Also of importance is a big congratulations to Cook County’s own Danna Mackenzie on her recent appointment by Governor Mark Dayton  to the Statewide Broadband Task Force.  While Danna isn’t directly connected to the Arrowhead Electric Cooperative fiber to the home project she has undoubtedly been a local champion who has worked diligently to get real broadband into Cook County.  The State of Minnesota has set some of the most ambitious goals in the Country and the Arrowhead Electric Cooperative fiber to the home project will help meet those goals.

As most people using Satellite services know, each month users are able to “consume” X amount of data on the internet.  Once a certain amount has been consumed the service is reduced for a period of time.  Most mobile broadband providers approach this a bit differently.  Instead of reducing your speed after you reach your maximum data usage for the month you incur a fee for each unit consumed.  Phone companies providing subscribers DSL internet services don’t have the same problems Satellite and wireless providers have.  However, DSL providers are notorious for advertising and using marketing schemes that promise speeds of, “Up to” a certain speed.  Unfortunately, many subscribers never actually get the service they pay for.

In one of Arrowhead’s more recent postings, we announced our minimum internet package will be 10Mb.  What we didn’t think about was that so many of us in Cook County are accustomed to all of the tactics used by incumbent providers to reduce your use of the internet or generate additional profit.  To help understand Arrowheads plan, consider the kitchen faucet.

The faucet represents the size of the internet pipe (10Mb), while the water represents the amount of data flowing through the faucet.  Subscribers of the Arrowhead fiber optic service can consume an unlimited amount of data (or water when thinking about the kitchen faucet) but the rate at which it will transfer depends on the size of the faucet (10Mb –per second).

Only on the Arrowhead fiber optic network will you be able to transfer data (stream HD video, download large files, etc…) at speeds faster than any other provider in Cook County.  Moreover, you can do it and not need to worry about your internet service being slowed down by your provider or your monthly bill being larger than what you expect.

Arrowheads fiber optic network will consistently provide you the speed you need, at the time when you need it most.  For those with a “big kitchen sink and require a faucet to fit” – just let us know.  We’ll deliver you 20Mb or in the case of a business up to 1 GB.

To put Arrowhead’s fiber network into some perspective, if you currently subscribe to DSL, Wireless or Satellite service, the Arrowhead 10Mb internet service will be anywhere from 3 to 10 times faster than what you currently receive (download).  If its upload capacity you need, Arrowhead can upgrade your account so that you receive a symmetrical service (10Mb download & 10Mb upload). Only with Arrowhead’s internet service can you get the upload capacity many residents want and businesses need.  DSL, Satellite and Wireless can’t offer it and they simply can’t compete with it.

It’s not just about internet service though. Over the same fiber optic cable, Arrowhead will be providing phone service. Our phone service will be scalable to your needs and wants. Phone service can be basic and provide the security of a landline phone for 911 in case of an emergency, local calling to keep in touch with your neighbors, long distance service and all the calling features many people use today, such as; Voice Mail, CallerID, 3-Way Calling, Call Forwarding and more.

Don’t forget about TV service too!  Arrowhead is negotiating with and reviewing proposals to determine the TV service we want to offer our members. We’ll release the details as they develop later in 2012.

Shortly Arrowhead will begin the work inside our office building, transforming what was an office space into a high-tech digital room filled with DC power equipment, computers, and other “gear” which will allow Arrowhead to offer internet, phone and TV service. This room will be the “brain” that controls and monitors our fiber optic network. It is a critical step in launching and offering services to our members.

In order to provide these services to you, Arrowhead will be mailing to your homes (cabins & businesses too) more information on the 2012 construction season. Of particular importance, when you receive the mailing there will be a set of information that must be returned to Arrowhead granting us permission to install our fiber optic cable up to and on the side of your home (members in Lutsen, Tofte & Schroeder who received a property permission card in 2011 will not receive a new mailing in 2012).  Look in your mailboxes in mid to late January for this very important mailing from Arrowhead.

As we begin wrapping up 2011, our underground construction has been suspended for the winter and will resume in the spring. One aerial crew will work right up to Christmas. The aerial crew will be primarily constructing the “main line” fiber optic cable leading from Lutsen and heading towards Grand Marais.

Last, but certainly not least, Arrowhead would like to extend a grateful Thank youto those members who so patiently worked with our contractors in 2011. We hope our contractors treated your property with respect and worked with you to ensure your property was left in a condition as good as when they first arrived on site. The feedback we’ve gotten this far has been tremendous and we expect in 2012 to achieve the same results.

Operation Round-Up applications are being accepted for the 2011 Fall distribution.  Applications are due by Noon on Wednesday, September 28th in the Arrowhead Electric Office.  Additional information and an application can be found on our Operation Round-Up page by clicking here.

ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST FOR THE 2012 CALENDAR

Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, Inc. is accepting entries for its 2012 calendar.  Please read the guidlines carefully. We strongly encourage amateur photographers to submit pictures. We ask professional photographers to refrain from submitting pictures; this will allow other members a chance to have their photos published.  Click here to download the submital form and contest guidelines.

Construction crews require three visits generally to each property.  The first construction involves burying conduit or attaching steel strand to the poles.  Second, crews blow or pull the fiber optic cable into the conduit if underground or lash fiber optic cable to the steel strand if overhead.  The third visit to the property is when crews build the “drop” to the home.  This is the area between the road and the home.  Currently, only the main line is being constructed and drop installations will not begin for a few more weeks.  A few exceptions exist in underground areas where the drop to the home is longer than most.

Thanks for the continued support from all!

Senator Amy Klobuchar is introduced by Arrowhead General Manager, Jeanne Muntean

Senator Amy Klobuchar, a major proponent of Arrowhead Electric Cooperative’s broadband project stopped by the office on August 6th.  While in Lutsen at the Arrowhead office Senator Klobuchar spoke to local media and other elected officials regarding the importance of broadband availability in Cook County to strengthen our existing businesses, create opportunity for new business and ensure families have access to the same educational, government and healthcare offerings that those living in the urban centers have access to.

For more information on the Arrowhead broadband project please visit our broadband page.

Specifically, the underground along the Caribou Trail from Caribou Lake to Tait Lake will be completed first while smaller underground crews begin working the private properties and association roads in the area.  Overhead construction will connect the Arrowhead Electric office to the Caribou Trail.  Overhead construction will continue heading up the Caribou Trail until meeting up with the Underground line that begins by Caribou Lake.  Once this portion of overhead is completed crews will begin constructing between the Arrowhead Electric office and the Cook/Lake county border.

Construction along this stretch of line is being completed after the Caribou Trail area in hopes of less traffic being present along Highway 61 during peak travel seasons.  Maps will be available on our website at www.aecimn.com shortly to aid property owners in knowing more precisely when construction will be in your neighborhood.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF YOU WANT OUR FIBER OPTIC SERVICE YOU MUST PROVIDE ARROWHEAD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE THE PROPERTY PERMISSION MAILER (only those in Schroeder, Tofte & Lutsen have received thus far) OR WE WILL NOT CONSTRUCT TO YOUR HOME, CABIN OR BUSINESS.

If you live in Schroeder, Tofte or Lutsen and need a new property permission mailer please call our office (663-7239 or 800-864-3744) and we will provide you a new one.

Lastly, please remember to pre-register for service on our website or by calling (663-7239 or 800-864-3744)  the office.  Pre-registration is an important indicator that is used in determining construction routes so your neighborhood receives service as quick as possible.

Don’t forget, if you are in Schroeder, Tofte or Lutsen and have received your property permission mailer to return it to our office!  We will not bring service to your property until we have permission to do so.

As always, feel free to call our office with questions 218-663-7239.  Again, thank you all for the tremendous support!

Members of Arrowhead Electric Cooperative and those in the City of Grand Marais may also join our priority waiting list by calling our office at 663-7239.