Get in to win with the Paul Bunyan Communications Pick-it Bowl Challenge, a free online contest for participants to pick the winners for the College Bowl games for a chance to win a credit on a Paul Bunyan Communications account.

The top 10 finishers will win a credit on their Paul Bunyan Communications account. First place winner will receive a $500 credit, second place is a $250 credit.  One random entry will also win a $100 credit on their account.

To sign up for the Pick It Bowl Challenge go to https://head2headpickem.com/

The first official College Bowl game is Saturday, December 13 so be sure to register and make your picks by the start of the first game!

The Pick-it Bowl Challenge is a fun and free way to interact with others in northern Minnesota and enjoy a little friendly competition.  Must be 18 years of age or older. Limit one entry per person. Prizes not redeemable for cash. Void where prohibited. Some restrictions may apply. See Pick It Bowl Challenge website for complete contest rules.

Please note that our offices will be opening at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17

That is 1/2 hour later than our regular opening time of 8 a.m.

Paul Bunyan Television 24-hour Yule Log channel has returned for the holiday season and is available to all PBTV subscribers on channel 99.

“Every year we would get calls wondering where the Yule Log programming may be.  Various networks have provided it in the past and some still do but how long and when varied.  It was hard for us to provide that answer. So our staff created a Yule Log channel for our television customers to have 24/7 throughout the holiday season,” said Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.

The PBTV Yule Log channel will air through at least January 3.

As the end of construction season approaches, Paul Bunyan Communications is on track to complete its planned broadband expansion projects across parts of Itasca and St. Louis Counties before freeze out.

Current Status of Paul Bunyan Communications Broadband Expansion projects:

• Itasca County:

City of Coleraine- COMPLETED.  Network is operational and services are now available.

Bearville(s) Township- COMPLETED.  Network is operational and services are now available.

City of Bovey- Construction is done and fiber splicing is ongoing.  Services expected to become available by early January

• St. Louis County:

Sandy Pike, & Wuori Township- COMPLETED.  Network is operational and services are now available.

Alango, Angora, & Owens Township- COMPLETED.  Network is operational and services are now available.

French Township- COMPLETED.  Network is operational and services are now available.

Balkan Township- Construction is done, fiber splicing is ongoing.  Services expected to become available by mid-January

Great Scott Township & unorganized township north of Great Scott- Construction is done, fiber splicing expected to start in a few weeks.  Services projected to be available by end of February

Once the network is operational in a project area, customers who signed up for service will be contacted to schedule service installations.

Sign Up Now for Fiber Optic Connection
Residents and businesses in these expansion areas that have not signed up for service yet can do so at anytime.  We will come back to install the fiber optic connection up to the location when feasible and with no construction fee. Service applications can be done online, 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.

Wednesday, December 24

Offices will close early at 2 p.m. for Christmas Eve.

Thursday, December 25

Offices will be closed in observation of the Christmas holiday.  Our regular office hours will resume on Friday, December 26

Wednesday, December 31

Offices will close early at 2 p.m. for New Year’s Eve.

Thursday, January 1

Offices will be closed in observation of New Year’s holiday.  Our regular office hours will resume on Friday, January 2.

Emergency 24 hour repair will remain available.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Paul Bunyan Communications!

Our offices will be closed on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Our regular office hours will resume on Monday, December 1st

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at your local broadband cooperative!

The annual Paul Bunyan Communications Holiday Open House is Friday, December 12 from 10-2 at our offices in Bemidji and Grand Rapids.

Stop in for hot apple cider and cookies, pick up the 2025 collector ornament along with 2026 desk and sticky car calendars, and the PBC Academy will be open to answer any of your streaming video questions!

It’s a Holiday Tradition. Come celebrate the season with your local broadband cooperative!

In celebration of National Cooperative Month, Paul Bunyan Communications has donated $5,000 to Project Canopy, an initiative dedicated to replanting trees and restoring the landscape across the Bemidji area following the devastating storm of June 21.

As a member-owned cooperative, Paul Bunyan Communications supports the communities it serves by giving to local projects that make a lasting difference for its members and the region.

“The June storm had a tremendous impact on the Bemidji area and the natural beauty that defines our area,” said Chad Bullock, CEO/General Manager of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Project Canopy is helping to bring new life to our neighborhoods and we’re proud to support their work.”

Project Canopy was started by First National Bank of Bemidji and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation in response to the widespread tree loss caused by the storm. The initiative’s goal is to help replant trees for future generations.

For more information on Project Canopy visit https://www.fnbbemidji.com/news-events/news/project-canopy/

Pictured left to right:  Erin Lawyer, First National Bank Computer Operations Supervisor, Brian Bissonette Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor, Steve Lundberg, First National Bank Chief Technology Officer, Shari Dreyer, First National Bank Customer Service Representative

FOX ONE, FOX’s brand-new streaming app, is now available to PBTV Main Package subscribers at no additional cost as part of your PBTV subscription!

What is FOX ONE?

FOX ONE brings together live and on-demand content from FOX News Channel, FOX Business, Local FOX Station, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, and more—all in one easy-to-use app.

Why You’ll Love It:

• No additional cost – it’s included with your PBTV subscription
• Everything FOX in one place
• Stream live sports, news, and entertainment anytime, anywhere

How to Get Started:

• Download the FOX ONE app > click “select TV provider” > choose: Paul Bunyan Communications > enter your PBTV Everywhere username and password.
• Or, visit FOX.com > click “TV Provider” in the upper right-hand corner > select Paul Bunyan Communications > enter your PBTV Everywhere username and password.
• Dive in and enjoy everything FOX has to offer—live and on demand!

FOX ONE is only available to PBTV Main Package Subscribers.  It is not available to PBTV Economy or PBTV Lite Subscribers.

Keeping Americans Connected with Broadband Built to Last

The idea that all Americans should have reliable access to communications services at a reasonable cost has been a national objective for over a century. Today, the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) helps rural Americans connect to high-quality, affordable broadband and supports critical connections for low-income families, schools, libraries and healthcare facilities in rural communities.

Watch this video to learn about how the USF helps rural Americans get and stay connected.

Community-based providers like Paul Bunyan Communications have led the charge on the mission of universal connectivity in rural America, leveraging a mix of community commitment, private capital, long-term loans and high-cost USF support to deploy networks and deliver services in the most rural parts of the country, keeping rural Americans’ broadband rates more affordable, promoting ongoing broadband network investment, and making the business case to take on network construction loans.

Policymakers in Washington, D.C., are currently debating how to reform universal service programs going forward, so that they can continue to serve the needs of millions of Americans. It is essential that our elected officials in Washington understand the positive impacts that the critical USF programs have had and continue to have on the availability, affordability and sustainability of voice and broadband services for millions of consumers, businesses and anchor institutions in rural America.

Learn more