Fall 2015 Newsletter

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

FALL 2015

WE’VE LAUNCHED OUR FASTEST INTERNET SERVICE EVER. Page 4

OCTOBER IS CO-OP MONTH 2

GENERAL MANAGER UPDATE

IMPORTANT DATES

3

FIBER OPTIC NETWORK SEES FURTHER EXPANSION

7

COMMON CENTS MAKES DONATIONS

Our office will be closed November 26-27 and December 24-25

Serving Richland, Wilkin and Clay counties

redrivercomm.com

2

Red River Communications FALL 2015

FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER CONSUMER DEMANDS ARE QUICKLY CHANGING, HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED TO OFFER STANDALONE INTERNET SERVICE TO THOSE WHO DO NOT WISH TO HAVE PHONE SERVICE

JEFF OLSON GENERAL MANAGER/CEO

AS AMERICANS are increasingly “cutting the cord” to traditional landline voice services, the FCC’s outdated rules have meant many rural consumers are denied a choice of services they desire to have.

These outdated rules for small carriers dictate that customers must purchase landline voice service in order to receive affordable broadband. In other words, the way the rules are written today, it will cost rural customers more to purchase broadband only as opposed to a landline and broadband!

That may be about to change.

Recently, a group of 176 Washington DC legislators, including 61 senators and 115 representatives sent a letter to the FCC Chairman demanding action on affordable broadband.

“THE FCC’S UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND RULES HAVE REDRIVERCOMM.COM

NOT KEPT PACE WITH CHANGING TECHNOLOGY AND SHIFTING CONSUMER PREFERENCE”

As stated in a letter cosigned by 61 senators “the FCC’s Universal Service Fund rules have not kept pace with changing technology and shifting consumer preference.

Instead, the FCC’s USF rules tie cost recovery for small rural carriers to a consumer’s actual purchase of voice service, even if the consumer no longer wants that service and only wants broadband service.” The FCC

chairman has indicated the desire of the commission to update the rules this year.

We all know the cost to provide service in rural areas is extremely expensive and without support mechanisms in place, most consumers may not be able to afford the true cost of the services provided.

Red River Communications board and management continue to play an active role in communicating with its members of congress and the FCC to expeditiously make the necessary updates to the existing USF support mechanisms that allow rural consumers to make their own choice to obtain broadband services at affordable rates without being compelled to purchase other services.

We will always keep our members updated as rules, regulations, and decisions continue to change.

3

Red River Communications FALL 2015

Crews working in Lidgerwood

FIBER OPTIC NETWORK SEES FURTHER EXPANSION CONSTRUCTION SEASON CONTINUES AS BARNESVILLE FIBER PROJECT WRAPS-UP

BY DEB SYVERTSEN PLANT MAINTENANCE MANAGER

We have had a good construction year, starting with

Our big project this year was building Fiber-To-The-Home in the cities of Hankinson and Lidgerwood. Ripley’s Inc. from Erhard, MN is our contractor.

They have completed construction in Hankinson and are just a few weeks away from wrapping things up in Lidgerwood. They will continue to work on splicing the cables over the next few months. We are planning to start installing the electronics in the homes and

businesses in Hankinson in the first few weeks of October.

Because of the number of members in each city, we have hired an installation team from Vantage Point Solutions to assist us with that work.

PLANNING ON BURNING? Please be on the look-out for communications pedestals.

Burning can cause severe damage to communications cables, resulting in costly repairs and lengthy outages.

REDRIVERCOMM.COM

AUTUMN is here and we are busy working to finish our construction projects before winter comes. If you are planning any building projects where you would like our services, please give a call so we can make plans to bury the cable necessary to provide you with the most advanced communication technology!

the completion of a fiber optic cable project in Barnesville that carried over from last year. We will be finished very soon getting those customers cutover to the new fiber optic cable system.

4

Red River Communications FALL 2015

Welcome to the future of communication.

Inside a fiber cabinet near Galchutt

BY DIRK MONSON MEMBER SUPPORT MANAGER

REDRIVERCOMM.COM

Red River Communications has officially launched its FiberFAST internet service, with speeds up to 1 gigabit per second. This represents a speed increase of nearly 650 times over the previously offered speeds.

The launch of gigabit internet service corresponds with a continued build out of the Red River Fiber Network (page 3), which spans Richland County in North Dakota and Clay and

Wilkin Counties in Minnesota.

Nearly 3000 miles of fiber cable have been deployed in the past 10 years to make this type of network a reality.

an upgrade in internet speed without an increase in price.

WHAT IS FIBER

FiberFAST internet is available to all our rural members. It will be available in the cities of Hankinson and Lidgerwood this fall upon completion of a fiber network expansion in those communities

Internet, TV, and phone were traditionally carried on electrical wires referred to as copper.

While it was considered state-ofthe-art at the time, copper was subject to noise and interference.

Something like a rain shower could mean service outages.

Additionally, all members currently on the Red River Fiber Network have received

While copper could carry digital signals like TV or internet, it was conceived during the same time

5

Fiber optics (or “fiber” for short) is the latest in the communications technology evolution.

Fiber uses thin strands of glass to transmit data at the speed of light with a nearly infinite capacity.

Why Fiber?

Red River Communications FALL 2015

as AM radio. It simply couldn’t handle the demands of today’s connected world.

Fiber allows for bandwidth intensive tasks such as downloading movies to be completed up to 650 times faster than current internet speeds.

WHAT DOES FIBER MEAN Fiber means a higher quality of service and expanded offerings like digital TV and gigabit internet. It also allows for new technologies as they become mainstream.

Fiber is also less susceptible to issues caused by weather or electrical intereference, leading to greater reliability.

Overall, fiber delivers a consistently better experience, regardless of the service.

For more information visit getfiberfast.com or call 701-553-8309

Future Proof Fiber gives you access to the latest technologies, like Ultra HD video, before anyone else.

Connected An always-on connection with enough bandwidth for all your computers, tablets, and smart devices.

REDRIVERCOMM.COM

FiberFAST Speeds and Prices

6

Red River Communications FALL 2015

Tune to channel 9 on Red River Digital TV to catch all the best in classic television.

MeTV content ranges from comedy, mystery and drama to westerns and sci-fi thrillers. Recognizable shows include “The Carol Burnett Show,” “Perry Mason,” “Gilligan’s Island,” the Star Trek series, “Rawhide,” and “Columbo.”

WIRELESS INTERNET EXPANSION

BY MATT IHLAND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

It has been a busy summer for upgrades to our wireless network. We completed new site installations near Fairmount and Wahpeton, as well as a tower upgrade in Doran, MN. These upgrades will allow us to deliver even faster and more reliable internet connections to our customers on this service.

When we acquired the wireless network almost 6 years ago, the entire network utilized only 15 megabits per second.

Our upgrades have increased the current network size nearly seven-fold to 100 megabits per second. We expect this year’s

upgrades to allow us to continue to expand into the future.

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY Help us support the US Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program this holiday season!

November 2-December 11 Donate a new unwrapped toy to help the less fortunate children throughout our region experience the joy of the holidays!

Donations can be brought to our office in Abercrombie.

PATRONAGE REFUNDS ARE ON THE WAY REDRIVERCOMM.COM

Refund checks will be mailed in October to those who are eligible.

If you have any questions, please contact Sherri or Jack at 701-553-8309.

Finding a good book is about to get easier for some rural residents in Richland County.

The city of Abercrombie recently opened its very own Little Free Library (LFL) giving people in the community easier access to reading material. RRC graciously donated a beautifully restored telephone booth to serve as the library structure while area residents donated books to stock the library.

The Abercrombie Little Free Library’s grand opening was held Thursday, August 27th between RRC’s main office and the Community Hall on Broadway in Abercrombie.

7

VOLLEYBALL October 6 - 7:30pm Hankinson @ Richland (Colfax) October 8 – 7:15 pm Lisbon @ Oakes Darlene Ziegelman (right) receives a donation for the Great Bend Park Board from Common Cents Board member Patty Zietlow.

The Common Cents Board met in September and made six donations totaling $6,600 to the following organizations:

October 13 – 7:15 pm South Border @ Kidder County (Steele) October 15 – 7:15 pm Ellendale @ Linton-HMB

Red River Communications FALL 2015

COMMON CENTS UPDATE

October 19 – 7:15 pm Strasburg-Zeeland @ EdgeleyKulm

American Legion Post #153 (Barnesville), Reed Field project $2,500 for ball field improvements

October 20 – 7:15 pm New Salem-Almont @ WiltonWing

Humane Society of Richland-Wilkins Counties $500 for fire security system

October 26 – 7:15 pm Linton-HMB @ LaMoure

Mantador Fire Department $1,000 to equip new fire truck

FOOTBALL

Sandhills Park Board $1,500 for bathroom/shower facilities Wyndmere Senior Citizens Center $500 for building improvements Wyndmere Museum Foundation $600 for external renovations

October 9 – 7:00 pm Wyndmere-Lidgerwood @ Richland (Colfax) October 16 – 7:00 pm Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm @ Oakes

New directors were appointed: Cheryl Hackey for District 1 (Abercrombie) and Joy Bang for District 7 (Rollag).

October 22 – 7:00 pm Herried-Selby @ EurekaBowdle

The Common Cents program has awarded $16,450 in 2015 and $106,960 to area non-profits, community organizations and several individuals since its inception in 2008.

All games on Red River Digital TV channels 3001, 3002, 3003

EMPLOYEE PROFILE Justin Bickett Justin Bickett joined Red River Communications on May 13 as a Network Assistant. Justin works with the Network Administrators managing network operations. His favorite part of his job is learning how new equipment works.

OCTOBER IS CO-OP MONTH

REDRIVERCOMM.COM

Originally from Fergus Falls, MN, Justin previously worked and interned for Park Region Telephone in their network office. Justin lives in Fargo and enjoys fishing, video games and bonfires.

PO Box 136 510 Broadway Abecrombie, ND 58001

FALL 2015

NEW DIRECTORY LISTINGS Abercrombie Jay, Mike & Christina 553-9698 Lizotte, David 553-8366 Wellnitz, Barry & Shauntel 553-8765 Wold, Jodi 553-9247 Barnesville Donley, Parker & Nicole 493-4390 Fosse, Scott 493-4273 Gilbertson, Bruce 493-4543 Hauck, Ryan & Chelsey 493-4498 Haugrud, Ben & Jenna 493-4618 Nelson, Chris 493-4403 Fairmount Bromenshenkel, Brad & Melissa 474-5844 Mahler, N 474-5830 Polda, Jen & Kenny Kleveland 474-5589 Hankinson Berg, Jeb 242-9965

Bladow Shop LLC 242-8208 Fax Line 242-8316 Clavette, Sherry 242-7011 Hi-Way Service Polaris 242-7726 Hubrig, Kelly & Danielle 242-7562 Hunt, James A 242-7194 Krump, Dan 242-7496 Mauch, Mike & Ashley 242-0121 Theede, Brady 242-9849 Wieser, Dusty 242-7488 Kent Bogenreif, Dan & Amber Maier, Robert & Carolyn

557-8528 557-8398

Lidgerwood Lien, Maloy 538-4531 Northside Implement of Lidgerwood 538-4121 Polished Perfect 538-7859

Rollag Aakre, Ben & Rachel 937-5123 Aldrich, Jacob & JoAnne 937-5181 Anderson, Jake 937-5235 Kasin, Jeff 937-5778 Haugen, Blair 937-5591 Wyndmere Blazek, Harrison 439-2381 Blazek, Johnathan 439-2381 Busch, Joseph Sr. & Phyllis 439-2379 Christ, Devin & Ashley 439-0679 Enderson, Marc 439-9229 Hutchison, Christal 439-2415 Kensinger, Steve 439-0545 Richardson, Jon & Brenda 439-9263 Sagvold, Lee & Kelly 439-2665 Swanson, Cynthia 439-2827

BUSINESS HOURS

INTERNET HELP DESK

BILL PAY. YOUR WAY.

Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:30pm

Need assistance? We’re here 24/7 to help you!

Pay your bill without any added fees!

Closed Saturday and Sunday

701-553-8309

855-386-9905 redrivercomm.com

Serving Richland, Wilkin and Clay counties

redrivercomm.com