Itasca, St. Louis county broadband projects on track for completion this year

GRAND RAPIDS — Broadband expansion projects underway in parts of Itasca and St. Louis counties are expected to be completed before the deep freeze.

Member-owned cooperative Paul Bunyan Communications reported the various projects are on track as construction season in Northern Minnesota nears its end, including those in Coleraine and Bovey.

The company has begun installing services in some areas of Sandy, Pike and Wuori townships, north of Virginia. But there is still a little work to be done before that entire network is operational, a news release stated. That work is expected to be completed by the end of September.

The rest of the projects are in various stages, with the exception of the Great Scott Township area, near Chisholm. Residents there will see construction start within the next couple of weeks.

Once the network is operational in an area, customers who signed up will be contacted to schedule service installations.

Those who connect will have access to Paul Bunyan’s GigaZone services, including high-speed fiber-optic internet.

Paul Bunyan Communications stated it is never too late for a home or business in any of these areas to sign up for service and then be put on the construction list to get connected.

When people sign up will determine if the company can still get the fiber optic network plowed up to their location this year or if it will have to wait until spring. There is no construction fee, so there is no cost to have the network built to a location that signs up for service.

Visit paulbunyan.net, call 888-586-3100, or visit in person at the offices in Grand Rapids or Bemidji.

Project status

• Coleraine: Construction is complete with fiber splicing taking place. Services should become available in October.
• Bovey: Construction has started and is over halfway complete. Services should become available this winter.
• Bearville Township: Construction is done. Fiber splicing is in progress. Services should become available this winter.
• Sandy, Pike and Wuori townships: Construction is done, fiber splicing is 75% done. Services should be available by the end of September.
• Alango and Owens townships: Construction is done and fiber splicing has started. Services should become available this winter.
• Angora Township: Construction is done and fiber splicing has started. Services should become available this winter.
• Balkan Township: Construction has started and is expected to be completed by mid-October. Services should become available this winter.
• French Township: Construction is done. Fiber splicing has started. Services should become available this winter.
• Great Scott Township and unorganized territory north of Great Scott: Construction will start later this month and is expected to be completed by mid-November. Services should be available by end of winter.