RS Fiber

RS Fiber Extends Keep Americans Connected Pledge Through June 30

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

05/03/2020

Winthrop, MN – RS Fiber has announced they are extending their FCC Keep Americans Connected pledge through June 30, 2020.    The Keep Americans Connected Pledge was made by more than 700 media companies who committed to support their residential and small business customers during the pandemic by waiving late fees and not terminating service because of an inability to pay.  The original pledge expired April 30th.

As an early adopter of the FCC pledge, RS Fiber made the decision to extend their pledge to its customers and small businesses to June 30th. In addition, RS Fiber will extend sign-ups for the Internet Assistance Program through June 30th to support students of low-income families.

This extension includes:

  • Free broadband service to low-income households. Eligible households must have school-aged children enrolled in the free or reduced lunch program or the Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP).
  • Maintaining free access to Community Wi-Fi Hotspots.
  • Temporarily suspending disconnections of service due to failure to pay and waiving late fees for customers.

While RS Fiber offices remain closed to walk-in traffic, our Customer Care and Technical Support teams are available to serve customers. Customers needing to meet with a Customer Care Representative in person may call (800) 628-1754 to set an appointment. Technical Support Services are available 24/7 by calling (800) 628-1754.

 

About us: RS Fiber Cooperative is a community driven effort to deliver a high-speed fiber-optic connection to Sibley County and portions of Renville, Nicollet, and McLeod Counties. The project has brought fiber-optic Internet, Video, and Phone services to ten cities and fixed wireless broadband to seventeen townships. The RS Fiber mission is: “To provide each and every customer with an exceptional service experience that you can only expect to receive from a local business, while providing you with access to the benefits of the most advanced fiber optic network in the US”

RS Fiber to Offer Free Broadband Internet to Eligible Families with Students Amid Coronavirus School Closures

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For Immediate Release (03/15/2020)

Gaylord, MN – RS Fiber Cooperative (RS Fiber) will provide two months of free broadband service to eligible low-income households, as a number of Minnesota schools announce closures amid concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Manager of the RS Fiber Network, Winona-based Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc. (HBC) made the announcement Monday morning. HBC President Dan Pecarina said that RS Fiber is taking measures to provide free Internet access to eligible low-income families, who are new customers, and for free community Wi-Fi hotspots.

“RS Fiber will be working with local school districts to accelerate the school system’s referrals of local low-income families to ensure every student has access to vital communications services through the RS Fiber Internet Assistance Program,” Pecarina said. “Families who live in RS Fiber member communities and townships can sign up for the program through the school system.”

“RS Fiber is a strong supporter of K-12 education,” said Pecarina. “It is important to all families, schools, and communities that every child is provided the access to on-line learning offered by local school districts.”

RS Fiber is prepared to move quickly to install broadband service to new subscriber families to ensure students aren’t left behind as schools suspend classes and move to on-line learning amidst the COVID-19 crisis.

Free Community WiFi Hot Spots will be located in Gaylord at Gaylord Park and in Winthrop at Winthrop Park to provide additional Internet access for the general public.

RS Fiber to Host Service Open House in Brownton

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Winthrop, MN – Residents of Brownton are invited to attend a RS Fiber open house event later this month. The open house will provide residents an opportunity to learn more about RS Fiber RS Fiber services.

The event will be held Wednesday, August 30 at the Brownton Community Center from 5:30 pm until 7:00 pm. Area residents are invited to stop in for a free meal catered by Brownton Bar and Grill, and to learn more about RS Fiber.

RS Fiber General manager Toby Brummer said RS Fiber Team members will be in attendance to answer any questions about and assist individuals with signing up for RS Fiber Internet, Video, Phone, and Air services.

Door prizes will be drawn for at the event.

Internet, Video, and Phone services will be available in Brownton in September.

RS Fiber Cooperative Recognized with Broadband Communities “Cornerstone Award”

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Winthrop, MN – RS Fiber Cooperative (RS Fiber) was awarded the Cornerstone Award by the industry publication Broadband Communities last week “for dedication, persistence, and vision in securing the benefits of broadband for their communities.”

The award was accepted on behalf of RS Fiber at the publication’s annual industry Summit held May 1-4 in Dallas, TX, by City of Winthrop Economic Development Director, Mark Erickson.

The Cornerstone Award is presented each year to businesses and organizations with “outstanding accomplishments in the area of delivering telecommunications for the benefit of the end user.”

A committee of broadband industry leaders, analysts, and writers help select winners of the award. In selecting RS Fiber, the committee stated, “RS Fiber overcame more obstacles than anyone should have to overcome to get broadband for the residents of Renville and Sibley Counties. And their efforts are paying off.”

Cornerstone Awards were also presented to the City of Wilson, NC/Greenlight Community Broadband and Valley Electric Association, Pahrump, NV.

RS Fiber currently serves customers in the communities of Gaylord, Gibbon, Green Isle, Lafayette, New Auburn and Winthrop with Internet, Video, and Phone service, including Internet speeds of up to 1 Gbps over a state-of-the-art fiber-optic network. RS Air serves rural residents of Renville and Sibley counties by providing symmetrical broadband speeds up to 25 Mbps.

Phase One construction of the project is expected to be completed this fall with services being extended to the towns of Brownton, Buffalo Lake, Fairfax and Stewart.

RS Fiber to Rollout Phone Service in Gaylord

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Gaylord, MN – RS Fiber Cooperative (RS Fiber) has announced plans to rollout Phone service to residents of Gaylord.

RS Fiber General Manager Toby Brummer said the service has been fully tested and is now available to persons living in the City of Gaylord. “Current customers interested in adding crystal-clear phone to their current service package, or anyone who would like to learn more about it, can contact our Customer Care Representatives to switch their phone service to RS Fiber.”

Brummer said customers will be able to keep their current phone number upon switching services in addition to enjoying Unlimited Local and Long Distance Calling and other home phone options.  Interested persons can contact RS Fiber at 800-628-1754 for more information.

RS Fiber will also be offering Phone service to Winthrop residents. RS Fiber Phone services there have been stalled by current service providers.

Construction crews are currently working on the expansion of the fiber-optic network in several area communities. According to Brummer, Internet, Video, and Phone services will be available in New Auburn and Green Isle by the end of November. Plans are to have services available in the towns of Lafayette and Gibbon by the end of the year.

 

 

RS Fiber
PO BOX 326
Gaylord, MN 55334
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