October is Cooperative Month—an opportunity to highlight the power of cooperation and its impact on communities. For broadband cooperatives like ours, this month is especially meaningful as we reflect on how cooperation brings essential internet access to our rural and underserved areas, ensuring everyone can thrive in the digital age.
Cooperative Month is celebrated every October to recognize the importance of cooperatives across various sectors—from agriculture to finance, and housing to broadband. With over 40,000 cooperatives in the United States serving 120 million members, this month honors the vital role cooperatives play in fostering economic development, strengthening communities, and empowering individuals.
As a not-for-profit broadband cooperative, we operate on a member-first model. This means that instead of profits going to shareholders, they are reinvested into the cooperative or returned to members. We focus on reliable and affordable internet access—a necessity in today’s digital world.
Broadband cooperatives like ours focus on rural areas where large internet providers often do not see the financial incentive to build infrastructure. Through collaboration and a community-driven approach, we have built one of the largest rural all-fiber optic networks in the country, the GigaZone, providing high quality, reliable high-speed internet to areas that need it most.
In addition to providing world class connectivity, we are committed to providing real, local customer service. We have over 160 staff who live and work in the communities we serve right here in northern Minnesota to ensure that members receive the support they need with the services we provide.
And as a member of our cooperative, you share in our success!
As we celebrate Cooperative Month 2024, let’s remember the power of working together. Through cooperation, we build stronger, more resilient communities and provide the connectivity needed to thrive in today’s world.