Company News

PFN To Expand Network With Stimulus Funding

Marquette, MI, August 22, 2010 — Peninsula Fiber Network (PFN) announced that the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) has approved a $69,000,000 grant that will be used, in part, to expand PFN’s existing fiber optic network in the Upper Peninsula. The grant was issued under the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act).

PFN partnered with the Michigan Educational Research Information Triad (MERIT) on a grant application filed in the Spring of 2010 to enhance broadband service offerings. This grant is designed to bring affordable high speed Internet and other telecommunications / information services to unserved and underserved areas of the UP. PFN will use this money to fund the installation of over 600 miles of new fiber optic cable and related electronics that will augment the approximately 800 miles of fiber lines PFN has installed in the UP today.

“This is a new era for telecommunications in the UP. When this fiber is installed, PFN’s network in the UP will rival that of any other system in the United States. This will be a redundant fiber optic backbone that supports our vision of a truly world class network for the UP” said David McCartney, General Manager of PFN. “With this grant, we will be able to bring state-of-the-art broadband Internet and Information Exchange services to many communities, critical anchor institutions, and other companies that provide broadband service to residential and smaller commercial users along U.S. 2 and parts of U.S. 41 corridor in the southern part of the peninsula.”

“This new construction will complete full, redundant rings of ultra-high speed broadband service we have been working to build in the UP,” said Bill Tidd, chief technical officer for PFN. “We will install the same dense wave technology on this new fiber that we have installed on the northern portion of the network. This is truly the most current technology available anywhere at any cost”

The network construction will begin in early 2011 and will be complete by August of 2012. Service will begin to become available to communities in later 2011. The additional network will extend from St Ignace to Ironwood and from Calumet to Menominee.

Peninsula Fiber Network is a joint venture between Baraga Telephone Company in Baraga, MI and Hiawatha Communications Incorporated in Munising MI. PFN provides wholesale and retail transport services, voice and high-speed Internet transit throughout the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Contact:
Thom Sumbler
PFN Business Development
108 West Superior
Munising, MI 49862
thom@pfnllc.net
906.387.6617

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Marquette-to-Ishpeming Construction Nears Completion

Marquette, MI, July 21th, 2010 —- Peninsula Fiber Network (PFN) announced today that they are nearing completion of their new fiber optic cable construction along US Highway 41 between Marquette and Ishpeming. The new fiber optic cable system will allow PFN to provide high-volume, dedicated, broadband Internet access, point-to-point TDM and Ethernet transport and voice services to customers in the communities of West Marquette, Negaunee, and Ishpeming.

The company reports that the new fiber system will provide all forms of high-volume, telecommunication and broadband services to commercial, government, education and carrier customers.

“We are excited about the completion of this cable” said David McCartney, General Manager of PFN. “We have many customers that have been waiting for services along this route. Client demand for services is increasing exponentially and we intend to meet those requirements”. He added, “this route is an important addition to the nearly 800 miles of fiber optic cable PFN currently has in service throughout the Upper Peninsula, it is the first tranche of our development plan to add over 500 additional miles of cable within the next 2-3 years”.

Contact:
Thom Sumbler
PFN Business Development
108 West Superior
Munising, MI 49862
thom@pfnllc.net
906.387.6617

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