News

 Vote for MINET! MICC 60th Annual Community Awards Nominees!

We are thrilled to announce that MINET has been nominated in the first round of the MICC 60th Annual Community Awards! 

 
Here’s How to Support MINET:

1. Spread the Word: Share this post, send emails, or chat with friends and family about MINET’s nomination.

2. Cast Your Vote: Head to https://forms.gle/MGbuoqqFaJer4FBk6 and show your support by voting for MINET!

Important Dates:

• First Round Voting: Now through November 15th
• Final Voting Round: December 1st - 12th
• Awards Ceremony: February 27th, 2025

11/5/2024 11:15 am

Dear valued customers,

Please be advised that there will be scheduled fiber line maintenance taking place overnight from 12:00 am to 8:00 am on August 16th. During this period, our network will be temporarily down to ensure the necessary upgrades and improvements are made.

We understand the inconvenience this may cause and assure you that our team is working diligently to minimize the downtime and enhance the overall performance of our service.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we strive to provide you with the best internet experience possible.

Thank you for your continued support.

8/5/2024

Today is MINET Monday!

MINET has graciously offered a $500 donation to Grocery Outlet for the "to support our Independence from Hunger campaign" supporting the Ella Curran Food Bank. 

7/29/2024

MINET is thrilled to announce that we are a broadbandnow Digital  Inclusion Award finalist.  The award celebrates internet providers who go above and beyond in their efforts to bring affordable, reliable, and high-quality internet access to underserved and unserved communities.  These forward-thinking providers are tackling the digital divide  head-on, implementing groundbreaking strategies to ensure that every American, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status, can harness the power of connectivity. 

7/17/2024

NOTICE OF MINET BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

A public meeting of the MINET Budget Committee, Polk County, State of Oregon, to discuss and approve the fiscal year's fiscal year July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, will be held online through ‘Google Meet’. 

The meeting will occur on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 5:00 pm. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the budget by the Budget Committee will take place and comments from the public on the budget will be received. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed program with the Budget Committee in person at Monmouth Public Works, 401 N Hogan Rd in Monmouth, or by going to the following video link or conference phone number: 

VIDEO - meet.google.com/zzw-bdit-onh 

AUDIO - (US) +1 252-699-0064 PIN: 727 500 524#

A copy of the preliminary budget document may be inspected or obtained on the MINET website at www.minetfiber.com or by request to budget@minetfiber.net on or after May 8, 2024.

Our customers will be receiving the following email/letter detailing the next steps - 

Dear Customer,

We hope this letter finds you well. We are writing to inform you of some critical changes regarding the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which will affect your internet pricing. Due to a lack of funding, the ACP program is ending. This decision will have various implications, including its impact on your internet bill. As a participant in the ACP program, you have been receiving benefits that have helped reduce your monthly internet expenses. However, with the program ending, there will be changes in your billing structure.

Firstly, it is essential to understand that the ACP benefits will cease, and this will result in an increase in your internet bill. April’s invoice will be the last month in which you receive the full ACP benefit amount. The upcoming May reimbursement may be partial in nature which will be determined by funding available, and after that, you will no longer receive any ACP benefits on your invoices.

We understand that this change may pose financial challenges for some customers. This was not a decision made by MINET. However, we want to assure you that there are options available to mitigate the impact. You may consider enrolling in the Lifeline Program which is run by the Oregon PUC or reach out to us to see how we can assist you. Details about the Lifeline Program can be found at, https://www.oregon.gov/puc/Pages/Discounted-Service.aspx 

We understand that this transition may raise questions or concerns, and we are here to assist you throughout the process. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our customer service team if you require further information or assistance.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this period of change. We appreciate your continued trust in us as your internet service provider.

Sincerely,

MINET Management 

MINET would like to remind everybody that we provide FREE WiFi in parks. Stay connected while enjoying some of Monmouth and Independence’s nature spaces. 

Parks equipped with WiFi:

· Gentle Woods Park

· Henry Hill Park

· Madrona Park

· Main Steet Park

· MINET

· Monmouth Senior Center

· Pioneer Park

To connect:

· Look for the network called "MINET Free Wifi"

· Connect

· Accept the terms & conditions

· Enjoy your free internet service from MINET

Friday, December 18th, 2023

• Wednesday Dec 20th - Office Hours 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
• Friday Dec 22nd - Office Hours 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Monday Dec 25th - Office Closed 

Friday, December 8th, 2023

Oregon Commission adjusted the RSPF (Residential Service Protection Fund) surcharge rate from $0.03 to $0.08, effective Monday, January 1, 2024  The RSPF ensures that all Oregonians have access to adequate and affordable telephone service. 

The 2023 Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2757, which included the addition of a 988 Coordinated Crisis Services Tax to the existing Oregon  Emergency Communications (911) Tax.

The 988 tax rate will be 40 cents per subscriber line of telecommunications or device with access to the 988 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis system, and 40 cents for each prepaid wireless service or product retail  transaction. These are the same transactions subject to the existing 911  Emergency Communications Tax. This tax rate will be effective for all billings or purchase of prepaid wireless service beginning January 1, 2024.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

MINET will be closed on Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th.  The office will be back to normal hours next week.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Oregon has the following Connected Communities, small towns and communities with high speed fiber internet connectivity.  

Independence Oregon -

https://livability.com/or/independence/connected-communities/independence-or-fiber/

Monmouth Oregon -

https://livability.com/or/monmouth/connected-communities/monmouth-or-fiber/

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Monmouth-Independence Network Board of Directors - 5:00 pm. The public is invited to attend at Monmouth Public Works, 401 N Hogan Rd, Monmouth, Oregon or virtually. For agenda and virtual link details: https://www.minetfiber.com/news