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.

Blue Earth, MN (July 1, 2025) – Bevcomm, a telecommunication company based in Blue Earth, MN, is excited to announce it has transitioned from a 100% family-owned company to a shared ownership with its employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Bevcomm employees will own 49% of the company while the Eckles family will maintain 51% ownership. This strategic move emphasizes the company’s commitment to its employees and the communities they serve.

Since its establishment in 1896, Bevcomm has earned a strong reputation for delivering reliable telecommunications services to rural communities. The transition to employee ownership reinforces the company’s dedication to fostering a culture of collaboration, enhancing employee engagement, and ensuring long-term stability for customers.

“This transition is an incredible opportunity for our employees and the future of Bevcomm,” says Bill Eckles. “By becoming employee-owned, we share our future success with the people who have made it happen.”

An ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that provides employees with a financial stake in the company.

In addition to the transition to employee ownership, Bevcomm is also undergoing a leadership change. Bill Eckles, who has served as CEO for 23 years, will be stepping back from his role. The company is pleased to announce that Jake Anderson, previously the Director of Business Operations, will be taking over as the new CEO. Jake brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of Bevcomm’s operations, having been with the company for nearly 30 years. This leadership change is expected to bring fresh perspectives and drive continued growth and innovation at Bevcomm. Eckles will remain at Bevcomm in the role of Executive Chair.

“I am honored to take on the role of CEO at Bevcomm during this exciting time of transition to employee ownership,” says Anderson. “We are committed to our team and customers, and I’m looking forward to the growth and innovation ahead. We will build on our strong foundation to keep delivering excellent service and value to our communities.”

As Bevcomm embarks on this exciting new chapter, employees and customers can expect the same dedication to quality and service that has defined the company for nearly 130 years. The transition was finalized on July 1, 2025.

For more information, please contact:

Bill Eckles, Executive Chair, Bevcomm, 507-526-3252, beckles@bevcomm.com, www.bevcomm.net

Jake Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, 507-526-3252, janderson@bevcomm.com, www.bevcomm.net

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.

DEED awards over $20 million to provide access to reliable, high speed internet to more Minnesotans

[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

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 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.

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.”

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.