Rural Comstock / Rural Sabin – Project Update
Fiber Services Sign-up begins in Rural Comstock – Sabin (January 2025):
We’re excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for fiber services for our Reconnect Build Project, which will bring blazing-fast, reliable fiber internet to even more homes and businesses in Wahpeton, North Dakota.
Over the past five years, the Red River team has been working hard to bring fiber internet to rural Clay County, Minnesota. Since our award of a Reconnect 5 Grant in December 2024, all of our planning and preparations are nearing completion, and residents and businesses can now select the services they would like connected to their property.
If you reside within the project, it is important to complete your paperwork now so our construction crews can include you in the 2026 build. To secure your spot on our construction list, order service online or call our office, and our team of experts will walk you through the simple application process.
What to Expect This Spring and Summer
As construction begins, crews will start marking yards, locating underground utilities, and staging equipment in neighborhoods across the county. These early steps are essential to ensure that everything goes smoothly and safely once digging begins.
We understand construction can be disruptive, and we’ll do our best to keep things moving efficiently while minimizing inconvenience. Our crews are trained professionals who care about your property and community.
Get Ready to Connect—Apply Today!
If you haven’t yet submitted your application for fiber service, now is the time! Signing up early ensures you’ll be one of the first to connect once construction in your area is complete.
Even if your neighborhood won’t be connected until this summer, getting your application in now allows us to better plan our installation schedule and serve you faster.
Why Switch to Fiber?
- Speed & Reliability: Enjoy consistent internet with symmetrical upload and download speeds.
- Future-Proof: Fiber is built for tomorrow’s technology, including smart homes, streaming, remote work, and more.
- Local Support: As your community broadband provider, we’re just down the road when you need us.
Questions?
We’re here to help! If you have questions about construction, service availability, or how to apply, please contact our team or visit the Home Internet or Business Internet pages on this site.
Thank you for your patience and support as we wrap up this exciting project. We can’t wait to welcome more of you to the fiber-fast future in rural Comstock and Sabin, Minnesota.
Please note that the map is only a representation and not an exact location of our construction route. For more information about this project, please contact our office at 701-553-8309.
Project Updates:
Happy New Year! Fiber internet is on its way to Rural Comstock and Sabin, Minnesota!
We’re happy to let you know that we’re starting Phase 2 of our fiber-optic broadband project in rural Comstock and Sabin, MN. Thanks to support from the USDA RECONNECT Grant Program, we’ll soon be bringing high-speed fiber internet to your home.
Now is the time to choose your fiber-powered services, like high-speed internet, Wi-Fi, phone, digital TV, and security cameras. Check the flyer we’ve included for more details about what we offer.
In the next few weeks, our sales associate Wayne Steiner will be visiting homes in your area. He’s here to help you sign up, answer your questions, and support you during the fiber installation.
Let’s Get Started: Early Sign-up Promotions
For a limited time, you can get a $200 bill credit when you sign up early. This is our way of saying thank you for your patience as we worked through the USDA grant process.
By signing up now, you will receive:
- $200 Bill Credit – This one-time credit will be applied to your account 30 days after you’re connected (on your second bill).
- FREE standard fiber construction, which usually costs between $1,000 and $20,000 to bring our network to a rural property.
- FREE installation of fiber servicesin your home
- FREE installation of your whole-home Managed Wi-Fi system
Thank you, and we look forward to bringing you FiberFAST™ high-speed internet!
Sincerely,
Your friends and neighbors at Red River Communications
December 2025
Dear Residents and Businesses in Rural Comstock and Rural Sabin,
We are excited to share an update on a project that will bring world-class fiber broadband to your community. Last December, Red River Communications was awarded a USDA ReConnect Grant to expand high-speed fiber internet to rural Comstock and Sabin, Minnesota. This investment will provide homes, farms, and businesses with reliable, future-proof connectivity, ensuring your community is connected on par with the rest of our region.
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON:
Over the past year, our team has been working on engineering, planning, and getting federal permits for this project. This process takes time, as each mile of fiber must be mapped and approved before work can begin. Because this is a federally funded project, every step requires national-level review and approval.
We know this process has been slower than expected due to long federal response times. Thank you for your patience as we work through these requirements. While you may not see much happening yet, we are making steady progress behind the scenes and are eager to bring fiber broadband to your community as soon as we can.
NEXT STEPS: What to Expect in 2026
Mid-January 2026:
Service sign-up will begin. To make sure we get you connected as soon as possible, it is very important that you select your services in advance so our construction crews know to bring service to your property. Watch your mail next month for information about services, pricing, and promotions, exclusive to the Rural Comstock – Rural Sabin project.
Spring 2026:
Construction is planned to start when the ground thaws. First, we’ll mark routes and get sites ready. We’ll let you know the timeline and which areas will get fiber first.
Thank you for your support. We’re excited to bring this new connection to your community. Remember to watch for our sales and sign-up information in January!
Red River Communications Receives $5.16 Million Federal Award to Expand High-Speed Internet in Clay County, Minnesota.
Abercrombie, ND (December 23, 2024) – Red River Rural Telephone Association, doing business as Red River Communications, is excited to announce a $5,166,742 investment from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Program. This funding will enable the deployment of a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, bringing high-speed internet access to underserved areas in Clay County, Minnesota.
This project will directly impact 482 residents, 17 businesses, 55 farms, and one educational facility across an 82.3-square-mile area. By delivering reliable, high-speed connectivity to 163 households, this initiative will strengthen the community’s digital infrastructure, fostering economic growth, improving access to educational resources, and enhancing the quality of life for local residents.
“This investment underscores the critical role broadband plays in rural communities,” said Tom Steinolfson, Red River Communications’ General Manager and CEO. “Reliable internet access is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Thanks to this funding, Red River Communications can ensure that more people in Clay County have the connectivity they need to succeed in today’s digital age.”
The fiber network will deliver broadband speeds that meet or exceed modern demands, empowering residents and businesses to participate fully in the digital economy. Whether it’s for distance learning, telehealth, precision agriculture, or e-commerce, this investment will bridge the digital divide for rural Minnesotans.
The funding for this project was made possible through the USDA’s ReConnect Program, which provides financial support for broadband infrastructure in rural areas across the United States. U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have both strongly advocated for rural broadband expansion, emphasizing its vital role in supporting education, healthcare, and economic development.
“Bringing high-speed internet to rural Minnesota is about ensuring everyone has the tools they need to thrive,” Senator Smith said in a statement celebrating recent broadband announcements in the state.
Red River Communications remains committed to enhancing connectivity and promoting equitable access to technology in the rural communities it serves. Construction on the project is expected to begin in the spring of 2026, with plans to bring the upgraded services online shortly after the mainline infrastructure is completed, pending any potential delays.
For more information about Red River Communications and its broadband initiatives, please visit www.redrivercomm.com or contact them at 701-553-8309.
About Red River Communications
Headquartered in Abercrombie, North Dakota, Red River Rural Telephone Association, dba Red River Communications, is a leading-edge broadband and telecommunications cooperative. Committed to delivering state-of-the-art technology to customers throughout the region, Red River Communications provides fiber broadband internet, phone, digital TV, wireless internet, and cellular services to over 4,500 customers across southeast North Dakota and west-central Minnesota. Red River Communications has deployed a fiber-optic network spanning nearly 3,000 miles and is expanding in several communities. This year, the cooperative celebrates its 71st anniversary of supporting the communities it calls home. Visit redrivercomm.com for additional information.
CONTACT INFO:
Kari Kleingartner
Marketing Specialist, Red River Communications
Main: 701-553- 8309 | Direct: 701-553-8225