Category Archives: FTTH

Bluepeak expands broadband to Fulda and Jasper MN (Murray & Rock Counties)

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Bluepeak announces…

Bluepeak, a leading provider of high‑speed internet, is excited to announce that internet speeds in the communities of Black Hawk, Piedmont, Summerset, Fulda (MN), Jasper (MN), and several areas in and around Rapid City have doubled as part of a recently completed network upgrade. As a result, thousands of homes can now access up to 2 Gig internet, delivering faster downloads, smoother streaming, and improved reliability across every connected device in the home.

In addition, Bluepeak’s 500 Mbps and 1 Gig plans now include symmetrical upload and download speeds. These upgrades provide households with more consistent performance, making it easier to stream, game, and work simultaneously across multiple devices. For more information on the new speeds, residents can check address availability at mybluepeak.com/fasterspeeds.

Mediacom adds more than 400 miles of fiber to services almost 4000 locations

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Broadband Companies reports…

Mediacom Communications said Tuesday it has finished 12 fiber broadband projects across Minnesota ahead of schedule, adding more than 400 miles of last‑mile fiber and bringing service to roughly 3,900 homes and businesses. The company, also known as Mediacom, described the work as a two‑year effort carried out in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), with a combined public‑private investment of more than $24 million.

Company officials said about 90% of the new fiber miles were laid in some of Minnesota’s hardest‑to‑serve areas, including the Iron Range in the state’s north.

Mediacom reported it invested more than $13 million of private capital and used $11 million in DEED grant funding; the carrier also said it leveraged those projects to extend service to an additional 1,600 locations using private dollars.

Bluepeak offers 2 Gig broadband speeds in Worthington

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Bluepeak announces…

Bluepeak, a leading provider of high-speed internet, is excited to announce that internet speeds in Worthington have doubled as part of an ongoing network upgrade. Customers can now access up to 2 Gig internet, delivering faster downloads, smoother streaming, and improved reliability for every connected device in the home.

In addition, Bluepeak’s 500 Mbps and 1 Gig plans now include symmetrical upload and download speeds. These speed upgrades provide equally fast performance, so households can stream, game, and work simultaneously on multiple devices, with greater ease and consistency.

Fast just got faster in Worthington! For more details on the new speeds, readers can visit mybluepeak.com/fasterspeeds.

This upgrade is also just the beginning. Bluepeak recently launched a transformative, multi-million multi-year fiber overbuild across southwest Minnesota. Worthington is slated to be included in the fiber overbuild this year, with construction expected to begin in early summer. This expansion will continue to significantly enhance internet performance and reliability for Worthington’s residents.

Paul Bunyan Communications broadband expansion projects estimated at almost $8 million

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The Timbeyjay reports on expansion of broadband in Northen Minnesota…

Paul Bunyan Communications is planning a significant expansion of its all-fiber optic network in parts of St. Louis and Itasca counties this year, bringing high-speed broadband service to more than 600 homes and businesses across five townships near Cook.
The project will extend the cooperative’s GigaZone network into areas south and west of Cook, including portions of Alango, Carpenter, Field, and Sturgeon townships, along with an unorganized township east of Carpenter.

I wrote about the expansions earlier, the Timberjay takes a look funding…

The total cost is estimated at $7,810,355, with funding coming from a combination of state, regional, local, and cooperative sources.
The largest share of funding, $3,924,157, is being provided through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Low-Density Population Broadband Infrastructure Development Grant Program. Paul Bunyan Communications is contributing $2,203,928 toward the project.
Additional support includes $1,000,000 from Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation, $583,250 from St. Louis County, and smaller contributions from local townships, including $41,200 from Alango Township, $17,800 from Field Township, and $40,000 from Sturgeon Township.

And a look at the larger industry and funding…

These local expansions are taking place amid broader policy changes that could shape the future of broadband deployment across the state.
Federal changes to broadband funding rules are influencing how projects are selected in Minnesota. Updated guidance issued in 2025 by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shifted the BEAD program toward a more “technology-neutral” approach, requiring states to consider a mix of fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite options when awarding funds, rather than prioritizing fiber by default.
Minnesota’s approved BEAD plan reflects that shift, with state officials anticipating a combination of technologies to reach unserved areas, particularly in remote locations where fiber deployment is more costly. Analysts say the policy change has already begun to affect outcomes, with fiber accounting for a smaller share of proposed or funded projects than originally expected and more funding directed toward wireless and satellite options. The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development, which is overseeing roughly $652 million in federal funding, continues to work through how those federal requirements will shape final project selections and the pace of expansion across rural parts of the state.
At the same time, the shift has raised ongoing questions about long-term performance differences between technologies. Fiber networks like Paul Bunyan Communications’ GigaZone are capable of speeds up to 10 gigabits per second, far exceeding federal minimum broadband standards, while satellite-based services such as Starlink typically deliver speeds closer to 250 megabits per second, according to federal and industry data, a gap that can affect reliability, latency, and long-term scalability for users.

Fiber cables help understand modern farming in a surprising way

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For folks who like a deep dive, Grist outlines an unexpected benefit of fiber to the farm…

Fiber optic cables, of all things, have now exposed just how badly tilling messes with a farm’s ability to retain moisture. Using a technology known as distributed acoustic sensing, or DAS, scientists analyzed how seismic waves disturbed the cable as they rippled through harrowed fields compared to adjacent undisturbed plots. This created subtly distinct signals, showing that plowing obliterates the “capillaries” that carry water like tiny interconnected reservoirs.

The findings point to a serious problem with modern agriculture, to be sure, but also to solutions. “Regenerative farming practices based on principles of no-till — combined with cover crops and a diversity of crops — can basically lead to less agrochemical reliance, better soil organic matter contents, comparable yields, [and] lower diesel use,” said David Montgomery, a geomorphologist at the University of Washington and coauthor of a new paper describing the research.

Paul Bunyan Communications expands fiber to more than 3,200 Homes and Businesses in Northern Minnesota

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More good news from Paul Bunyan, this news includes updates I shared from Aitkin and St Louis & Itasca Counties yesterday but also includes Hubbard County updates…

Paul Bunyan Communications will be expanding its all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, to over 3,200 more locations in areas of Aitkin, Hubbard, and St. Louis counties in 2026.
Aitkin County
Over 2,400 locations in central Aitkin County including the cities of McGregor, Palisade, and Tamarack along with areas of Clark, Haugen, Jevne, Libby, Logan, McGregor, Shamrock, and Workman Townships.
Itasca County/St. Louis County
Over 600 locations in areas of the following townships in St Louis and Itasca County: Alango, Sturgeon, Field, Carpenter, and Unorganized Township east of Carpenter Township. These areas are south and west of the city of Cook.
This project is made possible through the State of Minnesota, Department of Employment & Economic Development, Low-Density Population Broadband Infrastructure Development Grant Program. This project is estimated to cost $7,810,355, with the State of Minnesota’s Low-Population Density Program grant contributing $3,924,157, Paul Bunyan Communications investing $2,203,928, Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRRB) investing $1,000,000, St. Louis County investing $583,250, Alango Township $41,200, Field Township $17,800, and Sturgeon Township $40,000.
Hubbard County
Over 225 locations in southern Hubbard County including areas of Henrietta and Todd Townships south of Fishhook Lake and areas south and west of Long Lake in Hubbard Township.
This project is made possible through a USDA ReConnect Round 3 grant award. The portion of construction built with grant dollars will be an estimated $500,000.
Once the new all-fiber optic network is operational, homes and businesses can get fast, dependable GigaZone™ Internet and WiFi built to keep every device connected. Voice services, including unlimited local and long-distance will also be available. Business customers will gain access to Managed IT Business Services like VOIP, Disaster Backup and Recovery, and Network Management.
Construction will take place over the summer with services expected to be available by winter. To get connected, residents and businesses need to sign up for service before construction leaves the area. Sign up online at https://paulbunyan.net/, over the phone, or in person at our offices in Bemidji and Grand Rapids.
“We’re excited to share our plans to expand gigabit broadband access to more residents and businesses,” said Chad Bullock, CEO and General Manager of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Our cooperative remains committed to delivering these essential services to communities across northern Minnesota.”

Paul Bunyan Communications expanding fiber to more than 2,400 Homes and Businesses in Central Aitkin County

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From Paul Bunyan Communications…

Paul Bunyan Communications will be expanding its all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, to over 2,400 more locations in Aitkin County this year.
This expansion in central Aitkin County includes the cities of McGregor, Palisade, and Tamarack along with areas of Clark, Haugen, Libby, Logan, McGregor, Shamrock, and Workman Townships.
Once the new all-fiber optic network is operational, homes and businesses can get fast, dependable GigaZone™ Internet and WiFi built to keep every device connected. Voice services, including unlimited local and long-distance will also be available. Business customers will gain access to Managed IT Business Services like VOIP, Disaster Backup and Recovery, and Network Management. In addition, Paul Bunyan Communications is an authorized DIRECTV dealer and certified Apple Service Center. There is no membership fee to join the cooperative. membership begins when you subscribe to GigaZone™ Internet or local phone service.
Construction will take place over the summer with services expected to be available by winter. To get connected, residents and businesses need to sign up for service before construction leaves the area. Sign up online, over the phone, or in person at our Grand Rapids Customer Service & Technology Center. To check to see if a specific location is within an expansion area and sign up for services, visit https://paulbunyan.net/
“We’re excited to share our plans to expand into additional areas of Aitkin County, bringing gigabit broadband to more residents and businesses,” said Chad Bullock, CEO and General Manager of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Reliable internet access is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. Our cooperative remains committed to delivering this essential service to communities across northern Minnesota.”
“This project represents a major service upgrade for these areas,” said Leo Anderson, Chief Technology Officer of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Without true high-speed internet, everyday tasks, whether for work, school, or business, can be extremely challenging. Our all-fiber optic network delivers fast, reliable connectivity with speeds up to 10 Gig, and it will be a game changer for these communities.”

Bluepeak expands fiber to East Grand Forks

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From KROX radio...

Bluepeak, a leading provider of high-speed fiber internet across Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Texas, and Wyoming, is proud to announce its expansion into East Grand Forks, Minnesota. This investment brings next-generation Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) internet to homes and businesses, strengthening the city’s digital infrastructure and supporting its growth in an increasingly connected world.

Paul Bunyan Communications finishes broadband expansion in Great Scott and unorganzied Township in St. Louis County

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From Paul Bunyan Communications…

Paul Bunyan Communications has completed construction of its all-fiber optic GigaZone® network, bringing fast, reliable Internet access to more than 350 homes and businesses in Great Scott Township and an unorganized township north of Great Scott in St. Louis County. The completed expansion includes the areas surrounding Dark Lake, Clear Lake, Lake Fourteen, and Lake Leander. Residents and businesses who have signed up for service are now being contacted to schedule installation.
“This project represents more than new infrastructure, it’s about delivering Internet and WiFi for the way people live and work today,” said Chad Bullock, CEO and General Manager of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Completing this all-fiber optic expansion ensures residents and businesses in these areas have the dependable, high-speed connectivity they need for everyday life, economic opportunity, and staying connected to what matters most.”
Paul Bunyan Communications’ all-fiber optic network delivers both upload and download speeds up to 10 Gig, supporting the growing demands of modern households and businesses.
“With an all-fiber network, customers experience consistent, reliable performance across everything they do, whether that’s remote work and learning, telehealth visits, running a business, or streaming entertainment,” said Brian Bissonette, Marketing Supervisor at Paul Bunyan Communications. “This level of connectivity truly changes how people can live, work, and stay connected.”
The project was made possible in part through a $400,000 St. Louis County Broadband Grant and a $217,000 Broadband Grant from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR).
Homes and businesses within the completed expansion area that have not yet signed up for service may still do so. When feasible, the cooperative will return to bring the network to additional locations with no construction fee.
There is no membership fee to join Paul Bunyan Communications. Membership is included when subscribing to either local phone service or GigaZone® Internet service.
To check whether a specific location is included in the expansion area and to learn more about the construction process, visit www.paulbunyan.net

Willmar Council rescinds contract offer to NC3 and goes with the Kramer Group to build network for community broadband

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The West Central Tribune reports…

After learning NC3 is not able to fulfill the scope of work for phase one of the Willmar Connect project, the Willmar City Council in a 5-3 vote approved awarding the bid to the next lowest bidder.

The Willmar City Council on Monday unanimously approved rescinding the bid award to NC3 for Willmar Connect phase one and in a split 5-3 vote approved awarding the bid to Kramer Service Group.

Willmar Connect is the city’s initiative to build a city-owned fiber-optic broadband network on which multiple internet service providers can lease space to provide internet services. Network fees from the providers operating on the open-access network will be used to fund the construction debt.

The motion to award the bid to Kramer Service Group was made by Councilor Tom Gilbertson and seconded by Councilor Vicki Davis. Both voted in favor of the motion, along with Councilors Audrey Nelsen, Justin Ask and Carl Shuldes. Voting against the motion were Councilors Rick Fagerlie, Stephen Gardner and Tom Butterfield.

Those three council members had also voted against awarding the bid to NC3 on Jan. 20.

Staff at that time determined that NC3 had demonstrated the responsibility, qualifications and financial capacity sufficient to complete the project in accordance with the bid specifications and contract requirements, according to the memo in the Jan. 20 packet of meeting materials.

“Over the last two weeks, NC3 has informed the city that it has bid on additional work and no longer has the financial or operational capacity to complete the Willmar Connect project as originally proposed,” said Willmar City Operations Director Kyle Box.

They are looking at another option…

Box informed the council that Kramer Service Group has been contacted and has confirmed that it is still willing to be a contractor for this project under its original bid price. …

He explained that Kramer Service Group is a well-known contractor within the industry and has completed similar types of projects in size and cost for a number of cities, including Buffalo, Minnesota, and it will be constructing phase two of the open-access network being constructed in Superior, Wisconsin, this summer.

“The considerations that the council should be aware of is that this bid is approximately $570,000 higher than the bid award to NC3,” Box added.

ImOn Communications to expand fiber to Duluth MN and Superior WI

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Telecompetitor reports...

ImOn Communications, a leading provider of high-speed Internet services across the Midwest, is expanding its 100% fiber Internet network to Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota, bringing multi-gig speeds to the Great Lakes region for the first time.

The new fiber Internet network provides homes and businesses with the fastest, most reliable Internet technology available, supported by a dedicated local team based in the Great Lakes region. It introduces upload and download speeds up to 5 Gbps for homes and 10 Gbps for businesses, as well as fiber-based phone service.

Construction begins in both Superior and Duluth this spring, pending favorable weather conditions, and will continue throughout 2026. …

ImOn collaborated with city officials during the early planning phase and network design. The ImOn team will communicate with residents when work begins in their area.

Breitung Township Board get broadband update: some areas up by mid-summer, take rate is good (St Louis County)

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The Timberjay reports…

Breitung Township Board Chair Matt Tuchel gave an update on broadband internet at the township’s monthly meeting held Feb. 17.
Tuchel reported that he recently met with representatives from CTC, Lake Country Power, IRRR, CBDG, and representatives from other local municipalities, and that the new internet connections installed last summer will be up and running for Breitung residents along McKinley Park Rd. by mid-summer. He said that just under 50 percent of residents chose to connect to the service, a higher percentage than other townships.
Tuchel said that there are 250 poles within Breitung Township that need to be replaced as part of the broadband project. The current poles can’t handle the addition of the new fiberoptic lines. This is in areas where the broadband cables cannot be buried due to ledge rock, for example. Lake Country Power will not pay for pole replacement but will be stringing the fiber lines on the new poles.
A study, with an estimated cost of $175,000, will be needed to determine pole replacement. IRRR will cover 50 percent of the cost, and three townships — Greenwood, Beatty, and Breitung — would share the remaining cost. Bois Forte is planning to apply for a NTIA grant to cover the cost for pole replacements and other costs to complete this broadband expansion. Total funding needed may be as high as $6 million.
The places identified that need poles are Echo Pt. Rd., Carol Ln., Swamp Rd., and Echo Narrows Ln. The other areas that weren’t addressed that still need service will have fiber laid underground, including McKinley Park Acres Rd., Miettunen Plat Rd., and a portion of Echo Pt Rd.
Tuchel said that broadband service will be discussed further at the township’s annual meeting and invited residents to weigh in on the issue.

A look at fiber consolidation in MN, especially the Twin Cities

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Twin Cities Business reports…

Minnesota is once again directly experiencing big changes in the tech sector. In addition to data center construction (and controversy), the state has become a major-league playing field for fiber optic industry consolidation.

In February, AT&T made itself a major fiber player in the Twin Cities metro by closing on its acquisition of Quantum Fiber, the consumer fiber business operated by Louisiana-based Lumen Technologies. (Lumen also is the parent company of telecom provider CenturyLink, which continues to operate.)

AT&T acquired Quantum Fiber via Gigapower, a joint venture it established in 2022 with New York-based BlackRock, the world’s largest institutional asset manager. (BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners subsidiary acquired Duluth-based electric utility Allete last October.)

This deal follows on the heels of two other fiber company acquisitions. In January, Verizon purchased Dallas-based Frontier Communications, which offers fiber connectivity in the Twin Cities region and elsewhere in the state. And last September, Indiana-based Metronet acquired Minnetonka-based U.S. Internet (USI), which provided high-speed internet to about 140,000 commercial and residential customers in and around the Twin Cities. At the time of its USI purchase, Metronet also delivered fiber connectivity to parts of the metro, along with customers in Owatonna, Faribault, and Rochester. Like Gigapower, Metronet is a joint venture between a telecom and a large investment firm—in this case, T-Mobile and KKR, respectively.

It’s happening all over the state…

Indeed, parts of Greater Minnesota are further along in developing high-speed fiber networks. “I have a number of members that have completed fiber-to-the-premises installations already,” says Brent Christensen, president and CEO of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance, a Madelia-headquartered trade association that represents 40 Minnesota telecommunications companies, most of which are smaller providers in Greater Minnesota. “And the vast majority are either done or just about done building out fiber.”

It’s not only small-town telecoms that are installing fiber. This month, the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe in northern Minnesota began construction on a fiber optic expansion project intended to connect more than 2,000 Tribal residents. (Also in the Great North: Iowa-based ImOn Communications recently announced plans to build a fiber network in Duluth. This would be ImOn’s first foray into Minnesota.)

Hiawatha Broadband Communications to bring fiber to Southeast MN (Winona, Goodhue, Wabasha & Dakota Counties)

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TV News Check reports…

Hiawatha Broadband Communications (HBC) announced Tuesday it is expanding its multi-gig Flight Fiber internet service, offering symmetrical speeds of up to 5 Gig to residential and business customers across Southeast Minnesota.

The expansion makes HBC the only provider in the region capable of delivering such speeds, according to the company. The 2026 deployments are currently bringing multi-gig fiber to several communities, including Winona, Red Wing, Lake City, Farmington, Hastings and Empire.

The service, branded as Flight Fiber, provides symmetrical 2 Gig and 5 Gig options. The company said the increased capacity is designed to handle high-demand activities such as 4K streaming, online gaming, and large file transfers across multiple devices simultaneously.

Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC) expands broadband to Clinton Township (St Louis County)

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Hometown Focus reports…

Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC) expanded its broadband fiber optic network to approximately 400 unserved or underserved locations in Clinton Township and adjacent areas, including homes, businesses and farms.

All locations have a minimum service offering available of 250 megabits per second download and upload, with services of 10 gigabits per second download and upload available. Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $1,150,000 Broadband Infrastructure grant to CTC. The total project investment was $5,400,000.

Joe Buttweiler is CTC’s chief strategy officer. He explained that access to broadband is as imperative today as electricity was 75 years ago. A reliable fiber optic network is the backbone necessary to provide rural residents, small businesses, teleworkers and farmers with access to the benefits of unlimited bandwidth, cost efficiency and reliability.

Prior to this project, many residents in the Clinton Township area did not have access to quality or affordable internet service for everyday needs.

The project also received a $2,624,187 Border to-Border Broadband Development Grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and a $400,000 grant from St. Louis County.