Blocking

To help reduce spam e-mail, Paul Bunyan Communications (PBC) does limit SMTP traffic to only our mail servers for most members. This limitation usually does not apply to members who have a globally routable address. As a workaround, many e-mail services support port 587 which can be used to send authenticated e-mail. We typically do not block port 587.

At any time, we may block traffic to/from specific IP addresses and/or ports based upon security or acceptable use concerns.

Otherwise, PBC does not typically block or prevent users from accessing lawful content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices.

Throttling

Paul Bunyan Communications does not throttle any network traffic.  PBC may use queueing or other methodologies to control traffic flows if needed.

In some cases, PBC may use various application agnostic techniques to provide additional bandwidth than a customer has purchased (at no extra charge). For example, we might provide additional bandwidth during off peak hours, when traffic originates or terminates via a low cost connection (i.e. public/private peering, on-net, etc).

Affiliated Prioritization

Paul Bunyan Communications does not favor any traffic over others, either directly or indirectly. This includes avoiding techniques like traffic shaping, prioritization, or reserving resources to benefit an affiliate.

Paid Prioritization

Paul Bunyan Communications does not favor certain traffic over others, directly or indirectly, in exchange for any form of consideration, whether monetary or otherwise. This includes avoiding techniques like traffic shaping, prioritization, or resource reservation.

Congestion Management

Paul Bunyan Communications does not limit customer usage or impose penalties for bandwidth consumption for reasonable household use.

Application-Specific Behavior

Paul Bunyan Communications does not block or control the rates of specific protocols or ports, alter protocol fields against the standard, or favor or inhibit certain applications or types of applications.

Device Attachment Rules

Paul Bunyan Communications does require the use of our Optical Network Terminal (ONT).  PBC does not restrict the types of devices that can be connected to the ONT that PBC supplies.

For certain products, members must use the wireless access point provided by PBC.

Security

Paul Bunyan Communications does not engage in practices that could jeopardize network security or customer information.

We use industry-standard security measures to protect our members and monitor network activity to detect potential intrusions and denial of service attacks.

If a customer’s system is compromised and is sending malicious traffic, we may contact and/or suspend their network connectivity until the issue is resolved.

During denial of service attacks, we may block traffic to or from affected members if it impacts network elements shared by others.

Business Solution Experts

Chuck Hildebrant
218-999-7442

Charles or Chuck as we like to call him, is our go-to for all things related to resort services. Chuck also greets us every day with a happy GO TEAM! He is a long-timer having started at PBC in 2007. Chuck is based in our Grand Rapids office and his vast telecom knowledge serves all of his business clients and his customer service is 2nd to none. If you own a resort or your business is located east of Cass Lake, Chuck is your guy! In his spare time Chuck and his wife enjoy being outdoors and spoiling their dog Bella. GO CHUCK!

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Rosie Berg
218-444-1153

Rosie is an expert of our Managed Voice offering as well as Mitel Phone systems. If you are in need of a new telecommunications platform, Rosie can help you out! We have also taken advantage of her background in Marketing and Social Media for some of PBC social media needs. Rosie has a passion for community and spends time volunteering for multiple organizations. She embodies the culture and spirit of PBC! Rosie and her husband enjoy spending their time watching their children in their sports and can often be found at a rink, a field or a court. She’s always on the go!

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Daniel Thoben
218-444-1157

Daniel, a 2022 addition to the Business Solutions team has over 20 years of customer service experience and most recently spent the last 8 years in Cellular Retail Management with a focus on business solutions. Daniel handles new business customers as well as helping business clients with Video Cameras and Access Control. Daniel grew up in New York’s beautiful Hudson Valley but moved to Minnesota with his wife, Morganne and son, Gavin in December of 2013. Daniel enjoys spending time with his family, collecting vinyl records, playing music, and anything that makes him think or laugh.

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Megan Stolte
218-444-1172

Megan started in our customer service department shortly after moving to Minnesota in 2020. After making the switch to business solutions, Megan now focuses her time on assisting members with voice and camera system solutions. Megan was born and raised in Punta Gorda in Southwest Florida and although it has been a challenge for her adapting to winters, she says nothing can beat Minnesota summers and the changing leaves in the fall. Megan and her chocolate lab Roo, enjoy hanging out with her family – specifically in the summer with days out on the lake and nights sitting around a fire.

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Cierra Reed
218-999-9750

Cierra is one of our Account Executives based in the Grand Rapids office. She has a background in business account management so whether you are a new business looking to set up service or a current member, Cierra can help you find the best solutions for your business needs! Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé Simon, their daughter Ellie, and their 3 pets: Kylo, their German Shepherd, as well as Millie and Calcifur, their two feisty cats. Cierra also enjoys traveling, video games, and going to her favorite restaurant, Fuji, for sushi with her best friends.

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Paul Bunyan Communications and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are promoting Lifeline Awareness Week, September 12-16.

“Access to reliable high speed Internet service is critical.  We promote the Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program a lot throughout the year and Lifeline Awareness Week is another opportunity to spread the word about these programs.  We want to make sure all of our membership and those who live within our service area know about them and the benefit they can provide.  These programs help those struggling to afford Internet services get and stay connected!” said Gary Johnson, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager

Lifeline is an FCC program designed to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers.  Lifeline provides up to a $9.25 monthly discount on qualifying voice and broadband services for eligible low-income subscribers and up to $34.25 per month for subscribers on qualifying Tribal lands.  To learn more about Lifeline, go to www.fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers or www.lifelinesupport.org/.

A new FCC program, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), is also now available to help families and households struggling to afford internet service.  The Affordable Connectivity Program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.  Additional information about the Affordable Connectivity Program Benefit is available at www.fcc.gov/ACP, or by calling 877-384-2575 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET any day of the week.  Households that qualify for Lifeline also qualify for the ACP Benefit.

Paul Bunyan Communications, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and Itasca Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) are holding a sign-up day for the Affordable Connectivity Program on Monday, September 12 from 2-7 p.m. at the Inger Community Center.

This new long-term benefit will help to lower the cost of broadband service for eligible households struggling to afford internet service and provides a discount of up to a $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for qualifying households on qualifying Tribal lands.

A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Has an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines;
• Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
• Participates inone of several Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Head Start (only households meeting the relevant income qualifying standard) Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
• Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income program.

Eligible households can enroll at the sign-up event, through a participating broadband provider, or by going to ACP Benefit to submit an online application or print a mail-in application and contacting their preferred participating broadband provider and selecting a plan.  Additional information about the Affordable Connectivity Program Benefit is available at www.fcc.gov/ACP, or by calling 877-384-2575 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET any day of the week.

Our offices will be closed on Monday, May 30 for the Memorial Day Holiday.

As always, 24 hour emergency repair will be available.

The 2022 Annual Business Meeting for Paul Bunyan Communications will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25 in the Lakeside Rooms of the Sanford Center in Bemidji. The Annual Business Meeting is only open to members of Paul Bunyan Communications cooperative.

The meeting will include reports relating to 2021 and any other business deemed necessary. In addition, voting results will be announced for the Director position in District 9. Light refreshments will be served.

The official ballot for the 2022 election of directors of Paul Bunyan Communications was mailed to all members postmarked no later than May 11. All votes must be received prior to 3:00 pm on Tuesday, May 24 to be counted.

If you have any questions regarding the cooperative’s Annual Meeting, please contact us toll free at 1-888-586-3100