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

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

The Itasca County Fair is August 18-22.  Stop by our booth and check out PBTV services, our all-fiber optic fast Internet service powered by the GigaZone, and get a free gift from Paul Bunyan Communications while supplies last!

For more information on the Fair, visit https://www.itascacountyfair.org/

We’re Paul Bunyan Communications and we’re proud to be right here in Itasca County!

The Beltrami County Fair, sponsored in part by Paul Bunyan Communications is August 11-15.  Stop by our booth and check out PBTV services, our all-fiber optic fast Internet service powered by the GigaZone, and get a free gift from Paul Bunyan Communications while supplies last!

For more information on the Fair, visit www.beltramicountyfair.org

We’re Paul Bunyan Communications and we’re proud to be right here in Beltrami County!

The 15^th Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival presented by Paul Bunyan Communications is August 4-7 and the schedule if full of fun for the entire family.  Wednesday features the Sanford Health Taco Fest for the United Way, Thursday is the 10^th Cornhole Tournament for Beltrami County Relay for Life, Friday is the opening ceremonies, parade of teams, and 8th Dondelinger GM Sprint Cup Races, and Saturday features a 5k Walk/Run, Race Day Breakfast, and the Dragon Boat races all day.  There is no admission fee and food vendors will be on-site Thursday through Saturday.

For more information and the complete schedule of events visit www.bemidjidragonboat.com   You can also follow the festival on Facebook and Twitter.

The offices of Paul Bunyan Communications will be closed Monday, July 5 in observation of the Independence Day holiday.  Emergency 24 hour repair will be available and can be reached at 1-800-475-8309.

Happy Independence Day from all of us at Paul Bunyan Communications!

To help its members on the road back from the pandemic, Paul Bunyan Communications has distributed a Capital Credit return early to its membership again this year.  Over $3.5 million has been returned to members of Paul Bunyan Communications, the cooperative announced today.

Paul Bunyan Communications is a not for profit company that strives to provide the highest quality service at the most affordable rates.  As a cooperative, membership in Paul Bunyan Communications includes the opportunity to share in the financial success of the company. When profits are earned they are allocated to the members based on their proportional share of the allocable revenues.  These allocations may then be returned to the individual members through capital credit retirements.

For current members with a distribution amount less than $100, a credit has been applied to your June bill. Checks have been mailed out for distributions of $100 or more.

“It’s been a very challenging year for everyone and it has been amazing to see our region come together in the face of all the challenges of the pandemic.  Our cooperative has continued working hard behind the scenes to get those without Internet connected and support our communities.  We wanted to help our membership again this year by returning their share of our success now rather than in the fall as we normally do” said Gary Johnson, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager.

“For over 65 years we have been providing the latest in technology at cost.  There is no membership fee to join Paul Bunyan Communications and there are no annual membership dues. All you need to do is subscribe to either one line of local phone or Broadband Internet service and you become a member. You get the latest in technology backed up by our talented team of over 130 local employees that all live and work here” added Dave Schultz, Paul Bunyan Communications Chief Financial Officer.

“In a highly competitive industry with national competitors our cooperative has been successful because we put our region and our members first.  We don’t have to worry about customers all over the place like in Sioux Falls, Fargo, Minneapolis, or anywhere else. Our investments go here, back into our network, our services, and our communities.” added Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.

If you were a member of the cooperative in 2003 and/or 2020 and accrued more than $10 in total capital credit allocations, but do not receive the credit on your account or a check by June 24, please contact Paul Bunyan Communications at (218) 444-1234 or (218) 999-1234.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Paul Bunyan Communications Cooperative Annual Meeting actions were conducted by mail only.  An election was held to consider recommended changes to update the Cooperative By-Laws. The proposed bylaw amendments were approved with 1160 in favor, 70 against.  In conjunction, for the first time, the cooperative held two special on-line events for members.

“Wizdom with Woz” was an exclusive event for the cooperative’s business members and featured a lengthy conversation with Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak and Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager, Gary Johnson about technology, education, communications and the future.

“What an honor for our cooperative to have the pioneer of personal computer technology join us and share his thoughts and experiences with our business members.  He has had a profound impact worldwide and for him to take the time to be with us and acknowledge the work our cooperative is doing to keep our region connected is very humbling,” added Johnson.  Mr. Wozniak’s conversation with Mr. Johnson included humorous technology-related anecdotes from his youth as well as a discussion about the early days of Apple.  Mr. Wozniak discussed the evolution of communication technologies from his childhood ham radio days to Paul Bunyan Communications’ fiber broadband network.

“The Challenge of Change with Joe Theismann” was the second virtual event held and it was open to all Paul Bunyan Communications Internet customers.

“Given the year we’ve all just went through, The Challenge of Change presentation was very fitting. Those who saw it live, including myself, can’t forget seeing Joe’s leg get broken by Lawrence Taylor on Monday Night Football.  It’s an iconic image from that generation and while that was the moment Joe’s football career ended, he used his talent and high energy to handle the unforeseen change.  Having him share how he approached such a quick, dramatic change in his life was inspiring” said Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.

All Paul Bunyan Communications Internet customers are invited to a free Virtual Event, The Challenge of Change with Joe Theismann Wednesday, May 26 starting at 2:30 p.m. online at https://paulbunyan.net/

You MUST use your Paul Bunyan Communications Internet connection to view.

Drawing from personal experience, Joe Theismann knows how to deal with the Challenge of Change.  On November 18, 1985, he was on top of his game -a two-time NFL Pro Bowl player and the most productive quarterback in the history of the Washington football team.  Later that evening, he found himself in a hospital bed with a compound fracture to his leg, shattering both his career and his boyhood dream.  At age thirty-five, he was faced with starting over his personal life and professional career.  In this stirring presentation, you’ll learn how to tackle change by keeping a positive mental outlook and committing to a vision that guides you to the top.

We’ll also provide an update on the cooperative and you can enter to win door prizes too.  This virtual event is open to all Paul Bunyan Communications Internet customers and you MUST use your Paul Bunyan Communications Internet service to watch.