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Many areas across the country still rely on outdated infrastructure, leading to slower internet speeds, frequent outages, and limited service capabilities.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.

We are excited to announce that Emily Timm of Cohasset is the recipient of a $2,500 college scholarship from Paul Bunyan Communications and the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) the philanthropic arm of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association.

Emily is the daughter Jon and Connie Timm. She plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the fall to pursue a materials science and engineering degree.

Receiving an FRS scholarship is quite an achievement because we had more than 1,300 applications for the 55 scholarships we awarded this year,” said FRS Executive Director Pam Becker. “The students who are receiving these scholarships are curious, smart, hard-working, kind, and give me hope for the future. Providing opportunities for young people in rural communities has been a core mission for FRS for the past 30 years, and it would not be possible without the generous support of NTCA members and other individuals in the rural broadband industry”

“Congratulations Emily! We are thrilled to offer this additional scholarship opportunity to students in northern Minnesota,” said Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor. “Our cooperative has had a commitment to education in the region for a long time and the FRS scholarship program enables rural telecommunications providers like us to show additional support for the youth living the communities we serve. It is a source of tremendous pride for us that Emily was selected as a recipient this year!”

In addition to providing the opportunity for local students to apply for a statewide scholarship through the Minnesota Telecom Alliance (MTA) and the national FRS scholarship program, Paul Bunyan Communications also provides over $30,000 in scholarships annually to local students from within the cooperative’s service territory.  The scholarships are awarded through area high schools and post-secondary schools.

The 2024 Annual Business Meeting of the Paul Bunyan Communications Cooperative was held on Wednesday, May 22 in the Lakeside Rooms of the Sanford Center in Bemidji.

The meeting included a review of 2023 financial and operational results with presentations from Board President Randy Frisk, Chief Financial Officer Dave Schultz, and Chief Executive Officer Gary Johnson. The meeting will reviewed the 2024 Director election, in which District 5 Director Randy Frisk ran unopposed.

Members interested in receiving the 2023 Annual Report can pick one up at either Paul Bunyan Communications office.

An estimated crowd of nearly 4,000 attended the GigaZone Gaming Championship & TechXpo on Saturday, April 20 at the Sanford Center. The event featured free gaming, numerous gaming tournaments, over 25 technology exhibitors, door prizes, and special guest Danielle Feinberg from Pixar Animation Studios.

This one-of-a-kind regional gaming event showcases Paul Bunyan Communications’ IT and web development team which custom built and integrated much of the online technology and leverages the speed of the GigaZone one of the largest rural all-fiber optic Gigabit networks in the country.

Team Mingle Master from Bemidji- Ayden Sander, Cameron Oakgrove, and Milo Collings won the seventh annual GigaZone Gaming Championship and the top team prize of $900.  Team 50 Nations with Tyler Bos from Austin, David Bos from Brainerd, and Trevor Bos from Brainerd took home 2^nd place and the $600 team prize.  A total of 32 of northern Minnesota’s best Rocket League teams competed on the main stadium stage in the GigaZone Championship Arena.

In addition to the Rocket League Tournament, there was several other open tournaments including Fortnite, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Madden 25, and Overwatch 2, Valorant, Super Smash Bros. plus high score competitions in Bemidji Drift, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Smugglers Revenge, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, and Donkey Kong.  There were also two tournaments for juniors under 13 and Magic the Gathering Booster Drafts.

Official Results of the 2024 GigaZone Gaming Championship

“Again this year I’m blown away by the talent and energy on display and how people, technology, and fun come together at our event.  Everyone, including the participants, exhibitors, and our Paul Bunyan Communications team we’re all-in, showcasing the tech talent and enthusiasm that exists in our region.  I’m proud our broadband cooperative can produce and host such an exciting event!”, said Gary Johnson, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO.

.“Our cooperative continues to expand one of the largest rural fiber gigabit networks in the country and that brings many advantages to our members.  The GigaZone provides extreme speed and low latency which are critical for the best online gaming experience and the GigaZone Gaming Championship & TechXpo showcases just that,” added Leo Anderson, Paul Bunyan Communications Technology Experience Manager.

“A huge shout out to our entire team for putting on one of the most unique events of this type in the country.  Thank you to all of the exhibitors that were a part of the TechXpo and our local partners, we couldn’t do this without them. We’re already looking forward to next year!” added Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.

This Paul Bunyan Communications event includes the talents of many local partners including NLFX, Accidently Cool Games, Northern Amusement, the Sanford Center as well support from several regional and national partners.

For more information on the GigaZone Gaming Championship visit www.gigazonegaming.com

For more information about the GigaZone TechXpo visit www.gigazonetechxpo.com

We are excited to announce the winners of the 8^th Pick-it March Mania Challenge! A record 833 participants entered the free online contest to pick the winners of the college basketball tournament games for a chance to win a credit on a Paul Bunyan Communications account.

 The top 10 finishers all won a credit on their Paul Bunyan Communications account.

1^st Place-         Jacob Amble, Bemidji  $500 credit

2^nd Place-       Dean Britton, Menahga $500 credit

3^rd Place-         Sean Mull, Britt  $100 credit

4^th Place-         Dennis Bowman  $50 credit

5^th Place-         John Foster, Cohasset  $50 credit

6^th Place-         Darin Kapphahn, Laporte $50 credit

7^th Place-         John Skrbec, Grand Rapids  $50 credit

8^th Place-         Sarah Markert, Bemidji $50 credit

9^th Place-         Anthony Djonne, Bemidji  $50 credit

10^th Place-       Christina Brown, Bovey  $50 credit

Random Prize Drawing:

Jonathan Fraundorf, Bemidji   (666th place)  $100 Credit

Paul Bunyan Communications has announced that Julia Frenzel from Blackduck is the winner of the cooperative’s 2024 Youth Tour Essay Contest.  Julia is homeschooled, is in 10^h grade, and is the daughter of Chris & Jackie Frenzel. She will attend the 2024 Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. June 3-7, with all expenses paid by Paul Bunyan Communications.

The trip features a comprehensive overview of the telecommunications industry, including careers in telecom, the critical role telecommunications plays in rural America, and how legislative and regulatory decisions affect the industry.  The tour allows youth to meet with members of Congress who represent rural constituents.  They also participate in educational sessions about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  Students visit some of the nation’s most historic sites, including the Smithsonian Museums and a beautiful night tour of Washington D.C.

The Foundation for Rural Service is dedicated to informing and to improving the quality of life throughout rural America.  Each year, it organizes the Youth Tour, designed to educate rural youth about the telecommunications industry and the federal political process.  The FRS is a subsidiary of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), of which Paul Bunyan Communications is a member.

This is the 27^th year that Paul Bunyan Communications has participated in sending a local high school student to the Youth Tour.