Just over a year ago Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company, MiEnergy Cooperative and Spring Grove Communications revealed they were in the early stages of making high-speed internet a reality for underserved rural areas via fixed wireless broadband. Today they are pleased to announce the launch of MiBroadband in areas of Fountain, Peterson and Spring Valley.
Fixed wireless broadband service works in a similar fashion to cell phone communication with an antenna on a tower to carry the signal to the customer’s fixed location. A radio at the customer’s home, farm or business receives the signal from an antenna on a tower. Customers do need a line of sight to the antenna, which can send a signal approximately five to seven miles.
MiEnergy Cooperative has placed a monopole at each of its substations serving the Fountain, Peterson and Spring Valley areas. The monopoles are part of the electric co-op’s infrastructure to allow for a broadband connection that send data from the substation to MiEnergy’s office to allow for improved electric reliability.
Those monopoles with broadband connections are what allow MiBroadband to offer high-speed internet service to rural areas that are unserved or underserved.
“Antennas on the monopoles cover 360 degrees. Using tall structures helps overcome obstructions such as trees, hills and buildings that may interfere with service,” says Jill Fishbaugher, MiBroadband’s CEO.
The antenna installations were completed in October. MiBroadband then began installing service to those who were on a waiting list for service.
In describing how fixed wireless broadband is different from other forms of internet service, Fishbaugher explains that fixed wireless broadband has a lot to offer.
“It is faster and more reliable than what cellular carriers can provide. When compared to DSL you don’t see internet speeds limited by distance from the provider’s main office,” Fishbaugher states. “With cable-based service, a neighborhood shares a finite amount of capacity which can degrade service at peak times. Fixed wireless doesn’t have those limitations.”
The headquarters for the company is in Harmony, Minn., and Fishbaugher says customer service is a top priority for MiBroadband.
“While MiBroadband is not a cooperative, it is owned by cooperatives who have a history of providing excellent customer service. Those same expectations on customer service carry over to this business to serve those who have had no options or who have had limited options for broadband,” explained Fishbaugher.
Fishbaugher expresses that whether a potential subscriber is looking for an alternative to service they already have, or if they are new to broadband service altogether, to make an inquiry to see how MiBroadband may assist them.
“We have employees that can assess your location for service and explain what we provide and help you create a customized network that fits your needs and lifestyle from the very basic internet service needs to the more advanced,” Fishbaugher says. “We can also help answer questions about streaming services like Hulu and YouTube TV or streaming devices like Amazon’s Fire and Roku.”
For more information about MiBroadband call (507) 886-6422 or toll free at (866) 882-6422. Information is also available online at www.MiBroadband.com.
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-percent 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.