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Brittany Perry of Missouri wins Hockey Hot Shots; Second BSU Game in a row with a winner

For the second time in as many games, there was a winner of the Paul Bunyan Communications Hockey Hot Shots Promotion during a Bemidji State University men’s home hockey game!

Brittany Perry of Columbia, MO made her shot at center ice during a period intermission at the Beavers game Friday, December 31 against St. Cloud to win a 70” Smart HDTV.  Brittany was in town for the holiday with her boyfriend Sam Rydeen who graduated from BSU in 2018.  It was the first time she’s attended a college hockey game and the first time she held a hockey stick.

“We thought it would be a good idea to leave 61 degree weather to come to the coldest weather we had ever been a part of, -15 with a “feels like” -30. The BSU game was the first college hockey game I had ever been to and I’m not sure another could ever top it after this!” said Peterson.

“We’ve sponsored the contest for a long time but have never seen a win like Brittany’s.  She had never held a hockey stick before and you could tell.  She missed the puck on her first four tries and it seemed was about to give up but wouldn’t you know it, the fifth time she connected and it went straight down and in!” said Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.

You can see video of Brittany making the shot on the Paul Bunyan Communications YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKUI-3TAISg

The Paul Bunyan Communications Hockey Hot Shots contest is held during an intermission at select Bemidji State University Men’s Hockey home games. Three contestants are selected at random to participate each night. All contestants receive a coupon for a free PBTV On Demand movie rental, any contestant hitting the board receives a Paul Bunyan Communications Bluetooth speaker, and a contestant who puts the puck in the net through the middle of the Hockey Hot Shots board wins up to a 70” Smart HDTV.

Posted: 3 years ago.

2022 Scholarship Opportunities from Paul Bunyan Communications

Paul Bunyan Communications is committed to the communities we serve and provides annual scholarships to local students within our service territory.  We also offer local students the chance to apply for one statewide industry scholarship and one national industry scholarship.  If you are a current high school senior or a student at one of the local post-secondary institutions, you can apply to win a Paul Bunyan Communications Scholarship!

High School Scholarships

Each year, our cooperative provides at least 2 scholarships to 16 area high schools within or near our service territory.  The application process, winners, and distribution of funds are handled by each high school independent of Paul Bunyan Communications.

Bemidji, Bigfork, Blackduck, Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig, Cass Lake, Deer River, Grand Rapids, Greenway, International Falls, Kelliher, Laporte, Nashwauk-Keewatin, Northome, Park Rapids, Red Lake, and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High Schools

Paul Bunyan Communications Scholarships are available at the following high schools: Bemidji, Bigfork, Blackduck, Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig, Cass Lake, Deer River, Grand Rapids, Greenway, International Falls, Kelliher, Laporte, Nashwauk-Keewatin, Northome, Park Rapids, Red Lake, and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley.

To apply for the Paul Bunyan Communications Scholarship at one of these high schools, please speak to the school counselor or career service office.

Post-Secondary Scholarships

In addition to High School Scholarships, Paul Bunyan Communications provides scholarship opportunities to the following post secondary institutions: Bemidji State University, Northwest Technical College, Itasca Community College, Red Lake Nation College, Leech Lake Tribal College, and Oak Hills Christian College.

Bemidji State University

There are several scholarships annually available to students attending Bemidji State University that are current members of Paul Bunyan Communications or a parent/legal guardian is a member.  Applications are available in the BSU Admissions Office.

Northwest Technical College

One scholarship is awarded annually to a NTC student that is a current member or who has a parent/legal guardian that is a member of Paul Bunyan Communications. Applications are available in the NTC Admissions office or online at www.NTCmn.edu under scholarships.

Itasca Community College, Red Lake Nation College, Leech Lake Tribal College and Oak Hills Christian College

One scholarship is awarded annually at Itasca Community College, Red Lake Nation College, Leech Lake Tribal College and Oak Hills Christian College to a student that is a current member or who has a parent/legal guardian that is a member of Paul Bunyan Communications.

To apply for the Paul Bunyan Communications Scholarship at one of these post-secondary institutions, speak to the Admissions or Career Service office at the school you attend.

Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation Scholarship

Minnesota Telecom Alliance FoundationPaul Bunyan Communications participates in the MTA’s scholarship program which awards five $2,000 scholarships to Minnesota high school seniors each year.

The application for 2022 can be downloaded at https://www.mnta.org/resource/resmgr/forms/MTA-Scholarship-Form-2022.pdf  and must be turned in to Paul Bunyan Communications no later than February 24, 2022.

A telecom alliance panel reviews each application and selects the finalists based on applicants’ grades, academic achievements and extra-curricular activities.  Preference to receive the scholarships is given to students who have an interest in telecommunications technology and rural communities.

The Foundation is part of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance, a trade organization representing 86 telephone companies and cooperatives in the state.

Foundation for Rural Service Scholarship

Minnesota Telecom Alliance FoundationPaul Bunyan Communications participates in the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) scholarship program which awards 30 $2,500 scholarships to high school seniors throughout the country each year.

Applications can be done online through the FRS web site at https://www.frs.org/programs/youth-programs/scholarships

Completed applications must be submitted no later than February 25, 2022.

Please note the applicant or their parent/legal guardian must be a member of Paul Bunyan Communications Cooperative to apply.

Established in 1994, FRS, in cooperation with the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), seeks to sustain and enhance the quality of life throughout Rural America by advancing an understanding of rural telecommunications issues.  In keeping with its mission, furthering the education of rural youth is one of the foundation’s primary focuses. Our cooperative, Paul Bunyan Communications, is a member of NTCA and is proud to support FRS in this worthy endeavor.

Posted: 3 years ago.

BSU Junior Garrett Peterson wins Hockey Hot Shots and a 70” Smart HDTV at BSU Men’s Hockey Game

For the first time since February of 2020, there was a winner of the Paul Bunyan Communications Hockey Hot Shots Promotion during a Bemidji State University men’s home hockey game!

Garrett Peterson of Hawley, MN made his shot at center ice during a period intermission at the Beavers game Friday, December 10 against Mankato to win a 70” Smart HDTV.  Garrett is a junior at Bemidji State University majoring in environmental science.

“I was pumped.  One of the contestants before me came close so I knew there was a chance.  There wasn’t much to cheer about for us Beaver fans that night so it was really cool to make it and hear the crowd come to life!” said Peterson.

“We’ve been sponsoring the contest for a long time dating back to games at the John Glas Fieldhouse.  The contest wasn’t held during the 2020 season with no fans in the stands so it’s great to have it back and to get a winner again!” said Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.

You can see video of Garrett making the shot on the Paul Bunyan Communications Facebook page, Twitter page, or YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmzn4zz55Vg

The Paul Bunyan Communications Hockey Hot Shots contest is held during an intermission at select Bemidji State University Men’s Hockey home games. Three contestants are selected at random to participate each night. All contestants receive a coupon for a free PBTV On Demand movie rental, any contestant hitting the board receives a Paul Bunyan Communications Bluetooth speaker, and a contestant who puts the puck in the net through the middle of the Hockey Hot Shots board wins up to a 70” Smart HDTV.

Posted: 3 years ago.

Get in to win up to a $500 credit on your account with our 6th Pick-It Bowl Challenge; Games start December 17

Get in to win with the 6th Paul Bunyan Communications Pick-it Bowl Challenge, a free online contest for participants to pick the winners for the 2021-22 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.

To sign up for the Pick It Bowl Challenge go to http://paulbunyan.pickitchallenge.com

The first official College Bowl game is Friday, December 17 so be sure to register and make your picks by December 17 for the best chance at winning!

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.

Posted: 3 years ago.

Offices Closed December 24 and December 31

Friday, December 24

Offices will be closed in observation of Christmas holiday.  Our regular office hours will resume on Monday, December 27.

Friday, December 31

Offices will be closed in observation of New Year’s holiday.  Our regular office hours will resume on Monday, January 3.

Emergency 24 hour repair will remain available and can be reached at 1-800-475-8309.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Paul Bunyan Communications!

 

Posted: 3 years ago.

Offices Closed Thursday, November 25 for Thanksgiving Holiday

Our offices will be closed on Thursday, November 25 in observation of the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Our regular office hours will resume on Friday, November 26 at 7:30 a.m.

Emergency 24 hour repair will remain available and can be reached at 1-800-475-8309.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted: 3 years ago.

3 Local High Definition Weather Channels Added to PBTV

Three local high definition weather channels have been added to Paul Bunyan Television service!

Channel 801 is the new Bemidji area high definition weather channel providing forecasts, current conditions, and more for the Bemidji region.

Channel 802 is the new Grand Rapids area high definition weather channel providing forecasts, current conditions, and more for the Grand Rapids region.

Channel 803 is the new regional radar channel providing the up to date regional radar 24/7/365.

Posted: 4 years ago.

Northern Minnesota’s Certified Apple Service Center Now Open in Grand Rapids!

We are excited to announce our Apple Service Center in Grand Rapids is now open at our new office at 510 SE 21st Street!

 The Apple Service Center provides both in-warranty and out of warranty service on Apple products and computer repair including hardware or software problems, spill damage, screen replacement, virus removal, upgrades, and accessories. It is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. -5:30 p.m.

“It’s exciting to open up another Apple Service Center. People rely on a lot of devices and when they don’t work properly it isn’t fun.  When that happens, we’re here to help.” said Leo Anderson, Paul Bunyan Communications Technology Experience Manager.

“We’ve built one of the largest all-fiber optic rural gigabit networks in the country that offers the fastest internet speeds available.  It will provide optimum performance for the devices our customers use but not if they aren’t working right.  Now they can bring them to our Grand Rapids Apple Service Center to get checked out,” said Gary Johnson, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager

Posted: 4 years ago.

The Region’s Fastest All-Fiber Optic Network, the GigaZone®, is now 10 Times Faster

The region’s fastest all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, is now able to deliver Internet speeds both upload and download up to 10 Gigabits per second! As a result, more higher speed service options have been added and the cooperative is also lowering the price of its current 1 Gigabit service.

“When we started installing our all-fiber optic network in 2004 the technology was in its infancy though we realized even then the network would be capable of much more as innovation continued.  We introduced the GigaZone and speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second in 2014 and the technology has progressed so that we can now provide ten times that speed, up to 10 Gigabits per second both downloads and uploads!” said Gary Johnson, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO & General Manager.

The cooperative has introduced new higher speed service options including speeds up to 2 Gbps, 6 Gbps, and 10 Gbps.  In addition, the cooperative has lowered the price of 1 Gbps service.  Specific service and pricing information can be found at https://paulbunyan.net/gigazone/

“To put it in perspective, according to the Fiber Broadband Association 7 out of every 10 homes in the United States still doesn’t have access to fiber optic gigabit speeds let alone upload and download speeds up to 10 gigabits per second that we’ll be offering starting September 1,” added Johnson

“The pandemic really highlighted the need for high quality internet access, particularly the need for equally fast upload speeds which only an all-fiber optic network can deliver.  Distance learning, telehealth, business videoconferencing through Zoom and other platforms all need quality upload speeds which the GigaZone delivers.  As you might imagine, there was a dramatic increase in Internet usage throughout the pandemic and our network was easily able to handle it all,” said Steve Howard, Paul Bunyan Communications Information Technology and Development Manager

Posted: 4 years ago.