-fed Internet to businesses and residents of Meeker, Kandiyohi, Wright, Stearns, McLeod, and Renville counties in Central Minnesota.

Andrew Kalkbrenner, IT Manager at Vibrant Broadband, said that the cooperative’s decision was a response to the limited options its members had.

The connection serves two purposes…

Considering the rural landscape that Vibrant Broadband serves, the cooperative is leveraging fiber for two purposes: gaining greater visibility into its electric business and delivering broadband.

By building out fiber to its electric infrastructure, the cooperative gained greater visibility. Electric providers can use the fiber for Substation Automation and control, enabling SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) and supporting modern smart grid functionalities like asset condition monitoring and remote control.

Those purposes opened a third door…

Besides taking care of its electric infrastructure and supporting its FTTH and wireless broadband networks, Vibrant sees several wholesale application opportunities for the middle mile networks.

It is working with other providers using its service to resell the internet to consumers, as well as providing facilities for wireless backhaul. “The middle mile network is mainly for our members, but there are several other opportunities,” Kalkbrenner said. “Also, there are other electric companies we’re able to help tie some of their facilities together to operate more efficiently and have private connectivity between locations to help with security.”

EVENTS: Paul Bunyan Communications Launches PBC Academy: Free Technology Training for Members

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From Paul Bunyan Communications…

Paul Bunyan Communications is excited to announce the launch of the PBC Academy, a new outreach program offering FREE training sessions designed to help cooperative members gain confidence and skills with today’s technology. These hands-on sessions, taught by local cooperative staff, make learning simple, approachable, and fun.
PBC Academy classes will be offered free of charge at Paul Bunyan Communications offices in Bemidji and Grand Rapids. The first topic will be on streaming technology helping members understand the basics and will feature streaming DIRECTV. Future topics will be added based on member interest and feedback.
Streaming Technology featuring DIRECTV
• Grand Rapids
o Sept. 30 – 10:30 a.m.
o Oct. 7 – 1:30 p.m.
• Bemidji Classes
o Oct. 2 – 10:30 a.m.
o Oct. 9 – 1:30 p.m.
Class sizes are limited to 10 participants and advanced online registration is required. Each session will last about an hour with additional time afterward for one-on-one learning.
In addition to the scheduled classes, PBC Academy is available for groups, organizations, or clubs interested in hosting a training session.
“For many of our cooperative members technology can feel overwhelming at times,” said Leo Anderson, Chief Technology Officer at Paul Bunyan Communications. “PBC Academy will help make it less intimidating and easier to understand.”
For more information or to reserve a spot in an upcoming class, visit https://paulbunyan.net/academy/ or contact academy@paulbunyan.net

Rural Broadband Cooperatives ask US Congress to rethink the Universal Service Fund

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

Rural broadband executives told lawmakers Wednesday that Congress must modernize the Universal Service Fund to keep small town networks affordable and sustainable.

“USF doesn’t just cover network construction, but also ongoing operations, maintenance, and upgrades,” said witness Karen Jackson-Furman, CEO of West Kentucky and Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative. For a rural co-op like WK&T, she added, the program was often “the difference between operating and not operating.”

Her testimony came during a hearing of the House Committee on Small Business centered on how expanding broadband may revitalize rural, small businesses. Lawmakers and witnesses also discussed permitting delays, flawed federal mapping, and the Trump administration’s changes to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program that removed its emphasis on fiber technology.

Vibrant Broadband chooses Ribbon Communications for middle-mile network solution

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A pretty technical update from Sax Central…

Ribbon Communications has been selected to provide a middle-mile network solution for Vibrant Broadband.

The Plano, Texas-headquartered vendor will provide its IP-optical kit and automation software to Vibrant, the broadband arm of Meeker Cooperative, which is described as one of the Midwest’s oldest electric cooperatives and an early mover in rural fiber deployment.

At the heart of the network upgrade is Ribbon’s NPT 2100 router, a 1-rack-unit form factor (1-RU) platform that delivers up to 800 Gb/s of non-blocking switching capacity and offers interface options from 1 Gb/s to 400 Gb/s.

Vibrant is also adopting Ribbon’s Muse Multilayer Automation Platform, which layers SDN orchestration, service-lifecycle management, and low-code automation tools on top of the hardware.

And a slight update on Vibrant’s plans…

Vibrant plans to use the new equipment to extend fiber into unserved areas of central Minnesota and bolster its network backbone for advanced services.

Ribbon Communications, meanwhile, adds another name to its middle-mile client list, following similar initiatives in Alabama, Illinois, Montana, and Pennsylvania.

As U.S. broadband funding programs push fiber deeper into the countryside, community-owned power cooperatives such as Vibrant’s parent Meeker have become a virile market for middle-mile upgrades.

Broadband Communities on progress of Paul Bunyan Communications in Itasca and St. Louis counties

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I have been tracking the progress as it happens, but always nice to see Minnesota broadband stories outside of Minnesota – Broadband Communities reports…

A broadband expansion in Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region has reached 65% completion in the city of Coleraine, according to a recent update posted by the firm behind the project, Paul Bunyan Communications.

Additionally, work in the city of Bovey set to commence once Coleraine’s project is finished, according to the company.

Meanwhile, in Bearville Township, Paul Bunyan Communications says construction is complete, and fiber splicing is scheduled to start shortly.

Also, in St. Louis County, the internet provider says construction in Sandy Pike and Wuori Township is finished, with fiber splicing underway, and services expected to be available by September.

Other areas such as Alango and Owens Townships are nearing completion, with fiber splicing planned and service anticipated by the end of September. …

Overall, the project is estimated to cost around $7.5 million, according to a local news report, and is supported by the State of Minnesota’s Low-Density Population Grant Program, alongside contributions from Paul Bunyan Communications and local townships.