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Press Releases and Industry Updates
Bevcomm Celebrates Lifeline Awareness
September 9, 2022 - Bevcomm and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
are promoting Lifeline Awareness Week, September 12-16.
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/.
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. Households that
qualify for Lifeline also qualify for the ACP Benefit.
Bevcomm apart of Fiber Minnesota's State-Wide Fiber Network
September 13th – Fiber Minnesota, LLC, a Minnesota fiber-optic transport carrier
announced it has merged with fiber transport providers Broadband Visions (BBV)
and SM Broadband (SMB) to create one of MN’s largest fiber transport networks.
The deal increases the Fiber Minnesota backbone network by more than 60% to a
total of 3,900 route miles of fiber. The merged networks will operate under the
Fiber Minnesota brand.
Combining the assets of these networks will enable MN’s rural telecom and
broadband providers to deliver increasingly advanced services to consumers and
carriers, faster and more efficiently.
“This merger is the culmination of 18 months of work, resulting in one of the
largest and most robust fiber networks in the state, providing significant
benefits for consumers, enterprise customers, carriers, major wireless
providers, the owners and the entire State,” said Jason Dale, Fiber Minnesota
CEO. “As technology and rural transport economics have changed, it’s clear that
a unified state-wide network is a key ingredient to remaining relevant in the
transport world. By combining these complementary networks, we’ve taken another
huge step forward. We are extremely excited for the opportunities this new
combined network provides.”
The expanded Fiber Minnesota footprint connects nearly all corners of the state
with multiple redundant routes, including rural areas often bypassed by other
players.
This merger comes after the successful 2020 acquisition by Cooperative Network
Services (CNS) of the WCTG fiber network, its integration with the original CNS
network, and the subsequent launch of subsidiary Fiber Minnesota for all CNS
network operations. The members of BBV and SMB join CNS as shareholders of Fiber
Minnesota, together representing 33 different owners or ownership groups, most
of which are operating companies / ISPs serving rural Minnesota and neighboring
areas. BBV continues to operate its video headend and Internet services
divisions, while SMB has completely merged into Fiber Minnesota.
According to Glenn Zerbe, Board Chair of BBV / President of Nuvera
Communications, “The broad ownership base is an advantage for Fiber Minnesota as
it partners with its own shareholders for the connectivity of its core network
to a staggering network of last-mile fiber throughout the state. Consumers and
institutions, especially those in rural areas, will experience a higher degree
of reliability for broadband and related services. All three of these networks
complement each other, and their combination removes redundancies and offers
greater scale. The ability to keep more traffic on-net is imperative as the
transport network industry evolves.”
The motivation to combine these networks was clear with BBV, CNS and SMB all
having multiple shareholders in common, and each network having significant
overlapping segments with the others. However, it was still a tall order to
rally all the companies involved.
“There have been multiple efforts over the years to put our statewide
independent network back together here in Minnesota. We were fortunate this time
around with the right people, the right model, and the right time for it all to
come together. The benefits of this merger would not have been possible without
the fantastic leadership of the BBV, SMB, CNS, and FM management teams and
shareholders,” said Bill Eckles, President of SMB / CEO of Bevcomm. “The merged
network fits strategically for the long term provision of critical broadband
services.”
Similar to surrounding states | Minnesota’s fiber transport landscape has long
been made up of smaller regional networks, but as technology and the industry
have evolved, so too has the need for a larger, unified network.
For years, Minnesota has differed from neighboring states, where the independent
telecommunications / broadband providers joined forces decades ago to create
statewide networks – enjoying robust facilities and advanced centralized
solutions.
“This is a big win for the independent telecom providers in MN and for the
customers they serve,” said Dean Bahls, Fiber Minnesota’s Network Operations
Manager. “Minnesota has now achieved the ‘statewide fiber network’ many other
surrounding states have enjoyed for years.
The increased footprint will provide direct connectivity to nearly all of the
independent ISPs in the state as well as connectivity to many more on-net
customers throughout the state. Additionally, adding diverse connections to
wholesale Internet providers and peering exchanges will be more cost-effective
now and help contain costs in the future --- a key ingredient to a sustainable
business model for rural broadband providers in serving their customers,
especially those in Greater Minnesota and neighboring areas.”
Integration of the three networks will be phased over the next 24 to 36 months.
Streamlined quoting and turn-up | With the increase of on-net route miles,
quoting circuits will be faster, and pricing will be more competitive. Customers
will enjoy highly available services, with faster resolution times.
Network of Networks | As with the current Fiber Minnesota network, through
partnership with 702 Communications, the combined network will participate in
the Aurora Fiber Optic Networks brand (aurorafonet.com), and through that
partnership will continue to be a part of the INDATEL nationwide “network of
networks”.
The owners and ownership groups (direct and indirect) represented by Fiber
Minnesota include:
AcenTek Houston, MN
Albany Albany, MN
Alliance Communications Garretson, SD
Benton Communications Rice, MN
Bevcomm Blue Earth, MN
Christensen Communications Company Madelia, MN
Cooperative Network Services Menahga, MN
Comm 1 Kanawha, IA
Consolidated Telecommunications Company Brainerd, MN
Emily Cooperative Telephone Company Emily, MN
Farmers Mutual Telephone Company Bellingham, MN
Federated Telephone Chokio, MN
Garden Valley Technologies Erskine, MN
Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association Brandon, MN
Halstad Telephone Company Halstad, MN
Interstate Telecommunicatons Cooperative Clear Lake, SD
KMTelecom Kasson, MN
Lismore Cooperative Telephone Co. Lismore, MN
Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company Mabel, MN
Manchester-Hartland Telephone Company Manchester, MN
Jaguar Communications / MetroNet Evansville, IN
Nuvera Communications, Inc. New Ulm, MN
Park Region Telephone Underwood, MN
Paul Bunyan Communications Bemidji, MN
RC Technologies New Effington, SD
Red River Communications Abercrombie, ND
Runestone Telecom Association Hoffman, MN
SDN Communications Sioux Falls, SD
Spring Grove Communications Spring Grove, MN
Sytek Upsala, MN
West Central Telephone Association Sebeka, MN
Windstream Little Rock, AR
Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association Lake Mills, IA
Woodstock Communications Ruthton, MN
Fiber Minnesota exists to provide high-capacity, highly-available and protected
fiber connectivity to ISPs, Wireless Carriers, Enterprise customers, and other
stakeholders in every corner of Minnesota, and to surrounding areas. Fiber
Minnesota is a key provider of high-capacity fiber-optic backhaul for much of
Minnesota, providing IP/TDM Transport, Special Access Circuits, and Ethernet
services to the carrier, enterprise, and SMB markets.
Fiber Minnesota - Minnesota. Connected.
Bevcomm a recipient of multiple Border-to-Border Broadband Grants
While the critical importance of reliable, high-speed broadband access has
become even more obvious during the pandemic, there are still unserved and
underserved areas of the state. To help close that gap, on Jan. 28, the state
announced broadband grant awards for 39 projects designed to bring service to
more than 6,900 businesses, homes, and community anchor institutions in
Minnesota.
This marked the sixth year of grants through the Border-to-Border Broadband
Grant Program overseen by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development (DEED).
DEED Commissioner Steve Grove and Broadband Director Angie Dickison joined three
grantees at a recent virtual press conference to talk about the program and the
difference it makes.
Those 39 state grants – totaling $20,645,425 – are matched by $33,695,279 in
local funds, for a total investment in broadband infrastructure of $54,340,704.
“This is very much a partnership of the public and private sectors wanting to
get this done,” said Commissioner Grove. “The demand for this program is huge.
We are by no means done with this journey. Governor Walz announced an additional
$50 million proposal to expand and accelerate this grant program. This has been
a major priority of his and we’re eager to work with legislators on it.”
Bevcomm received funding for two projects in their MN exchanges:
A project titled, Rural Faribault County and Martin County Fiber Expansion Phase
2, with funding in the amount of $1,182,818.
This project will serve approximately two unserved households, 203 underserved
households, 46 underserved businesses, and 181 underserved farms in portions of
Faribault and Martin counties. In a funding partnership with the State of
Minnesota, Faribault County EDA and Martin County EDA, Bevcomm will provide
fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) at speeds of up to 1 Gbps, exceeding the 2022 and
2026 state speed goals. Broadband access will provide home-based business
options, stimulate economic growth, and spark innovation and investment in the
project area. The total eligible project cost is $2,957,043.
A project titled, Rural Morristown Fiber Expansion, with funding in the amount
of $210,692.
This project will serve approximately 14 unserved and 94 underserved locations
in portions of Rice, Waseca, and Steele counties. In a funding partnership with
the State of Minnesota and Rice County Housing & Redevelopment Authority,
Bevcomm will provide fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) at speeds of up to 1 Gbps,
exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. With access to broadband,
education, health care, agriculture, energy efficiency, and public safety will
improve within the project area. The total eligible project cost is $526,729.
Grantees Talk About Value of the Program
Garden Valley Technologies received a $1.6 million award for a project in
Northwest Thief River Falls and Euclid to provide service to 104 unserved and 22
underserved locations in portions of Marshall and Polk counties. “At 1.3
locations per square mile, it’s tough to build that out and, without grant
programs like this, it would be nearly impossible,” said Tim Brinkman, CEO and
general manager of Garden Valley Technologies.
Brinkman talked about how an earlier broadband grant the company received
enabled them to provide service to a 92-year-old woman who was living alone and
to her granddaughter who lived nearby and ran a home-based business. Brinkman
said having broadband access helped the granddaughter grow her business and
allowed the grandmother to download books on her Kindle – a real quality-of-life
issue for someone living alone.
“The family is very, very thankful,” said Brinkman. “So, thank you for the
opportunity to continue providing these services to those unserved areas across
the state.”
Mediacom Minnesota received two awards – a $624,751 grant to serve 267
underserved homes, six businesses and one community anchor in Hermantown in St.
Louis County, and a $19,752 grant to serve 80 unserved households in Minnetrista
in Hennepin County.
“We are really excited, we’re honored, we appreciate the responsibility the
state of Minnesota, and DEED and the taxpayers have put on us, and we’ll
deliver,” said Bill Jensen, group vice president of Mediacom Minnesota.
Bevcomm (Blue Earth Valley Telephone Company, Easton Telephone Company & Cannon
Valley Telecom) received two awards in the latest round of grants: a $1,182,818
grant for a project that will provide service to about two unserved households,
203 underserved households, 46 underserved businesses, and 181 underserved farms
in portions of Faribault and Martin counties – and a $210,692 grant that will
provide service to about 14 unserved and 94 underserved locations in portions of
Rice, Waseca, and Steele counties.
Bill Eckles, CEO of BEVCOMM, said they survey people in an area before they move
ahead with a project. “From the letters we get, it’s just astounding the need
out there,” he said. “I just want to say thank you for the two awards. I’m sure
our customers are going to be extremely happy a year from now.”
High Demand for Program
Altogether, for FY21 funding, DEED received 64 separate applications requesting
$42 million in funding during the latest grant application round. The grants
announced on Jan. 28 bring the number of homes and businesses provided broadband
access through the grant program since 2014 to a total of over 56,800.
Introducing: the New Bevcomm, telecommunication provider reveals new brand
BLUE EARTH, MN -- Bevcomm, a fourth-generation, family-owned telecom company
based in Blue Earth, has revealed its new corporate brand identity, logo, and
website. CEO, Bill Eckles, believes that this refreshed look reflects the
company’s commitment to remain on the cutting edge of communications technology.
“Since Bevcomm was founded in 1895, we’ve been dedicated to providing our
customers with innovative technology and reliable service,” Eckles said, “but
the telecom industry has evolved over the past 125 years, and so have our
services. We decided it was time for our brand to do the same.”
From humble beginnings as a rural telephone service provider, Bevcomm has
expanded to provide high-speed broadband and digital television to more than
20,000 homes and businesses across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
The first change customers will likely notice is the company’s very name, which
has been transformed from BEVCOMM to the lowercase Bevcomm to convey a modern,
tech-forward identity. The new logo also features a refreshed font and a
minimalist, forward-facing arrow. Amy Schonborn, Customer Service and Marketing
Manager, states, “Arrows are a sign of motion, of progress, and that’s what
we’re all about: constantly moving forward to provide our customers with the
best possible experience.”
Bevcomm’s new brand identity is showcased on their redesigned website,
www.bevcomm.net, which features a new easy-to-navigate layout and updated
visuals for improved user experience. For more information, please visit
www.bevcomm.net.
Bevcomm's Response Durning Covid-19 Pandemic
BLUE EARTH, MN -- The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to spread across
the country, prompting thousands of American businesses and schools to move to
remote work and online instruction.
Turning online for work and education may cause stress for local families living
without high speed broadband in their homes.
To support customers working from home, as well as school staff and students
taking part in eLearning programs, BEVCOMM is offering:
(1) A $9.95 broadband connection for eligible low-income families working from
home and for students taking part in eLearning programs. Qualifications include:
must be a new customer, qualify for Free School Lunch, or the Low-Income Heating
Assistance Program. Some restrictions apply.
(2) BEVCOMM will donate $3,000 to each public school district in its serving
area to help support the purchase of Wi-Fi hotspots.
(3) BEVCOMM has joined the FCC in the Keep Americans Connected pledge, which
will promote connectivity for residents impacted by disruptions during this
coronavirus pandemic. Given the scope of this pandemic and its impact on
American society, we pledge for the next 60 days to: • Not terminate service to
any residential or small business broadband or phone customer because of their
inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus
pandemic;
• Waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur
because of economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic; and Due
to rising health concerns, the local BEVCOMM offices in Minnesota and Wisconsin
will close their doors to the public effective at 8:00am on March 17, 2020.
Please know BEVCOMM employees are still here to support you. They offer 24x7x365
Customer Service and Technical Support. Please reach out to them by calling your
local BEVCOMM office or toll free at 800-473-1442.
Payments can be made over the phone with a credit or debit card, sent via postal
mail, left in our local drop boxes, or paid online at www.bevcomm.net.
BEVCOMM installation and repair technicians spend much of their day in customer
homes and businesses. For your safety and the safety of employees BEVCOMM will
limit interactions to new broadband and phone installations and service outages.
Thankfully, many technical troubles can be resolved remotely without having to
send out a technician, however, there are times when they need to go on site to
resolve the issue. Depending on the issue, BEVCOMM may ask to delay the
resolution until exposure is less likely and requests that you communicate
current health status prior to a scheduled appointment.
In addition, it is important to be aware of potential scams that may occur in
relation to COVID19. Should you receive emails that look suspicious, please
delete them and most importantly avoid clicking on links. It is a good practice
to change passwords frequently.
Our nation is experiencing an unprecedented crisis, but no students should have
to stop learning or employees stop working due to their internet connection. For
more information and to upgrade your broadband subscription please contact us at
1-800-473-1442.
For more information regarding COVID-19, please visit
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Bevcomm Aquires Lonsdale Telephone Company in Lonsdale, MN
April 30, Blue Earth, MN - BEVCOMM, Blue Earth-based Telecommunication Company,
announced today that they have acquired ownership of Lonsdale Telephone Company
in Lonsdale, MN.
Existing employees of Lonsdale Telephone Company will become employees of
BEVCOMM and will continue to manage the day-to-day office functions.
Both Lonsdale Telephone Company and BEVCOMM are family-owned companies. BEVCOMM
Chief Executive Officer Bill Eckles stated, “We are excited about the
acquisition of Lonsdale Telephone Company. Lonsdale is geographically located in
perfect proximity to our existing New Prague and Morristown exchanges making
this a natural fit. We are looking forward to new opportunities which will be
possible with the combined resources of both companies. We consider it a
privilege to have the opportunity to serve the Lonsdale community.”
Bevcomm Invests in State-of-the-Art Fiber Network in Oronoco
Oronoco, MN - March 7, 2019 - BEVCOMM invests in a state-of-the-art fiber optic
network that will connect 100% of residential homes and businesses within the
City of Oronoco by the end of 2020. Fiber technology will enable residents to
access services including ultra-fast internet with speeds up to one Gig down and
500Mb up, for less than $100 per month.
During the construction process beginning this year, BEVCOMM will replace the
current network of copper cables with a network of fiber-optic cables which use
light instead of electricity to carry a digital data signal. BEVCOMM anticipates
having nearly half the town complete and ready for installation by the end of
this year. The entire project is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
There will be no installation cost to customers as they are converted to the
fiber optic network.
“Fiber offers important advantages,” said Bill Eckles, BEVCOMM’s CEO. “At the
top of the list is fiber’s ability to provide virtually unlimited bandwidth
capacity and internet speed, enabling users to enjoy a better experience with
data-intensive applications such as streaming, online gaming, cloud storage,
online education, work from home capabilities, and more. Fiber also increases
service reliability and stability. We are excited to bring fiber to Oronoco and
to expand opportunities for individuals as well as expand economic development
in the community as a whole.”
Anyone with questions regarding the upcoming fiber project in Oronoco can call
BEVCOMM at 800-473-1442.
Bevcomm to Aquire Lonsdale Telephone Company in Lonsdale, MN
January 14, 2019, Blue Earth, MN - Bevcomm, Blue Earth-based Telecommunication
Company, announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement
under which they will acquire ownership of Lonsdale Telephone Company in
Lonsdale, MN. The transfer of ownership is pending regulatory approval which is
expected to be completed in the first half of 2020.
Existing employees of Lonsdale Telephone Company will become employees of
Bevcomm, and will continue to manage the day-to-day office functions.
Both Lonsdale Telephone Company and Bevcomm are family-owned companies. Bevcomm
Chief Executive Officer Bill Eckles stated, “We are excited about the
acquisition of Lonsdale Telephone Company. Lonsdale is geographically located in
perfect proximity to our existing New Prague and Morristown exchanges making
this a natural fit. We are looking forward to new opportunities which will be
possible with the combined resources of both companies. We consider it a
privilege to have the opportunity to serve the Lonsdale community.”
Ethan Sindelir to Receive Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation Scholarship
(Wells) Ethan Sindelir of Wells has been selected to receive the $2,000
scholarship for the 2018-2019 academic year from the Minnesota Telecom Alliance
Foundation, according to, Bill Eckles, President of Bevcomm. Ethan will be
graduating from Maple River High School and plans to attend the Gustavus
Adolphus College. He is the son of Brett and Cindy Sindelir.
“I have had many positive influences from teachers and coaches that placed me in
a position to succeed. I too, want to share the passion of an educator to also
inspire students. I plan to accomplish these goals by continuing my education
and majoring in Education, said Ethan in his scholarship application.
In awarding the scholarship to Ethan, Eckles said, “We’re happy to have this
chance to make an investment in Ethan’s college education. Rural communities
need educated and talented young people like Ethan to be our leaders of the
future. It makes us all proud at BEVCOMM when one of the statewide winners is
selected from our area.”
The Foundation is part of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance, a trade organization
based in St. Paul representing over 44 telephone companies and cooperatives in
the state.
Bevcomm Among Recipients of MN DEED's Border-to-Border Broadband Grant
St Paul, MN - November, 21, 2017 - Lt. Governor Tina Smith and the Department of
Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced the 2017
Border-to-Border Broadband Grant recipients. The grants total $26 million for 39
broadband infrastructure projects that will provide 9,973 households, 2,169
businesses, and 60 community institutions across Minnesota access to reliable,
affordable high-speed internet.
The funding, which was approved during the 2017 legislative sessions, goes to
broadband providers and communities to build out wireline and fixed wireless
broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved locations across the state.
“Access to quality, affordable broadband is a tool that levels the playing field
for Minnesotans all across the state,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy.
“This funding, and the private investment leveraged from it, will soon allow
even more individuals, communities and businesses the opportunity to access the
internet at speeds that meet today’s demands.”
Bevcomm has been awarded $545,220 for fiber expansion projects in rural Delavan,
Freeborn, and Granada, MN. The projects will allow for faster Internet with
download speeds up to a Gigabit. Bevcomm will begin construction in 2018. More
specific details follow:
Bevcomm (Easton Telephone Company)
This project will serve 25 households and 30 businesses in the southeastern
rural Delavan area. The total eligible project cost is $565,000, with a $344,650
investment from Bevcomm.
Bevcomm (Cannon Valley Telephone)
This project will serve 15 households and 17 businesses in the rural Freeborn
area, and completing a build-out started two years ago. The total eligible
project cost is $314,000, with a $191,540 investment fromBevcomm.
Bevcomm (Granada Telephone Company)
This project will serve 35 households and 21 businesses in the rural Granada
area located in Martin County, completing a build-out started a year ago. The
total eligible project cost is $519,000, with a $316,590 investment fromBevcomm.
Bevcomm Announces New Phone Directory Partner
June 2017 - Bevcomm is pleased to announce that our telephone directory partner
for the 2017 issue of the Hager City, New Prague/Lonsdale, Faribault County and
Weyerhaeuser phone books is Vivial (Vivial Media LLC). Vivial is currently
contacting local businesses to discuss the 2017-2018 advertising program. We are
excited and believe that Vivial brings a comprehensive suite of print and
digital advertising products to our business owners. See for yourself at
www.vivial.net.
Tri-Co Technologies Set to Acquire Crosslake Communications
Crosslake, MN, May 31, 2016 –The City of Crosslake approved the sale of
Crosslake Communications to Tri-Co Technologies (TCT) on Monday, May 23, 2016.
TCT is a partnership of three Minnesota-based telecommunications companies;
BEVCOMM, headquartered in Blue Earth, MN, West Central Telephone Association
(WCTA), headquartered in Sebeka, MN and Emily Cooperative Telephone Company
(ECTC), of Emily, MN.
The companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which TCT will
acquire Crosslake Communications later this summer pending state and federal
approval. All of the existing employees will be hired by partner-company, Emily
Cooperative Telephone Company, which will be managing the day to day operations.
Josh Netland, General Manager of ECTC and President of TCT commented, “We
consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to serve these new communities.
The three partners have over 220 years combined history of bringing technology
to small rural communities. We consider it to be our responsibility to make sure
the communities we serve are never left behind.”
Tri-Co Technologies is a partnership of Minnesota-based BEVCOMM, West Central
Telephone Association and Emily Cooperative Telephone Company committed to
bringing advanced fiber-to-the-premise technologies to the Crosslake community.
Bevcomm Award Broadband Grants
January 11, 2017- Great news for BEVCOMM and many broadband providers in
Minnesota!! Lt. Governor Tina Smith and the Department of Employment and
Economic Development (DEED) today announced grants totaling $34 million for 42
broadband infrastructure projects that will provide 16,627 households, 2,240
businesses, and 71 community institutions across Minnesota access to reliable,
affordable high-speed internet. The new state funding will help level the
playing field for households and businesses in Greater Minnesota by providing
them access the same opportunities available to urban area residents.
BEVCOMM has been awarded nearly $650,000 for the following expansion projects.
Thank you MN Office of Broadband and all who support us!
• Granada Telephone Co. (dba BEVCOMM), South Rural Granada – $157,920. This
project will serve 26 unserved households and 14 unserved businesses in the
rural Granada area in Martin County. Granada Telephone will provide advanced
broadband services to farms and residences in the area. The total eligible
project cost is $394,800, with a $236,880 investment from BEVCOMM.
• Blue Earth Valley Telephone Co. (dba BEVCOMM), Rural Winnebago – $152,828.
This project will serve 18 unserved households (including farms), 8 unserved
businesses, 2 underserved households and three underserved businesses in rural
Winnebago in Faribault County. Blue Earth Valley Telephone will improve services
that will help livestock and grain farmers in the region. The total eligible
project cost is $382,070, with a $229,242 investment from BEVCOMM.
• Cannon Valley Telecom Inc. (dba BEVCOMM), Rural Freeborn – $150,700. This
project will serve 10 unserved households, six unserved businesses, nine
underserved households and six underserved businesses in the rural Freeborn area
in Freeborn County. The Cannon Valley Telecom project will improve access to
health care and education. The total eligible project cost is $376,750, with a
$226,050 investment from BEVCOMM.
• Eckles Telephone Co. (dba BEVCOMM), Rural Heidelberg – $188,000. This project
will serve 51 unserved households, seven unserved businesses, 40 underserved
households and four underserved businesses in rural Heidelberg in Le Sueur
County. Eckles Telephone Co. will build a network that will enable farmers to
access applications and tools to make their operations more efficient and
enhance crop production. The project also will improve access to health care and
education. The total eligible project cost is $470,000, with a $282,000
investment from BEVCOMM.
Bevcomm Connects Gigabit Network in New Prague, MN
August 1, 2015 - BEVCOMM announces immediate availability of unlimited Gigabit
Internet speeds in New Prague, MN. Extremely fast Internet at speeds up to 1,000
Mbps and 100 times faster than the Internet speed in a typical U. S. household.
At $139.95 per month residential households with a fiber to the home connection
can connect to incredible speeds, with no data limits.
“As demands and customer expectations for faster speeds increase, we are
continually looking for solutions that help meet that demand and keep our
community on the cutting edge,” states Exchange Manager, Dirk Berger, “Our fiber
to the home network in New Prague makes Gig connections possible. Fiber is
future proof, a technology that dramatically changes the way users connect with
their world. We are excited to offer such amazing speeds at an affordable rate.”
He continues, “With a Gig you can do absolutely anything and everything online
with virtually no limitation---watch movies, videos, game, chat, shop,
telecommute and more; and with many devices all on the same connection.”
Bevcomm Acquires Voicenet Technologies
Blue Earth, MN, July 23, 2015– BEVCOMM, a Blue Earth based telecommunications
company, announced today it has acquired VoiceNet Technologies, a Twin City
business communications company located in Eagan. The acquisition expands
BEVCOMM’s business voice, IT and surveillance services in the Twin Cities
market.
“We’re excited to have completed the acquisition of VoiceNet Technologies, says
BEVCOMM Business Solutions President, Jake Anderson. “This will accelerate our
growth plan and provide a base for BEVCOMM in the metro market. Our new
partnership allows BEVCOMM the opportunity to provide excellent customer service
and additional customer choice for specialized business communication and
managed IT solutions in the Twin Cities area.”
Chip Sullivan, former President and partner of VoiceNet Technologies, now with
BEVCOMM, says, “I am thrilled to be joining BEVCOMM and having a much larger
team to support the activity in this area.”
About BEVCOMM
BEVCOMM is a fourth generation, family owned telecommunications company
providing state of the art service for more than 120 years. With a strong
commitment to its communities, BEVCOMM has more than 100 local employees
offering responsive customer service throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. BEVCOMM
Business Solutions provides business telephone systems, hospitality phone
systems, video surveillance, managed IT, web solutions, and data cabling &
networking.
About VoiceNet Technologies
VoiceNet Technology is a 20 year old company specializing in software
development of telephone based Interactive Voice Response solutions; Consulting
Services, and a reseller of Vertical Communication Inc.
Bevcomm Partners with Telecoms to Benefit Business Network Solutions
OCTOBER 8, 2014, BLUE EARTH, MN – BEVCOMM has forged a partnership with five
other Minnesota telephone companies, an Iowa provider and Sioux Falls, SD based
SDN Communications to create better and more affordable network connectivity and
Internet services for regional businesses.
The interconnected network will stretch from the US Highway 212 corridor to
northern Iowa and from Sioux Falls to Rochester. The territory will include Twin
Cities suburbs and other major markets such as Mankato and Rochester.
“This partnership makes BEVCOMM part of something bigger which will provide the
network solutions and efficiencies business’s will need ,” says BEVCOMM
CEO/President Bill Eckles.
The Minnesota and Iowa companies invited SDN to interconnect and manage the
partnership because of its experience doing the same for its owners, the
independent telephone companies of South Dakota.
SDN’s network already serves all of South Dakota for business-to-business
broadband services with 30,000 miles of fiber optics. That network reaches into
seven surrounding states, including metropolitan areas, such as Minneapolis,
Omaha, Chicago, Fargo, Denver and Cheyenne.
The partners (and headquarters) include:
About BEVCOMM
BEVCOMM is a fourth generation, family-owned telecom company and technology
provider headquartered in Blue Earth, Minnesota. It maintains a history rooted
in telephone service, providing dial-tone service and unified communications
infrastructures to communities throughout Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa
for more than 115 years.
BEVCOMM is positioned to provide the reliable legacy services of today, with the
innovative services of tomorrow. From local and long distance telephone service
to high-speed Internet access, Digital TV, and customized business services,
BEVCOMM offers a wide range of communications solutions. Originally founded in
1895, and currently employing 104 people, BEVCOMM is one of the largest
locally-owned telecommunications companies in Minnesota. BEVCOMM is
headquartered in Blue Earth, and has offices in Minnesota Lake, Morristown, New
Prague, Pine Island, Wells, & Winnebago, MN as well as Hager City and
Weyerhaeuser, WI.
About SDN Communications
SDN is a coalition of South Dakota’s independent telephone companies –
cooperatives, family, municipal, and tribal-owned companies. They joined their
independent networks in 1989 and created SDN as a hub to deliver long distance
choice to the telephone companies’ largely rural customer base. Today that same
statewide fiber footprint allows file sharing and Internet traffic for business
and government. In fact, SDN provides Internet not only to South Dakota state
government offices, but also to virtually all public K-12 schools and state
universities. Its network now reaches into eight states serving businesses in
many sectors, but specializing in banking, health care, manufacturing,
government, and education. SDN also offers Managed Services including routers,
firewalls and remote network monitoring. Learn more at
Bevcomm Supports Pine Island Public Schools Bond Referendum
BEVCOMM announced a pledge of $100,000 to the Pine Island Public School District
to enhance technology in the school system, provided the upcoming bond
referendum is approved. “This is our way of offering support for the new school
facility in Pine Island,” says Bill Eckles, BEVCOMM’s President and CEO.
“The importance of maintaining our school systems is vital to the future of the
county. Innovative technology and broadband connections are the building blocks
of a digital learning environment. Broadband powers a learning environment for
both students and teachers which promote success and achievement,” stated Bill
Eckles. “The latest in technology in a new facility supports a commitment to the
future, attracting new families and new businesses to the area.”
Bevcomm Offers Free School Supplies
Summer is nearly over and students will trade in their beach towels for back
packs as they gear up for a new school year. While most children anticipate
heading back to school, some parents worry about juggling the cost of school
supplies with the family budget. With this in mind, BEVCOMM will distribute FREE
school supplies in their first, Back to School - FREE School Supply Event!
BEVCOMM Employees and student volunteers packed 2,000 bags to be distributed to
students in telephone serving areas.
Stop by any local BEVCOMM office from August 1st - August 31st and pick-up FREE
school supplies for children in grades Kindergarten thru 5th Grade. School
supply bags are packaged with pencils, erasers, glue, scissors, pencil bags,
notebooks and more. Supplies are limited and will be issued on a first come,
first serve basis.
Bevcomm Offers DVR
January 26, 2011 - BEVCOMM’s recent upgrade in Wells, Winnebago, Freeborn,
Delavan, Easton, Frost, and Bricelyn provides new service to customers. Never
miss your favorite programming again with Digital Video Recording (DVR) from
BEVCOMM TV. DVR allows you to watch TV on your own schedule with just a push of
a button; you can record one program or an entire season. Along with the power
to fast-forward and rewind, you can pause live TV until you're ready to start
watching. You can even watch one program while recording another.
BEVCOMM’s local customer service representatives and technicians in Wells are
ready to serve your communication needs. BEVCOMM offers Digital TV, High Speed
Internet, and phone services in Bricelyn, Delavan, Easton, Freeborn, Frost,
Wells, and Winnebago.
Bevcomm Builds State-of-the-Art Network in New Prague
August 1, 2010 - BEVCOMM’s continued investment in a state-of-the-art fiber
optic network will connect residential homes in New Prague. At no additional
charge, BEVCOMM customers will be upgraded to the finest communication
technology available today.
Due to the tremendous bandwidth available over a fiber connection, BEVCOMM will
deliver telephone, digital television with many enhanced features, and even
faster Internet speeds to your home. In addition to these exceptional services,
a fiber connection provides added bandwidth allowing for future technological
developments.
When asked about the decision to invest in a fiber network, BEVCOMM Exchange
Manager, Dirk Berger states, "We make this investment because we believe it will
contribute to the economic vitality of our community and allow us to serve our
customers with the greatest communication services available today." BEVCOMM
will invest $7 million dollars in the community of New Prague with its Fiber to
the Home construction project.
Construction began in the summer of 2009 and is expected to continue through
2011. "You may have noticed an increased presence of BEVCOMM vehicles in your
neighborhood," states Berger, "a BEVCOMM technician will make a personal visit
to each and every home to obtain permission for construction as well as answer
any questions you may have in regards to the project."
For more information about BEVCOMM’s Fiber to the Home project, stop by the
local office or call 952-758-2501.
Governor Walz Announces 30 New Border-to-Border Broadband Grants
DEED awards over $20 million to provide access to reliable, high speed internet
to more Minnesotans
January 21, 2020
[ST. PAUL, MN] – Today, Governor Tim Walz announced the Minnesota Department of
Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is awarding $23,270,933 in
Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program funds to 30 broadband
projects across the state. The projects will bring high-quality broadband access
to underserved and unserved areas of Minnesota, providing fast, reliable
internet access for more than 10,900 businesses, homes, and community anchor
institutions.
“Fast, reliable broadband access is a critical economic development tool that
improves quality of life and makes businesses in Greater Minnesota more
competitive,” said Governor Walz. “These grants help us get closer to our goal
to ensure that every Minnesotan has high-speed internet access by 2022.”
“You simply can’t participate in the innovation sector — or almost any sector of
the economy today, for that matter — without high speed access to the internet,”
said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “These grants help us reach that last mile
of service in Minnesota and our goal to be a model state where you don’t have to
move to a metro area to participate in the 21st century economy.”
During the 2019 legislative session, the Governor signed into law a total of $40
million in one-time funds for the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant
program in 2020 and 2021. Altogether, DEED received requests for $70 million in
funding for 80 different applications during the latest grant application round.
The Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program is primarily targeted
towards communities in Greater Minnesota, where broadband infrastructure is not
as likely to be at a level that is needed to support economic equity. A map of
projects awarded grants in 2020 is posted on DEED’s website.
The State of Minnesota has set a goal for universal access and high-speed
internet so that by no later than 2022, all Minnesota businesses and homes have
access to high-speed broadband that provides minimum download speeds of at least
25 megabits per second and minimum upload speeds of at least three megabits per
second. And by no later than 2026, all Minnesota businesses and homes have
access to at least one provider of broadband with download speeds of at least
100 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 20 megabits per second.
This is the fifth year of the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant
program. The grants announced today bring the number of homes and businesses
provided broadband access through the grant program since 2014 to a total of
49,900.
Details about projects awarded this year are listed below.
BEVCOMM (Eckles Telephone Company) – Le Sueur County Project – GRANT $1,857,376
This last mile project will upgrade approximately 417 unserved households, 88
unserved farms, 59 unserved businesses, and 4 community anchor institutions in
rural areas around the communities of Montgomery, Heidelberg, and New Prague in
Le Sueur, Rice, and Scott Counties. In a fundin41g partnership with the State of
Minnesota and Le Sueur County, BEVCOMM will improve broadband service levels up
to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed
goals. Sustainable broadband adoption will transform these unserved areas into
highly-productive rural communities. This use and development of broadband will
provide various home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, and
stimulate innovation and investment. Education, health care, agriculture, energy
efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet access.
Total eligible project cost is $3,714,752 Local match is $1,857,376
BEVCOMM (Pine Island Telephone Company) – NE Pine Island Fiber Project Phase I –
GRANT $222,222
This last mile project will upgrade approximately 54 unserved households, eight
unserved farms, 14 unserved businesses, and one underserved household in areas
of Pine Island and New Haven Townships in Goodhue County, and a small portion in
Olmsted County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Goodhue
County Economic Development Authority, BEVCOMM will improve broadband service
levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026
state speed goals. The use and development of broadband will provide various
home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, innovation, and
investment. Education, health care, agriculture, energy efficiency, and public
safety will improve with high-speed Internet access.
Total eligible project cost is $634,920 Local match is $412,698
BEVCOMM (Blue Earth Valley Telephone Company & Easton Telephone Company) – Rural
Faribault County Project – GRANT: $579,781
This last mile project will upgrade approximately 112 unserved and six
underserved households, 50 unserved farms, and eight unserved businesses in
areas of Faribault and Martin Counties. In a funding partnership with the State
of Minnesota and Faribault County Economic Development Authority, BEVCOMM will
improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload,
exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Sustainable broadband adoption
will transform these unserved areas into highly-productive rural communities.
Total eligible project cost is $1,449,451 Local match is $869,670
Bevcomm Launches Fiber Project in Truman, Trimont, and Welcome
BEVCOMM plans to bring Fiber-to-the-Home technology to residents of Truman,
Trimont, and Welcome in 2019. This fiber technology will enable residents to
access services including ultra-fast internet with speeds up to one Gig — the
equivalent of 1,000 Mbps. With Gig speeds, an HD movie can be downloaded in 36
seconds.
During the construction process, BEVCOMM will replace the current coax cables
with a network of fiber-optic cables which use light instead of electricity to
carry a digital data signal. The entire project is expected to be completed by
the end of 2020.
“Fiber offers important advantages,” said Bill Eckles, BEVCOMM’s CEO. “At the
top of the list is fiber’s ability to provide virtually unlimited bandwidth
capacity and internet speed, enabling users to enjoy a better experience with
data-intensive applications such as streaming, online gaming, cloud storage,
online education, and more. Fiber also increases service reliability and
stability. We are excited to bring fiber to Truman, Trimont, and Welcome and to
expand opportunities for individuals as well as expand economic development in
our rural communities as a whole.”
Eckles states, “We invite residents to join us at our upcoming open houses to
learn more about fiber and our upcoming construction project.”
BEVCOMM has invited residents of each community to a meet-and-greet open house
to enjoy a complimentary meal and learn more about their upcoming
Fiber-to-the-Home construction projects.
Truman residents are invited to the Community Building, 313 N 1st Ave W, from
3-7pm on Thursday, March 7th.
Trimont residents are invited to Triumph Hall, 546 Main St E, from 3-7pm on
Wednesday, March 13th. Welcome residents are invited to the Welcome Legion Club,
112 N Dugan St, from 3-7pm, on Thursday, March 14th. Anyone with questions
regarding the upcoming fiber projects can call BEVCOMM at 800-473-1442.
Bevcomm to Aquire Cable System in Truman, Trimont, and Welcome, MN
October 4, 2018, Blue Earth, MN - Bevcomm, headquartered in Blue Earth, has
entered into an agreement to purchase the Cable TV systems in Trimont, Truman,
and Welcome, MN. Beginning in 2019, Bevcomm will begin the process of building
fiber optic technology to every home and business in the three communities.
Fiber optics will provide world-class Gig infrastructure, feature-rich Digital
TV, and telephone service. It is anticipated that the agreement will be
finalized before the end of the year. Construction of the new fiber optic system
is slated for spring of 2019.
ITC, DBA Bevcomm is Among Recipients of WI Broadband Expansion Grant
April 12, 2018, Madison, WI – On April 12, 2018 Governor Scott Walker awarded
the largest round of broadband grants in state history totaling 7.5 million
which was leveraged to $19,000,471.00 with private matching funds. Forty-five
expansion projects will extend high-speed internet access to as many as 1,600
business locations and 18,000 residential locations. In addition, Governor
Walker announced the opening of the application process for the next round of
grants with seven million to be awarded.
"Broadband has endless potential to help Wisconsin communities," said Governor
Walker.
"Years ago, electricity revolutionized farming for my grandparents. Today
broadband is revolutionizing farming, education, health care, and improving the
day to day lives of Wisconsin rural residents. With this historic round of
grants, we are another step closer to connecting every Wisconsin Community."
Governor Walker has awarded 55 broadband expansion grants since taking office
totaling $5,452,000.
Bevcomm, formerly Indianhead Telephone Company, was awarded $134,516 and will
deploy fiber to the premise to 119 homes and businesses in the Island Lake area
of Rusk County and have plans to break ground in late 2018.
Free School Supplies for Kids in Bevcomm Areas
August 1, 2017 - It’s hard to believe that kids are already trading in their
beach towels for backpacks as they gear up for a new school year. To help fill
those backpacks, Bevcomm is distributing free school supplies in August to
children in kindergarten through 5th grade in all Bevcomm service areas. Stop by
any local Bevcomm office to pick up bags with essentials like pencils, erasers,
glue, scissors, notebooks, and more. Supplies are limited and will be issued on
a firstcome, first-served basis. We hope to see you soon and wish the best to
all your students!
Bevcomm Will Protect Customer Web Browsing History
April 4, 2017– Recently federal legislation was passed allowing Internet Service
Providers, such as BEVCOMM to sell customers’ web browsing history to third
party vendors. Bevcomm would like to assure customers we do not and will not
collect and sell their personal web browsing history.
“We have and will continue to protect the privacy of our subscribers. We value
their business and appreciate customers place their trust in us as their
broadband provider. We have never tracked web browsing history and have no plans
to do so in the future regardless of what the rules and regulations allow,”
comments BEVCOMM CEO, Bill Eckles.
Tri-Co Technologies Aquires Crosslake Communications
August 31, 2016 - Crosslake, MN - Tri-Co Technologies, the partnership comprised
of Emily Cooperative Telephone Company, West Central Telephone Association and
BEVCOMM is pleased to announce they have closed on the purchase of Crosslake
Communications as of the end of the day August 31st.
The partnership will continue to operate using the name Crosslake Communications
and the local office will stay open. The existing employees of Crosslake
Communications will be hired by Emily Cooperative Telephone Company, which will
be providing management services.
Josh Netland, Emily Cooperative Telephone Company General Manager and President
of Tri-Co Technologies said, “We are honored to be given the chance to become
part of the Crosslake community. We look forward to working with the city and
our new customers to bring more advanced telecommunications services to
Crosslake. The partners have a long history of putting the customer first and we
look forward to continuing this tradition in Crosslake.”
Minnesota Awards $11 Million for Broadband Projects
Nov 20, 2015 - ST. PAUL – Lt. Governor Tina Smith and the Minnesota Department
of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced that $11 million
in grants have been awarded for projects to expand broadband access in 15
Greater Minnesota communities. Lt. Governor Smith made the announcement at the
Blandin Foundation’s “Border to Border Broadband: Better Together” Conference,
“We need border-to-border broadband Internet access to build an economy that
works for all Minnesotans,” said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. “Broadband Internet
access isn’t just nice, it’s necessary for Minnesota businesses to grow and our
students to thrive. While these grants are a good start, significant need
remains.”
This broadband funding was awarded under DEED’s Border-to-Border Broadband
Development Grant Program, which Governor Mark Dayton signed into law in May
2014. This year, DEED received 44 applications for funding, totaling more than
$29 million in requests. Recipients were selected based on an internal review
and scoring process.
The latest round of broadband grants will improve access to high-speed broadband
for 3,222 households, 786 businesses and nearly 90 community institutions
throughout the state.
“By gaining access to broadband, these rural communities will increase economic
development, improve living standards and enhance education and public
services,” said DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben. “While we are pleased to
assist in the development of these projects, there are many other communities
waiting to receive access to high speed Internet and additional resources are
urgently needed."
Now in its second year, the program’s first round of funding awarded $19.4
million to 17 Greater Minnesota communities in February of this year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEVCOMM Cannon Valley Telecom, Rural Freeborn Fiber-to-the-Premises Project,
$149,625 The project will build out broadband infrastructure to provide
high-speed Internet service to 43 households and one business in rural Freeborn
in south-central Minnesota’s Freeborn County. Total project costs are $393,750.
BEVCOMM will cover the remaining $244,125 (62 percent local match).
Community and Economic Development Impact: The project will support various
home-based businesses, stimulate economic growth, and encourage innovation and
investment. Education, health care, energy efficiency and public safety will
improve with high-speed Internet access. The greatest economic development
potential of the project will be in crop and livestock production, including
advancement in bin monitoring systems, livestock feed and environment
monitoring, security, video surveillance and energy management.
BEVCOMM Blue Earth Valley Telephone, Rural Winnebago Fiber-to-the-Premises
Project, $142,690 The project will provide high-speed Internet service to 30
unserved households and farms in rural Winnebago in Faribault County in
south-central Minnesota. T otal project costs are $375,500. BEVCOMM will cover
the remaining $232,810 (62 percent local match).
Community and Economic Development Impact: The project will stimulate home-based
businesses, economic growth, and innovation and investment. Education, health
care, energy efficiency and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet
access. The greatest economic development potential will be in local crop and
livestock production. Broadband investments will enable area farmers to access
applications and tools to make their operations more efficient and enhance their
crop production. A second benefit will be better health care, especially in
emergency situations. First responders, paramedics and rural doctors will be
able to share medical information and start vital treatment to a patient while
an ambulance is en route to the hospital.
Bevcomm Builds State-of-the-Art Network in Minnesota Lake
July 8, 2015 - BEVCOMM invests in a state-of-the-art fiber optic network that
will connect households in Minnesota Lake to a Gigabit network. In August
BEVCOMM will begin the first phase of a multi-year fiber to the home
construction project. “We will focus first on the area west of Main Street from
Lake Avenue West to 5th Avenue West,” states Exchange Manager, Scott Linde. (See
details on map for the 2015 project).
Fiber optics allow for tremendous bandwidth capacity and can easily transmit
super-fast Internet, high-definition television, and crystal clear telephone
services with plenty of capacity still available for future applications.
“As demands and customer expectations for new and advanced services increase, we
are continually looking for solutions that help meet that demand and keep our
community on the cutting edge,” states Linde. “Fiber offers many benefits to the
customer including incredible Gigabit High Speed Internet, increased
reliability, future flexibility, and cost efficiency. We make this investment
because we believe it will contribute to the economic vitality of our community
and allow us to serve our customers with the greatest communication services
available today."
The fiber to the home project makes Gig connections possible. A Gigabit
connection is 100 times faster than the Internet speed in a typical US
household. With a Gig connection from BEVCOMM you will quickly enjoy a big
difference in your online experience.
Download an HD TV show in 3 seconds Download 25 songs in 1 second Download an HD
movie in 36 seconds Download 100 digital pictures in 3 seconds Construction in
Minnesota Lake will begin in August. Subscribers in Minnesota Lake can expect
progression throughout the community over the next several years.
Bevcomm Invests in State-of-the-Art Fiber Network in Pine Island
September 8, 2014---BEVCOMM invests in state-of-the-art fiber optic network that
will connect residential homes and businesses in Pine Island and Oronoco, MN.
Fiber optics allow for tremendous bandwidth capacity and can easily transmit
super-fast Internet, high-definition television, and crystal clear telephone
services with plenty of capacity still available for future applications.
“As demands and customer expectations for new and advanced services increase, we
are continually looking for solutions that help meet that demand and keep our
community on the cutting edge,” states BEVCOMM CEO, Bill Eckles, “Fiber offers
many benefits to the customer including superior bandwidth, increased
reliability, future flexibility, and cost efficiency. We make this investment
because we believe it will contribute to the economic vitality of our community
and allow us to serve our customers with the greatest communication services
available today." Construction in Pine Island began earlier this summer. Ground
breaking in Oronoco is planned for fall of 2014. Expect progression with both
fiber projects over the next several years.
Bevcomm Acquires Telephone Companies
December 21, 2012 - It has been announced that Bevcomm, headquartered in Blue
Earth, MN, has acquired from Hector Communications, the Granada Telephone
Company, Hager Telecom, Indianhead Telephone Company, and Pine Island Telephone
Company.
The companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Bevcomm will
acquire ownership of each company on January 1, 2013. When the acquisition
completes, Bevcomm will serve the communities of Granada, Pine Island, and
Oronoco, located in Minnesota, and Hager City, Bay City, Weyerhaeuser, Exeland,
and Radisson, located in Wisconsin. Each local office will remain open, and all
existing employees will become employees ofBevcomm.
Bill Eckles, CEO of Bevcomm, commented, “We consider it a privilege to have the
opportunity to serve these new communities. Bevcomm has a 120 year history of
bringing technology to small rural communities. We consider it to be our
responsibility to make sure the communities we serve are never left behind.”
Bevcomm provides local Telephone, High Speed Internet, Digital TV, and Business
Solution Services in Blue Earth, Bricelyn, Delavan, Easton, Elmore, Freeborn,
Frost, Guckeen, Granada, Huntley, Kiester, Minnesota Lake, Morristown, New
Prague, Warsaw, Wells, Winnebago, and Stevens, IA.
It is Bevcomm’s mission to provide cutting-edge technology, high quality
products and services, exceptional customer service, as well as fair and
competitive rates.
Klobuchar Urges FCC to Take Action to Strengthen Rural Phone Service
12/1/2012 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today called the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to take action to strengthen rural phone
service. Currently, some phone providers refuse to connect calls to customers
served by small rural carriers, hurting local businesses and consumers. In a
bipartisan letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, Klobuchar and 35 other
senators called on the FCC to take swift action to restore quality service in
rural areas to resolve call completion problems and work to preserve the basic
integrity of the nation’s communications network.
“Call completion problems have serious economic consequences throughout rural
America,” Klobuchar said in the letter. “During this difficult economic period,
small businesses cannot afford to lose business opportunities because of dropped
calls and poor service quality. These problems have continued for far too long
and it is only a matter of time before this situation leads to tragedy when a
rural customer is unable to receive an urgent call. Small business owners and
people living in rural areas are rightfully frustrated and deserve a resolution
to these problems.”
Many rural areas suffer from inadequate and unreliable phone service and an
increasing number of consumers experience calls that fail to complete, are
delayed, have poor voice quality, lack caller ID information, or are never
connected because some originating providers refuse to connect calls to
customers served by small rural carriers.
A study conducted by the National Exchange Carrier Association in April
concluded that call failure rates and instances of poor voice quality were
significantly higher in rural areas compared to their non-rural counterparts
across all call originating platforms.
Sen. Klobuchar is a member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and
the Internet, which has oversight of the Federal Communications Commission and
is a leader in the Senate advocating for the deployment of advanced
communications networks to rural America.
Bevcomm Supports USC Referendum
July 2012 - BEVCOMM announced a pledge of $100,000 to the United South Central
School District to enhance technology in the new school, provided the upcoming
bond referendum is approved on August 14th. “This is our way of offering support
for the new school facility in Wells” says Bill Eckles, BEVCOMM’s President and
CEO.
“The importance of maintaining our school systems is vital to the future of
Faribault County. Innovative technology and broadband connections are the
building blocks of a digital learning environment. Broadband powers a learning
environment for both students and teachers which promote success and
achievement,” stated Bill Eckles. “The latest in technology in a new facility
supports a commitment to the future, attracting new families and new businesses
to our area.”
BEVCOMM has 85 employees and provides local Telephone, High Speed Internet,
Digital TV and Business Solution Services in Blue Earth, Bricelyn, Delavan,
Easton, Elmore, Freeborn, Frost, Guckeen, Granada, Huntley, Kiester, Minnesota
Lake, Morristown, New Prague, Warsaw, Wells, Winnebago, and parts of Dakota
County, MN.
Notices and Policies
Broadband Acceptable Use Policy
PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY
The Bevcomm Internet Services Acceptable Use Policy has been formulated with the
following goals in mind:
• Ensure security, reliability and privacy of Bevcomm systems and network, and
the networks and systems of others
• Avoid situations that may cause Bevcomm to incur civil liability
• Maintain the image and reputation of Bevcomm as a responsible content provider
• Preserve the value of Internet resources as a conduit for free expression
• Encourage the responsible use of net resources, discouraging practices which
degrade the usability of network resources and thus the value of Internet
services
• Preserve the privacy and security of individual users
The Acceptable Use Policy below defines the actions which Bevcomm considers to
be abusive, and thus, strictly prohibited. The examples named in this list are
non-exclusive, and are provided solely for guidance to Bevcomm Customers. If you
are unsure whether any contemplated use or action is permitted, please send mail
to info@bevcomm.net and we will assist you.
GENERAL CONDUCT
Customers are prohibited from transmitting on or through any of Bevcomm
services, any material that is, in Bevcomm’s sole discretion, unlawful, obscene,
threatening, abusive, libelous, or hateful, or encourages conduct that would
constitute a criminal offense, gives rise to civil liability, or otherwise
violates any local, state, national or international law.
Bevcomm services may only be used for lawful purposes. Transmission,
distribution, or storage of any information, data or material in violation of
United States or state or local regulation or law, or by the common law, is
prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, material protected by
copyright, trademark, trade secret, or any other statute. Bevcomm reserves the
right to remove such illegal material from its servers.
The customer is responsible for keeping his billing data with Bevcomm up-to-date
and accurate. Furnishing false data on the signup form, contract, or online
application, including fraudulent use of credit card numbers, is grounds for
immediate termination, and may subject the offender to civil or criminal
liability. The resale or sharing of Bevcomm products and services on or off
premises is not permitted, unless specifically permitted and documented in a
written agreement. Example: Sharing one Broadband plan between two households.
SYSTEM AND NETWORK SECURITY
Customers may not attempt to circumvent user authentication or security of any
host, network, or account ("hacking"). This includes, but is not limited to,
accessing data not intended for the Customer, logging into a server or account
the Customer is not expressly authorized to access, or probing the security of
other networks (such as running a scan or similar tool).
Customers may not attempt to interfere with service to any user, host, or
network ("denial of service attacks"). This includes, but is not limited to,
"flooding" of networks, deliberate attempts to overload a service, and attempts
to "crash" a host. Customers may not use any kind of program/script/command, or
send messages of any kind, designed to interfere with a user's terminal session,
via any means, locally or by the Internet.
Bevcomm reserves the right to enforce user session time limits during periods of
activity and inactivity. Users who violate systems or network security may incur
criminal or civil liability. Bevcomm will cooperate fully with investigations of
violations of systems or network security at other sites, including cooperating
with law enforcement authorities in the investigation of suspected criminal
violations.
WEB HOSTING OR INTERNET USE
Customers must protect the privacy of other users, and not intentionally seek
information on, obtain copies of or modify files, other data, or passwords
belonging to other users without permission.
Customers must respect the legal protection provided by copyright, trademark,
licenses, and other laws to programs, data and documents. Customers may not
upload to Bevcomm servers any data or software that is subject to distribution
or copyright limits. High Speed Internet customers will be prohibited from using
residential broadband service for web, gaming, or other hosting type servers.
Customers wishing to use broadband service for these purposes must subscribe to
the business rate service.
E-MAIL
Harassment, whether through language, frequency, or size of messages, is
prohibited. Customers may not send email to any person who does not wish to
receive it. If a recipient asks to stop receiving email, the customer must not
send that person any further email.
Customers are explicitly prohibited from sending unsolicited bulk mail messages
("junk mail" or "spam"). This includes, but is not limited to, bulk-mailing of
commercial advertising, informational announcements, and political tracts. Such
material may only be sent to those who have explicitly requested it. Malicious
email, including but not limited to "mailbombing" (flooding a user or site with
very large or numerous pieces of email), is prohibited. Forging of e-mail header
information is not permitted.
Bevcomm accounts or services may not be used to collect replies to messages sent
from another Internet Service Provider, where those messages violate this
Acceptable Use Policy or the Acceptable Use Policy of that other provider.
It is the responsibility of the customer to check their email often and set
their mail client to delete email from the server once it is downloaded. Bevcomm
will also delete email from the server when the limit of 50 megabytes is
exceeded. Incoming email messages are not currently limited in size, but you
should not normally need to store multi-megabyte email files on the email
server. Outgoing email messages are currently limited to 25 megabytes and the
maximum number of recipients is 25. Large files (5 Mb or larger) may be
difficult or impossible to retrieve using a dial-up connection.
ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURE
Bevcomm enforces its Acceptable Use Policies in the manner described below. For
more details about these policies and the procedure for filing a formal letter
of complaint, please email us at info@bevcomm.net.
Prohibited Uses of Email, Web Hosting, or Internet Services.
Upon first violation of one of these policies, Bevcomm will issue a written
warning to the customer. Upon the second violation of one of these policies,
Bevcomm will suspend the customer’s internet service account until the customer
executes a Bevcomm approved and prepared Cease-and-Desist Agreement. Upon a
third violation of one of these policies, Bevcomm will suspend the customer’s
account for a period of 30 days. A fourth violation of these policies will
result in a suspension of the customer’s internet account for a period of 6
months. A fifth violation will result in the final termination of the customer’s
account.
OTHER PROHIBITED USES
Bevcomm will generally follow a procedure of issuing a written warning after the
first violation, suspending service until a written agreement of
cease-and-desist is received after the second violation, and terminating service
after the third violation.
Bevcomm reserves the right to suspend or terminate any Bevcomm account and
services in accordance with the provisions of this Acceptable Use Policy or for
any reason not prohibited by law.
MODIFICATIONS
Bevcomm reserves the right to modify this policy at any time. Current copies of
this and other Bevcomm policies are available at www.bevcomm.net.
More About Rural Call Completion Issues
Are long-distance calls not getting through to you? Many people in rural America
are experiencing intermittent problems receiving long-distance phone calls from
across the country. You may have encountered any of the following:
• Someone tells you he/she tried to call you but the call didn't get through, or
the caller heard ringing but you didn't.
• A call came through to you but the quality was poor.
• A call came through but the Caller ID was incorrect.
The problem starts with the long-distance carrier used by the customer who makes
the call, and can only be resolved by this carrier. Local telecommunications
providers, such as Bevcomm, are not the cause of the problem. We strive to
provide excellent service at all times, and are as frustrated as you are by the
illegal practices of some long-distance carriers and their agents.
It is illegal for long-distance carriers to block, choke, or reduce long
distance traffic and that this prohibition also includes any practices that lead
to call termination or call quality problems as well.
The nationwide epidemic is negatively affecting local businesses, public safety
and our relationship with our customers. Rural carriers have filed complaints
with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and state agencies. The FCC has
created a task force to investigate and address the issue. Rural telco advocates
are encouraging swift and severe action against all providers at the center of
the problem.
Click here for more information on the call completion issue or to file a
complaint with the FCC. We'll continue to monitor this situation and keep you
updated. As always, please contact us if you have questions or concerns.
National Do Not Call Registry
The National Do Not Call Registry places consumers in charge of the
telemarketing calls they get at home. The Federal government created the
national registry to make it easier and more efficient for you to stop getting
telemarketing calls you don’t want. You can register online at
https://www.donotcall.gov/ or call toll-free, 1-888-382-1222 from the number you
wish to register. Registration is free.
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy addresses the privacy of Bevcomm customers. It identifies
the type of data and information Bevcomm collects, how we use it, and the steps
we take to protect privacy.
Members of the Bevcomm family of companies that collect and/or use customer
information have agreed to the privacy practices in this Privacy Policy. The
Bevcomm family of companies includes Rural Communications Holding Corporation
and its affiliated and subsidiary entities. These members are referred to in
this Privacy Policy as “Bevcomm” or “we.”
IMPORTANT: When a customer signs up for certain Bevcomm-offered services, the
customer may agree to policies that address service-specific privacy practices.
For example, Bevcomm dial-up and High-speed Internet services customers are
subject to additional privacy practices.
In the normal course of providing telecommunications services, Bevcomm collects
and maintains certain information about customer accounts. This information,
when matched to a customer’s name, address, and calling or originating billing
telephone number, is known as Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI).
Examples of CPNI include information typically available from details on a
customer’s monthly telephone bill—the type of line, technical characteristics,
class of service, current telephone charges, long distance and local service
billing record, directory assistance charges, usage data, and calling patterns.
We maintain CPNI to provide our customers with detailed and accurate billing
information. We do not sell CPNI to unaffiliated third parties and abide by the
federal and/or state CPNI rules that apply to all telecommunications carriers.
When a customer subscribes to our local telephone service, we offer the customer
the opportunity to request that his/her name, telephone number, and address not
be published in directories or be made available through directory assistance.
We will not provide a customer’s personal information to unaffiliated third
parties for the marketing of third-party products without our customer’s
consent.
We will keep our customer’s personal information secure and confidential through
safeguards such as secure encryption technology and by requiring the entry of
usernames and passwords to access personal information.
Information we collect and use:
Bevcomm collects and uses customer information such as name, address, and
telephone number. Personal information, such as demographics, billing, payment
and transaction information, including credit card numbers, account numbers,
and/or social security numbers, may be combined with customer information.
We may use personal information to monitor our customers’ quality of service
and/or to provide products and services.
We also use personal information to market and sell Bevcomm-offered products and
services.
We maintain and/or collect email addresses from customers to provide product and
service information and confirmation. Email addresses may be used for marketing
Bevcomm-offered products and services.
Information we disclose to third parties:
We provide personal information to third parties solely in order to provide
certain Bevcomm-offered products and services. For example, we disclose customer
personal information to long distance carriers and their affiliates solely in
order to provide long distance services.
We may share necessary personal information with third parties, such as shipping
companies, to complete an order.
We may, where permitted by law, provide personal information to credit bureaus,
or provide information and/or sell receivables to collection agencies, to obtain
payment for Bevcomm-offered products and services.
We must disclose information, when requested, to comply with court orders,
warrants, or subpoenas. We will also share information when necessary to prevent
unlawful use of communications services, when necessary to repair network
outages, and when a customer dials 911 and information regarding their location
is transmitted to a public safety agency.
Your name and number may also be transmitted and displayed on a Caller ID device
unless you have elected to block such information. Please note that Caller ID
Blocking does not prevent the display of your number when you dial certain
business numbers, 911, 900 numbers, or toll-free 800, 888, 877, or 866 numbers.
Changes to this policy:
Our Privacy Policy is regularly reviewed and revised to make sure we continue to
serve the best interests of our customers.
We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy to reflect any changes.
Privacy Policy changes will be posted on our website at www.bevcomm.net.
If you have questions or concerns regarding this statement, you should first
contact us via email at info@bevcomm.net.
Personal Information
When you interact with us, we automatically receive and store certain types of
information, such as the content you view, the date and time that you view this
content, the products you purchase, or your location information associated with
your IP address. We use the information we collect to serve you more relevant
advertisements (referred to as “Retargeting”). This is statistical information
used to monitor the usage of our website and for advertising purposes. This
information does not include personal information.
Cookies
As you browse bevcomm.net, advertising cookies will be placed on your computer
so that we can understand what you are interested in. Our display advertising
partner, AdRoll, then enables us to present you with retargeting advertising on
other sites based on your previous interaction with bevcomm.net. The techniques
our partners employ do not collect personal information such as your name, email
address, postal address or telephone number. You can visit this page AdRoll
Privacy to opt out of AdRoll and their partners' targeted advertising.
Telephone Equipment Distribution Program (TED)
The Telephone Equipment Distribution Program provides telephone equipment to
people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, speech impaired or have a
physical disability and need adaptive equipment in order to use the phone. DHS
loans the equipment at no cost for as long as you need the equipment. To learn
more visit the MN Department of Human Resources.
http://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/people-with-disabilities/services/deaf-hard-of-hearing/programs-services/telephone-equipment.jsp
TRS Program (MN Relay)
Minnesota Relay is a free, federally mandated Telecommunications Relay Services
(TRS) program that allows individuals who are deaf, blind, hard of hearing, or
speech disabled to place and receive telephone calls.
A specially trained communications assistant (CA) facilitates the telephone
conversation between the person with a hearing or speech disability and other
individuals.
Calls can be made to anywhere in the world (standard charges apply for
long-distance calls), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All calls are completely
confidential.
Minnesota Relay is administered by the Telecommunications Access Minnesota (TAM)
program within the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and is funded by a monthly
surcharge on each wired and wireless telephone access line, and a fee on each
pre-paid wireless retail transaction, in the state.
The state contracts with Sprint Communications Company, LP to provide Minnesota
Relay services. The Minnesota Relay call center is located in Moorhead, MN.
For more information regarding relay services visit Telecommunications Relay
Service (TRS) at the Federal Communications Communication, or download the
Minnesota Relay brochure.
Are you having trouble paying your bill? Learn more about Lifeline.
Telephone Discounts Can Help You Stay In Touch
Minnesota's Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP) and the federal Lifeline Program
help make telephone service affordable to low-income consumers.
TAP offers a $10.00 per month discount on home landline telephone service.
The Lifeline Program offers a $5.25 per month discount on home landline service
and $9.25 discount on home internet service.
How do I find out if I am eligible? Click here to learn more.
How do I apply? Your phone service provider can assist you with the
application(s) or contact the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for
assistance, consumer.puc@state.mn.us or 651-296-0406 or 1-800-657-3782. Learn
more here.
Fiber - Battery Backup Power Obligations Notification
Backup Power Notice to Customers
Battery Backup Power Available for Telephone Service during Power Outages: Many
advanced home phone services require backup battery power to continue
functioning during a power outage. As we transition from traditional copper
lines to fiber-fed connections to your home, service now requires an electrical
connection and battery backup (optional) in order to function. Bevcomm provides
one backup battery at the time of installation. However, batteries are typically
only good three years. To avoid a disruption of home voice service during an
outage – and to maintain the ability to connect to 911 emergency services -- we
offer you the option of purchasing additional backup power for your home phones.
What Your Battery Can – and Can’t – Do for You: Our backup batteries allow you
to continue to use your home phone services during a power outage. Without a
backup battery or alternate backup source such as a generator, customers will
not be able to make any calls, including emergency calls to 911. The only way to
maintain the ability to use your phone is by using some form of backup power.
Our backup battery provides back up power to telephone service only, it will not
operate your Internet or TV service. Home security systems, medical monitoring
devices and other equipment will not run on your telephone battery backup.
Purchase and Replacement Options: 8-hour battery backup is available for
purchase for $20 from any local Bevcomm office. If you do not feel comfortable
installing your own battery we would be happy to assist you. Please note: A $20
service free applies, or installation is free with a subscription to WirePro.
A 24 hour battery back-up option is available for $300.
Expected Backup Power Duration: 8-hour backup batteries are expected to last at
least 8 hours on standby power. The backup battery should offer approximately 6
hours of talk time. If you feel this is not enough, you may extend your standby
power by purchasing spare 8 hour batteries or a 24 hour battery from Bevcomm.
Instructions for Proper Care and Use of Your Battery: Please review the detailed
instructions included with your battery for proper use, storage, and care of
your battery to ensure that it will function as needed during a power outage. If
you do not store your battery correctly, it may shorten its useful life.
Environmental factors such as temperature can shorten your battery’s useful
life. We recommend that you store your battery above 41°F and below 104°F. These
batteries are not rechargeable. They will not last forever and should be
replaced every three years, or when your device starts to make a loud beeping
sound. That sound means that the battery is depleted, and must be replaced.
Explanation of Bill Charges
There are many small fees in your monthly billing from Bevcomm. Below you will
find a explanation of those charges.
Network Access Charge: The FCC allows local telephone companies to bill
customers for a portion of the costs of providing access.
Subscriber Line Charge: This is a federally mandated and regulated fee that all
telephone users pay. This nationally pooled money is used to subsidize areas of
the country where it costs more to provide phone service, similar to the areas
we live.
911 Fee: This charge is imposed by local governments to help pay for emergency
services such as fire and rescue. Local telephone companies are obligated to
route emergency calls from customers to the proper Public Safety answering
center. Costs associated with the 911 systems are determined by your local
government. The local telephone company collects those charges through your
monthly telephone bill and then pays those amounts to the provider of 911
service in your area.
Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC): Phone service provides connections to
emergency services, to government services and to surrounding communities, the
USF (Universal Service Fund) helps to make phone service affordable and
available to all Americans. This includes consumers with low incomes, those
living in areas where the costs of providing telephone service is high, schools
and libraries and rural health care providers.
TAM: Telecommunications Access Minnesota is a fee that is charged on each line
you have. It is used to help provide telephone service to people who are deaf,
hard of hearing or speech impaired.
TAP: Telecommunications Assistance Program is a state mandated fee charged on
each telephone line you have. It is used to help provide telephone service to
Minnesota’s low-income residents.
Universal Service Fund (USF): This fund was created by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). The Universal Service Fund is a special program
that collects money to support telecommunications in areas of the country where
it is very expensive to provide service. You'll notice that this charge is tied
to your long distance bill. The Long Distance companies are required to support
the fund, but they are allowed to recover their contributions from their
customers. Ultimately, this program benefits you and your rural community by
keeping the cost of phone service extremely affordable
Federal Tax: The Federal Government imposes a 3% tax on local access charges.
Minnesota State Tax: This is a 6.875% charge imposed by the state of Minnesota,
and local and municipal government, on goods and services.
City Franchise Fee: A cable television franchise fee in the United States, the
stems from a community's basic right to charge for use of the property it owns.
The cable television franchise fees represent part of the compensation a
community receives in exchange for the cable operator's occupation and the
right-of-way use of public property. A franchise fee is not a tax; it is a
rental charge.
WI State Aid Libraries-School Fee: This support, referred to as E-rate support,
provides affordable telecommunications and Internet access services to connect
schools and libraries to the Internet. This support goes to service providers
that provide discounts on eligible services to eligible schools, school
districts, libraries, and consortia of these entities.
FCC Public Inspection File
https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/
How Can I Apply for Telephone Discounts (TAP)
Minnesota local service providers are authorized to provide two federally-funded
and one state-funded telephone service discount programs that were designed to
promote universal service by providing low-income individuals with new telephone
service installations and monthly telephone service discounts. The state
Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP) and federal Lifeline programs provide monthly
telephone service discounts on one landline or wireless telephone per household.
Learn more here.
Open Internet Policy (Net Neutrality)
Broadband Internet Access Services: Network Management Practices, Performance
Characteristics, and Commercial Terms and Conditions for Fixed Services
Bevcomm (“the Company”) has adopted the following network management practices,
performance characteristics, and commercial terms and conditions for its
broadband Internet access services in compliance with the Federal Communications
Commission’s (“FCC’s) Open Internet Framework requirements (GN Docket No. 09-191
and WC Docket No. 07-52).
These practices, characteristics, terms and conditions are intended to help
preserve the Internet as an open framework that enables consumer choice, freedom
of expression, end-user control, competition, and freedom to innovate without
permission, while permitting the Company to manage its network reasonably.
These practices, characteristics, terms and conditions are effective as of
November 20, 2011.
The Company may add, delete, or modify certain practices, performance
characteristics, terms and conditions from time to time at its discretion. It
will provide clear written notice of these changes on this website, but will not
notify customers, content providers, applications providers, service providers
or device providers individually of such changes by bill inserts, e-mails,
tweets, telephone calls or other direct communications unless specifically
required to do so by federal or state authorities. The Company will provide as
much advance notice as practicable of such changes. It will normally endeavor to
furnish written notice on this website thirty (30) days before changes become
effective, but reserves the right to use a shorter notice period when
regulatory, operational, technical or other circumstances warrant.
I. Network Management Practices
The Company manages its network with the goal of providing the best practicable
broadband Internet experience to all of its customers. Within the scope of its
resources, it attempts to deploy and maintain adequate capacity and facilities
within its own network, and to acquire sufficient Middle Mile capacity or
facilities outside its service area to connect with the Internet. The Company
and its staff use their best efforts to monitor, address and minimize (but do
not guarantee that they can prevent) the effects of spam, viruses, security
attacks, network congestion, and other phenomena that can degrade the service of
affected customers.
A. Congestion Management Practices
Congestion is an Internet access service problem that can slow web browsing,
downloading, and other activities of the customers during certain peak usage
periods. Congestion may be caused by capacity limits and bottlenecks in a
service provider’s own network, or by limitations in the capacity of the Middle
Mile transport facilities and services that many rural service providers must
purchase from unrelated entities to carry the traffic of their customers between
their service areas and the closest Internet nodes.
As of October 2011, the Company has experienced no problems with congestion.
If significant congestion problems arise in the future, the Company’s most
desired approach is to determine the source of the problem, and to increase the
capacity of the affected portions of its network and/or of its Middle Mile
routes where warranted. However, network and Middle Mile upgrades often cannot
be accomplished instantaneously because they require negotiations,
authorizations and agreements with multiple unrelated entities such as lenders,
government agencies, equipment vendors, property owners and other carriers.
If or when network and/or Middle Mile upgrades are not able to be deployed on a
timely or reasonable basis, the Company reserves the right to monitor and
identify which customer accounts are using the greatest amount of bandwidth
during periods of heavy congestion, and to contact those “high-volume customers”
to work out a solution to the problem. The Company’s preferred solution will be
to help such “high-volume customers” find acceptable times during non-peak
periods to engage in the same activities.
If that preferred solution is not possible, the Company reserves the right to
manage temporarily the Internet traffic of “high-volume customers” during
periods of significant congestion until such periods of congestion pass. This
temporary traffic management will be accomplished by technically and
commercially feasible methods that are available or that become available in the
future. Affected “high-volume customers” will still be able to access the
Internet and engage in any and all online activities they desire. However,
during periods of congestion they may experience conditions such as longer times
to download or upload files, slower Web surfing, and/or slower movements during
online game playing.
Customers should note that any temporary traffic management practices employed
by the Company will impact only identified and notified “high-volume customers”
during periods when congestion problems are experienced, and will not be based
upon the types of content, applications, services, or devices such customers
use. On the basis of its knowledge and experience as of November 2011, the
Company expects that periods of temporary traffic management, if any, will be
brief and infrequent.
For purposes of its congestion management practices, the Company will consider a
period in which a “congestion problem” arises and exists to be one where middle
mile usage exceeds 90% capacity of contracted middle mile usage.
B. Application-Specific Behavior Practices
The Company does not favor or inhibit certain applications or classes of
applications. Customers may use any lawful and commercially available
application which they desire on the Company’s network.
The Company does not normally monitor the contents of the traffic or
applications of its customers. It undertakes no obligation to monitor or
investigate the lawfulness of the applications used by its customers. If any
party contacts the Company with a substantial allegation that an application
being used by a customer is unlawful, the Company will investigate the matter
(including consultation, as it deems appropriate, with attorneys, consultants,
federal or state regulators, and/or federal, state or local law enforcement
agencies), and will take appropriate actions to deal with the use of
applications that are demonstrated to be unlawful.
Customers may occasionally develop their own applications, or modify
commercially available applications. The Company will not prohibit the use of
customer-developed or modified applications unless there is a reasonable belief
that such applications will cause harm to its network.
The Company does not block or rate-control specific protocols or protocol ports.
The Company does not modify protocol fields in ways that are not prescribed by
the applicable protocol standards.
C. Device Attachment Rules
The Company does not have any approval procedures that must be satisfied before
a device can be connected to its network. Customers may use any lawful,
compatible, type-accepted (if necessary) and commercially available device which
they desire on the Company’s network, as long as such device does not harm the
network.
The Company does not normally monitor the devices used by its customers. It
warns customers that some types of devices (for example, Data Over Cable Service
Interface Specification (‘DOCSIS’) devices intended for use on cable broadband
networks) may not be compatible with its fiber optic and digital subscriber line
(“DSL”) network.
The Company undertakes no obligation to monitor or investigate the lawfulness of
the devices used by its customers. If any party contacts the Company with a
substantial allegation that a device being used by a customer is unlawful, the
Company will investigate the matter (including consultation, as it deems
appropriate, with attorneys, consultants, federal or state regulators, and/or
federal, state or local law enforcement agencies), and will take appropriate
actions to deal with the use of a device that is demonstrated to be unlawful.
Customers may occasionally develop their own devices, or modify commercially
available devices. The Company will not prohibit the use of lawful
customer-developed or modified devices unless there is a reasonable belief that
such devices will cause harm to its network, or vice versa.
D. Security Practices
The Company does not normally monitor the traffic of its customers. It
undertakes no obligation to monitor or protect such customer traffic from spam,
viruses, denial-of-service attacks, or other malicious, unlawful or unwanted
activities.
The Company recognizes that customers can purchase spam filtering and anti-virus
software from commercial vendors to meet their needs. The Company may from time
to time offer anti-spam and/or anti-virus software or services to customers who
desire to purchase them from the Company. When offered, these software or
services will be described and priced in other sections of this website and in
the Company’s sales and marketing materials. Customers are free to obtain
anti-spam and/or anti-virus software or services from any source they desire, as
long as such software or services do not disrupt or degrade the traffic of other
customers of the Company or harm the network.
A customer that is subjected to a denial-of-service attack, or similar
malicious, unlawful or unwanted activity, is urged to notify the Company as soon
as possible. The Company will work with the customer, other service providers,
federal and state regulators, and/or law enforcement to determine the source of
such activity, and to take appropriate, and technically and economically
reasonable efforts to address the matter.
The Company employs commercially appropriate security procedures to protect its
network and its customer records from unauthorized access by third parties. The
Company does not guarantee that it can protect customers from any and/or all
security breaches.
E. Traffic Blocking
The Company does not block any lawful content, applications, devices, and/or
non-harmful devices.
The only potential exceptions where blocking may occur entail the unlawful or
harmful circumstances set forth in Sections I.A through I.D above. The Company
believes that all such circumstances constitute reasonable network management
practices.
The Company does not knowingly and intentionally impair, degrade or delay the
traffic on its network so as to render effectively unusable certain content,
applications, services and/or non-harmful devices. However, the Company notes
that congestion may from time to time impair, degrade, or delay some traffic.
The Company does not charge edge service providers of content, applications,
services and/or devices any fees simply for transporting traffic between them
and its customers.
II. Performance Characteristics
Many of the service and performance characteristics of the Company’s broadband
Internet access services are contained in the service offering portions of this
website. The Company offers different tiers of service at different prices, and
changes these from time to time.
A. General Service Description
The Company uses a hybrid fiber optic and copper digital subscriber line (“DSL”)
network that reaches approximately 98 percent of the potential customers in its
rural service area, and a fiber-to-the-node network (“FTTN”) that reaches
approximately 85 percent of such customers. The expected access speeds in the
DSL portions of the network range from 1 megabit per second (“Mbps”) to 15 Mbps,
depending upon the actual lengths of the respective fiber trunks and copper
lines. The expected access speeds in the FTTN portion of the network range from
1 Mbps to 15 Mbps, depending upon the electronics installed.
Actual access speeds and time delays (latency) are impacted by the length,
capacity and congestion of Middle Mile transport facilities (between the
Company’s service area and Internet nodes) as well as the characteristic of the
Company’s own network. Because conditions on these facilities and routes can
change frequently, the Company can provide estimated actual access speed and
latency information only for specific recent time periods requested by a
customer.
The Company’s service is suitable for real-time applications. The Company does
not impose any necessary conditions or exceptions.
B. Impact of Specialized Services
The Company offers both facilities-based VoIP and IP video services to
end-users.
As of November 2011, these specialized services have not adversely affected the
last-mile capacity available for the Company’s broadband Internet access
services, or the performance of such services. Customer should note that
significantly heavier use of specialized services (particularly IP video
services) may impact the available capacity for and/or the performance of its
broadband Internet access services. The Company will monitor this situation, and
appreciates feedback from its customers.
C. Impact of Middle Mile Capacity Constraints
The Company provides both its own Middle Mile facilities and must purchase
Middle Mile capacity and/or services from other entities for routes
approximately 0 to 70 miles long between the Company’s service area and the
closest Internet nodes.
The Company has a minority ownership interest in one of its Middle Mile
providers, but does not control it. The Company cannot guarantee that it will be
able to obtain additional Middle Mile capacity at commercially reasonable prices
if and when needs for additional Middle Mile capacity arise.
III. Commercial Terms and Conditions
The commercial terms and conditions of the Company’s broadband Internet access
services are contained in greater detail in the service offering and acceptable
use portions of this website. This section provides a brief overview or
reference to terms and conditions detailed elsewhere, plus discussions of other
terms and conditions required by the FCC’s Open Internet Framework.
A. Pricing Terms and Conditions
The Company offers different tiers and levels of service at different prices,
and changes these from time to time. These service tiers and prices are detailed
in the service offering portion of this website.
The Company does not impose usage-based fees upon certain tiers or levels of its
service.
The Company does not impose fees for early termination with respect to certain
of its service arrangements.
The Company assesses fees for additional network services as indicated in the
Broadband Plans section under the Internet tab on the first page of the
Company’s website. In addition, the Company is willing to consider and negotiate
prices for customized additional network services requested by specific business
customers if such services can be designed, developed and furnished in a
commercially reasonable manner. If and when such customized services are
developed and furnished, the Company reserves the right to adapt and provide
them to other customers on a non-discriminatory basis so long as such subsequent
provision does not entail disclosure of proprietary or confidential information
of the initial customer.
B. No Unreasonable Discrimination
The Company does not unreasonably discriminate in its transmission of traffic
over the broadband Internet access services of its customers. It endeavors to
give its customers as much choice and control as practicable among its different
service offerings and among the content, application, service and device
offerings of edge service providers. When reasonable network management
practices entail differential treatment of traffic, the Company does not
discriminate among specific uses, or classes of uses, of its network.
The Company does not impair, degrade or delay VoIP applications or services that
compete with its voice services and those of its affiliates.
The Company does not impair, degrade, delay or otherwise inhibit access by its
customers to lawful content, applications, services or non-harmful devices.
The Company does not impair free expression by actions such as slowing traffic
from particular websites or blogs.
The Company does not use or demand “pay-for-priority” or similar arrangements
that directly or indirectly favor some traffic over other traffic.
The Company does not prioritize its own content, application, services, or
devices, or those of its affiliates.
C. Privacy Policies
As indicated above, the Company’s network management practices do not generally
entail inspection of network traffic.
The Company retains and stores certain traffic information (such as the identity
of the customer using a particular IP address during a specific period) for time
periods required by federal or state law.
The Company retains, stores and provides to law enforcement any traffic
information requested pursuant to the procedures of the Communications
Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (“CALEA”), the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act (“FISA”) or other applicable national security or criminal
statutes.
The Company does not collect, store or use traffic information to profile its
customers in order to sell additional services to them, or for similar
non-network management purposes.
D. Redress Options
Questions and complaints regarding the foregoing matters should be addressed to
the Company’s Customer Service Department at (507) 526-2822 or (800)473-1442 or
by email at info@bevcomm.net.
The Company strongly desires to resolve questions, complaints and other problems
of its customers and edge service providers in an informal and direct manner
that satisfies all interested parties to the greatest extent practicable.
Customers and edge service providers that are not able to obtain satisfaction
from the Company have the option of invoking the FCC’s informal and formal
complaint procedures regarding Open Internet Framework disputes.
Remember to Dial Before You Dig (811)
Whether you’re adding trees and shrubs, installing a deck, or putting up a new
fence, BEVCOMM reminds you to pick up your phone before you pick up your shovel.
Dialing before you dig isn’t just a recommendation — it’s the law. By digging
without knowing where electrical, gas, cable TV, and other service lines are,
you could harm yourself or others, or interrupt services to your entire
neighborhood. You may even incur fines and repair costs.
To make it easier, a national hotline now exists. Just dial 811, and
representatives will route your request to local utility companies, who will
have professionals mark your lines. Call just a few days prior to doing any
work, to allow time for them to mark your property. Then you can take on any
project without compromising safety. As one of your local service providers, we
thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Minnesota: Visit Minnesota Gopher State One Call and process your locate request
online: http://www.gopherstateonecall.org/ or call 1-800-252-1166 or 811.
Wisconsin: Visit Wisconsin Diggers Hotline and process your reqeust online at
http://www.diggershotline.com/ or call 800-432-7910 or 811.
TEPP Program: A Solution for Those With Hearing Loss
Have you ever struggled to hear on regular telephone? It happens all the time to
people who are experiencing hearing loss and it may indicate the possibility of
future health issues. Fortunately, the state of Wisconsin operates the Telephone
Equipment Purchase Program (TEPP) and it’s making a difference for thousands of
people across the state.
TEPP is a Wisconsin state program that provides free vouchers to residents with
hearing loss so they can obtain amplified phones in order to improve their
utilization of basic telephone services. TEPP is administered through the Public
Service Commission and funded by a Wisconsin telephone user fee known as the
Universal Service Fund. Most telephone service subscribers have probably noted
the “USF” charge on their phone bill but never knew its purpose.
Research shows that people with untreated hearing loss are much more likely to
encounter dementia and balance problems – along with depression, anxiety,
loneliness, and other anti-social behaviors. Talking on the telephone and
listening to the human voice is one of the most powerful stimulants that keeps
the brain active and helps delay or prevent cognitive and emotional decline.
The Americans For Better Hearing Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization
with a mission of improving communication services to people with hearing loss
and is a TEPP facilitator. ABHF works with TEPP to assess the needs of
applicants, provide an assortment of special telephone equipment at no cost, and
distribute additional information to raise awareness of hearing loss issues. The
consumer with a hearing or other disability can apply to the program and receive
telephone equipment costing $800 or more with a special ABHF fund that covers
the state required $100 co-payment. There is no cost to the applicant.
The telephones offered are rich in features that enable those with a hearing
loss to communicate over the phone. These features include hearing aid
compatibility, amplified volume, enriched tone controls, speaker phone
capability, extra large numbered keypads, loud ringer volume choices, caller ID
enabled, and unique speed-dialing features. In addition, Bluetooth streaming
neck loops and desk phones are available for those who mainly employ cell
phones.
TEPP is available to Wisconsin residents with a hearing loss who have not
applied within the last three years. There are no age or income restrictions.
People who apply for the TEPP program can expect to receive their equipment in
approximately 5-6 weeks. No additional charges will ever appear on the
individuals’ phone bill and the amplified phone becomes their property. In three
years time, TEPP participants may reapply in order to receive technologically
advanced equipment in order to address additional individual needs.
Please call or email ABHF State Director Paul Klocko at (715) 241-6940;
pklocko@dwave.net to apply and receive additional information.
We Safeguard Your Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI)
At Bevcomm, we believe it’s important for you to understand your rights and
responsibilities with regard to the use of your customer information. For
example, do you know what CPNI means? CPNI stands for Customer Proprietary
Network Information, which is the information about your telephone usage
collected by local, long distance, and wireless companies. This information can
include the numbers you call and when you call them, as well as the particular
services you use such as call forwarding or voice mail. Telephone companies
collect this customer information in order to provide services and proper
billing to you. We can only release CPNI information to persons listed on your
account. New regulations require us to ask for Photo ID when you visit us in
person, and for a password when you call with questions regarding call detail
records. We must also authenticate each customer with qualifying questions
before discussing account information. In addition, we are required to notify
customers when a password or address of record is created or changed, or if
there was an accidental disclosure of their information. Rest assured that
Bevcomm is committed to respecting the confidentiality of your customer
information. We do not sell this information to any outside companies. If you
would like to make a change to your account or have questions regarding our
policies, please call 1-800-473-1442.
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Note: This profile prompts automatically to screen-readers.
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Accessibility StatementCompliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone
and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the broadest
possible audience, regardless of ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web
Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA
level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people
with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us
ensure that the website is accessible to blind people, people with motor
impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as
accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that
allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user
interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the
background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application
remediates the website’s HTML, adapts its functionality and behavior for
screen-readers used by blind users, and for keyboard functions used by
individuals with motor impairments.
If you wish to contact the website’s owner please use the website's form
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet
Applications) technique, alongside various behavioral changes, to ensure blind
users visiting with screen-readers can read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s
functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they
immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can
browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of
the most important screen-reader requirements:
1. Screen-reader optimization: we run a process that learns the website’s
components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when
updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with
meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide
accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons,
search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs;
element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others.
Additionally, the background process scans all of the website’s images. It
provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based
description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not
described. It will also extract texts embedded within the image using an OCR
(optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader
adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard
combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn
the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with popular screen readers such as JAWS,
NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack.
2. Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the
website’s HTML and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the
website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the
website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow
keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key,
navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill
them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.
Additionally, keyboard users will find content-skip menus available at any
time by clicking Alt+2, or as the first element of the site while navigating
with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by
moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, not allowing
the focus to drift outside.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F”
(forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported on our website
* Epilepsy Safe Profile: this profile enables people with epilepsy to safely
use the website by eliminating the risk of seizures resulting from flashing
or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
* Vision Impaired Profile: this profile adjusts the website so that it is
accessible to the majority of visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight,
Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
* Cognitive Disability Profile: this profile provides various assistive
features to help users with cognitive disabilities such as Autism, Dyslexia,
CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements more easily.
* ADHD Friendly Profile: this profile significantly reduces distractions and
noise to help people with ADHD, and Neurodevelopmental disorders browse,
read, and focus on the essential elements more easily.
* Blind Users Profile (Screen-readers): this profile adjusts the website to be
compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A
screen-reader is installed on the blind user’s computer, and this site is
compatible with it.
* Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables
motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab,
Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M”
(menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to
jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
1. Font adjustments – users can increase and decrease its size, change its
family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
2. Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as
light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color
schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds with over seven different coloring
options.
3. Animations – epileptic users can stop all running animations with the click
of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs,
and CSS flashing transitions.
4. Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize essential elements such
as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered
elements only.
5. Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other
issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the
entire website instantly.
6. Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine linked to Wikipedia and
Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of
phrases, initials, slang, and others.
7. Additional functions – we allow users to change cursor color and size, use a
printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Assistive technology and browser compatibility
We aim to support as many browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so
our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as
possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major
systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share, including Google
Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS, and NVDA
(screen readers), both for Windows and MAC users.
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their
needs, there may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are
in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological
solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our
accessibility, adding, updating, improving its options and features, and
developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal
level of accessibility following technological advancements. If you wish to
contact the website’s owner, please use the website's form
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