Our cooperative offices in Bemidji and Grand Rapids will be closed on Monday, October 21 for all-staff training.  Our regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, October 22 at 8 a.m.

Emergency 24 hour repair service will remain available.

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.

Paul Bunyan Communications is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the groundbreaking GigaZone® all fiber optic network. Launched a decade ago, the GigaZone network has transformed the connectivity landscape in Northern Minnesota, providing unparalleled internet speeds, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

The GigaZone network, a significant advancement in telecommunications network technology, is designed to meet the growing demands of the digital age. With Internet speeds now up to 10 Gigabits per second, the network has enabled households, businesses, and institutions to experience gigabit fast uploads and downloads for uninterrupted online activities. Over the past ten years, the cooperative has continually invested in and expanded the GigaZone network, ensuring that its members remain at the forefront of technological advancements.

“In 2014, we set out to build a network that would not only meet the needs of our community but exceed them,” said Gary Johnson, CEO of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Today, we are proud to celebrate a decade of delivering on that promise with the GigaZone all-fiber optic network. Our commitment to innovation and customer service has never been stronger.”

Many areas across the country still rely on outdated infrastructure, leading to slower internet speeds, frequent outages, and limited service capabilities. This lack of progress underscores the importance of Paul Bunyan Communications’ forward-thinking approach.

“Our decision to invest in an all-fiber optic network was driven by our commitment to our members and our vision for the future,” Johnson continued. “As other providers struggle with aging infrastructure, we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, ensuring that our communities, no matter how remote, have access to the best technology available.”

In addition to providing cutting-edge connectivity, the GigaZone network has also been instrumental in supporting local economic growth, remote education, telehealth services, and countless other community initiatives. The network’s robust performance has proven essential during the recent global pandemic, enabling seamless remote work and learning experiences for over 30,000 homes and businesses.

“Looking back on the past ten years, we are incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Johnson said. “But we are even more excited about the future. Our journey is far from over, and we are committed to continuing to innovate and provide the highest quality service for our membership.”

Paul Bunyan Communications does not have any membership fees or annual dues. Simply subscribe to a local phone line or GigaZone® Broadband Internet service and you become a member.

Though winter might seem far off, now is the perfect time to plan ahead if you have construction projects in our service area and want to connect to our all-fiber optic network. Sign up for services now to ensure you’re on the construction list before the season ends.

Delaying may push your connection to next season. Act now to secure your spot—don’t wait!

Paul Bunyan Communications and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are promoting Lifeline Awareness Week, September 8-14.

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 8-14 is another opportunity to highlight this very important assistance program.

“We promote the Lifeline program a lot because want to make sure all of our membership and those who live within our service area know about it and the benefit it can provide.  This program can help those struggling to afford Internet services get and stay connected” said Gary Johnson, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager

Lifeline helps low-income consumers connect to the nation’s communications networks, find jobs, access health care services, connect with family and call for help in an emergency. Under the federal Lifeline program, low-income consumers who participate in certain public assistance programs, or qualify based on income can receive a discount of up to $9.25 per month off their monthly bill for broadband, or bundled phone and broadband service, up to $5.25 for voice-only service, and up to a total of $34.25 per month for residents of qualifying Tribal lands.  More information on program eligibility and rules is available at http://www.lifelinesupport.org. An American Sign Language video on Lifeline is available at  https://youtu.be/wwkjVrd5xHc.

Our offices will be closed on Monday, September 2 for the Labor Day Holiday.

As always, 24 hour emergency repair will be available.

Paul Bunyan Communications is returning over $3 million to its members in 2024!

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

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.

“Our cooperative is thriving, standing as the largest broadband cooperative in Minnesota with over 30,000 active members spread across our 6,000-square-mile service area. We have been diligently building and expanding one of the country’s largest all-fiber optic rural Gigabit networks, the GigaZone®, transforming how our members live, work, and play. It is gratifying to see our efforts paying off and to return profits to our membership.” said Gary Johnson, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager.

“For over 70 years, we have been offering the latest technology at cost. Joining Paul Bunyan Communications is free—there are no membership fees or annual dues. Simply subscribe to a local phone line or GigaZone® Broadband Internet service and you become a member. You’ll enjoy cutting-edge technology supported by our dedicated team of over 160 local employees who live and work in the communities we serve.” added Dave Schultz, Paul Bunyan Communications Chief Financial Officer.

“In a highly competitive industry with national competitors, our cooperative has thrived by prioritizing our region and members. We focus solely on our local communities, not on customers in places like Sioux Falls, Fargo, or Minneapolis. Our investments stay here, enhancing our network, services, and communities in northern Minnesota.” added Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.

If you were a member of the cooperative in 2003 and/or 2023 and accrued more than $10 in total capital credit allocations, but do not receive the credit on your account or a check by September 1, please contact Paul Bunyan Communications at (218) 444-1234 or (218) 999-1234.

The Itasca County Fair, sponsored in part by Paul Bunyan Communications is August 14-18.  Stop by our booth and check out our all-fiber optic fast Internet service powered by the GigaZone, Paul Bunyan Television, 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 7-11.  Stop by our booth and check out our all-fiber optic fast Internet service powered by the GigaZone, Paul Bunyan Television, 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!