Paul Bunyan Communications is inviting baseball fans and sports enthusiasts to put their prediction skills to the test with the new Pick It Big Leagues Challenge, a free online contest for the upcoming professional baseball playoffs.

The Pick It Big Leagues Challenge is easy to enter. Participants simply register, submit their picks, and earn points based on correctly predicting match winners throughout the playoffs. Anyone 18 years of age or older can enter to compete against friends, family, coworkers, and fellow baseball fans for a chance to win up to a $500 credit on their Paul Bunyan Communications account.

Contest registration is now open at https://paulbunyan.pickitchallenge.com/   Anyone who participated in the 2026 Pick It March Mania or Pick It World Soccer Challenge contest is already registered for the Pick It contest website and can just sign in to make picks once available.  Anyone who did not participate in those previous contests this year will need to register for the contest website first.

Participants will be able to make their picks September 27 through October 1.  Entries must be completed before midday on Thursday, October 1.

Some restrictions may apply.  See contest website for contest rules.

Paul Bunyan Communications is returning more than $3.7 million to its members through this year’s capital credit retirement.

As a member-owned cooperative, when it generates positive margins in any given year, those funds are allocated to members based on their use of services. Over time, those allocations are returned to members as capital credit retirements, allowing them to share directly in the cooperative’s financial success.

Members who currently receive services from Paul Bunyan Communications and have a retirement amount of $150 or less will see the credit applied directly to their September bill. Members with retirements exceeding $150 have been mailed a check.

“Everything we accomplish as a cooperative is made possible by our members,” said Chad Bullock, Chief Executive Officer of Paul Bunyan Communications. “As we continue to expand and enhance our all-fiber optic network, it’s rewarding to be able to return a portion of that success back to those who helped make it possible. Returning capital credits is one of the core values of cooperative membership.”

Today, Paul Bunyan Communications serves more than 38,000 active members across a service territory spanning over 6,000 square miles. Through decades of investment and innovation, the cooperative has developed one of the largest rural all-fiber optic networks in the nation, delivering advanced communications services throughout northern Minnesota.

“Being a member of Paul Bunyan Communications comes with many benefits,” said Craig Boyer, Chief Financial Officer. “For more than 70 years, we’ve operated with our members’ best interests in mind. There are no membership fees or annual dues, simply subscribe to a local telephone line or GigaZone® Broadband Internet service and you become a member-owner of the cooperative.”

The cooperative employs more than 160 local professionals who live and work throughout the region, providing support close to home for the critical services we provide.

“Unlike national providers, every decision we make is focused on northern Minnesota,” said Brian Bissonette, Marketing Supervisor. “The revenue generated here stays here, supporting local jobs, expanding our network, improving services, and strengthening the communities we serve in many different ways.”

Members who received capital credit allocations in 2003 and/or 2025 totaling more than $10, but who do not receive a bill credit or check by October 1, are encouraged to contact Paul Bunyan Communications at (218) 444-1234 or (218) 999-1234.

Service availability depends upon location.  Some restrictions may apply.  Past performance is no guarantee of future capital credit returns.

We’re proud to support the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation and its Sparks of Change initiative, helping strengthen the communities we serve.

Learn more: gracf.org/donate.

We are a member of the Northern Minnesota Builders Association and had a great time at their Battle of the Builders Cornhole Tournament!

It was a fun day of friendly competition, connection, and community.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the event a great one!

Congratulations to the Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference : NMRC on its Grand Opening of the NorthSTAR Center at the Beltrami County Fairgrounds!

We were excited to see this incredible new space come to life! It was great to see so much creativity, teamwork, and innovation in one place.

Congratulations to everyone who helped make the NorthSTAR Center a reality.

We’re proud to support opportunities like this that inspire young people, strengthen our community, and create exciting possibilities for the future!

Paul Bunyan Communications and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are promoting Lifeline Awareness Week, September 7-13.

Access to local emergency services and community resources is vital to all residents. Lifeline helps low-income consumers connect to the nation’s voice and broadband networks, find jobs, access health care services, connect with family and call for help in an emergency. For some, being connected can be the difference between social connection and complete isolation.

Paul Bunyan Communications wants residents to get and stay connected and promotes Lifeline throughout the year to raise awareness about the program that provides assistance to those who need voice and/or broadband services but can’t afford it.  “Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week,” September 7-13 is another opportunity to highlight this very important assistance program.

Federal Lifeline Program

This program offers a $9.25 monthly discount on one of the following services per household:

• Landline telephone service
• Wireless telephone service
• Broadband internet service

Tribal Benefit Program

Households on Tribal lands may qualify for additional support:

• Tribal Lands Lifeline: Up to $34.25/month off landline, wireless, or broadband service
• Tribal Lands Link Up: A one-time credit of up to $100 for installation or activation fees

Please note that these tribal discounts apply to only one service per household.

To get started, individuals must first confirm their eligibility by visiting https://www.lifelinesupport.org.

We’re expanding to over 2,400 locations in central Aitkin County this year including the City of McGregor and we’ll be at McGregor Wild Rice Days on Saturday, September 5.

Plan to stop by the vendor fair from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and visit with us about our cooperative, services, and pick up a free gift while supplies last!

We are a proud new member of the McGregor Chamber of Commerce and sponsor of 2026 Wild Rice Days.

Our offices will be closed on Monday, September 7 for the Labor Day Holiday.

As always, 24 hour emergency repair will be available.