HARMONY, MN, October 10, 2019 — Brian Krambeer, board president of MiBroadband, has been appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. The Task Force appointments were announced by Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and include community leaders throughout the state of Minnesota.
Krambeer has worked in the rural electric cooperative industry for 31 years, 22 of those years with MiEnergy Cooperative and its predecessors. Most recently he led MiEnergy’s broadband initiative by partnering with Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company and Spring Grove Communications to create a limited-liability corporation, MiBroadband, that launched to provide fixed wireless internet service to rural and underserved areas.
The purpose of the Task Force is to put forth policies to help ensure every Minnesotan has access to high- speed internet, no matter their zip code.
“Brian’s leadership in creating MiBroadband demonstrates his commitment to bringing quality broadband service to rural areas,” stated Jill Fishbaugher, MiBroadband’s CEO. “Being appointed to the Governor’s Broadband Task Force is an exciting opportunity for him and for our industry. We are pleased with the Governor’s selection and for making broadband service a priority for all Minnesotans.”
Other Task Force members include: Tewodros Bekele, Lake Elmo; Nolan Cauthen, Crystal; Dale Cook, Minneapolis; Steve Fenske, Buffalo; Steve Giorgi, Virginia; Shannon Heim, Minneapolis; Marc Johnson, Mora; Bernadine Joselyn, Grand Rapids; Micah Myers, Watkins; Theresa Sunde, Waseca; James Weikum, Biwabik; Paul Weirtz, Bayport; and David Wolf, Brandon. The terms for members of the Task Force expire in April 2023.
MiBroadband was formed in 2018 through a partnership of three local cooperatives: Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company, MiEnergy Cooperative and Spring Grove Communications. Just as these cooperatives individually brought electricity and telephone service to rural areas decades ago, through MiBroadband they have launched the next stage of critical service by providing fixed wireless broadband to rural homes, farms and businesses in southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa.
Harmony Telephone Company is a privately-held company in Harmony, Minn. It was purchased in 2006 by Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company and Spring Grove Communications. In 2018, MiEnergy Cooperative was added to its ownership. It provides broadband and telephone service to Harmony and the surrounding rural area, as well as, cable TV service in Harmony. Ownership by cooperatives means providing quality service remains a top priority.
Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company is a member-owned cooperative located in Mabel, Minn. Formed in 1961, the cooperative serves five prefixes with over 1,500 subscribers in Mabel and Prosper, Minn. and Hesper, Burr Oak and Ridgeway, Iowa. Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company continues to build out its fiber network to improve local broadband and telephone service, while keeping with its tradition of providing excellent member service.
MiEnergy Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative and is the result of a merger between Hawkeye REC, of Cresco, Iowa and Tri-County Electric Cooperative, of Rushford, Minn. in 2017. It maintains 5,500 miles of power lines covering most of Fillmore, Houston and Winona counties in Minnesota and Chickasaw, Howard and Winneshiek counties in Iowa. The cooperative also serves small pockets bordering those counties. It provides electricity to more than 18,700 members in northeastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. MiEnergy is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Spring Grove Communications is a member-owned cooperative located in Spring Grove, Minnesota. Formed in 1959, the cooperative serves 100-square miles of southeastern Minnesota along the Iowa border and includes a small area of northeastern Iowa. It extends a 100% fiber network that provides local broadband, cable TV and telephone service. Spring Grove Communications strives to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies, while providing high-quality service to members.
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