MINET Fiber

BIG anniversary congratulations going out to one of our most seasoned team members - Eddie Kirasich - on 13 years with MINET / Willamette Valley Fiber.? But he’s been around even longer ! Eddie began working on the MINET network as part of a contract installation crew almost 20 years ago when we first turned up the MINET network and when that work ended he became part of our permanent team.? Always with a positive attitude and offbeat humor that keeps us laughing, Eddie has been a favorite around here since the beginning.? He brings a vast amount of experience to the team - house side installation, fiber splicing, aerial and underground construction - Eddie has seen most everything in the world of Outside Plant.? He is always willing to go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to get the job done.? Eddie, congratulations on 13 “official” (but actually several more) years with the team.? We truly appreciate everything you do!

Outages It’s not a matter of if, but when.? Providers of service to the public operate with the understanding that unanticipated outages are part of the business.? We try our best to put all the necessary mechanisms in place to prevent, mitigate, and recover from these scenarios but despite our best efforts occasionally things happen that are beyond our control.? And we do our best to learn from them, and be better the next time around. Willamette Valley Fiber experienced an outage as a result of the significant wind storm that came through the area Monday night into Tuesday morning.? A major transport line running between our Monmouth Network Operations Center and Dallas was severed in the early AM hours.? What would normally have been a fairly straightforward repair turned into a complex all hands on deck type situation as the damage occurred nearly ? mile from any motorized vehicle access. On behalf of our entire team I would like to say thank you to the communities we serve.? The vast majority of customers we spoke with during this time were nothing but supportive and understanding.? We greatly value your commitment to us as your provider, and to supporting local service.? Thank you for your patience as we worked through this event. And to the Willamette Valley Fiber and MINET teams - thank you.? It amazes me and should our entire community how you all step up to the plate when it matters the most.? From the Customer Service team fielding an overwhelming number of inquiries, to Network Operations assisting with planning and coordination, to our Outside Plant team - dragging carts, ladders, and backpacks full of gear through inches of water and mud… everyone came together to make recovery from this incident go as smoothly as possible.? Thank you everyone, for your commitment & dedication to MINET & Willamette Valley Fiber. PJ Armstrong General Manager

This week, we’re celebrating Jacob McDonald and his dedication to MINET! As one of our hardworking field techs, Jacob plays a crucial role in keeping our community connected. Whether he’s troubleshooting issues, installing new services, or ensuring our customers have the best internet experience possible, Jacob always brings dedication, professionalism, and a can-do attitude to the job. Jacob, your commitment doesn’t go unnoticed, and we’re grateful to have you on the team! Please join us in congratulating him on his anniversary and thanking him for all he does!

Today marks 3 amazing years with Kevin Folsom, our Construction Supervisor at MINET / WVF!? Kevin is leading the charge in expanding fiber service to the underserved areas of Rickreall and South Dallas in Polk County. He oversees our construction team and plays a crucial role in building the infrastructure that will bring high-speed fiber to these communities.? Coming from the medical field with no prior telecom experience, Kevin has worked incredibly hard to learn the ropes and build a fiber network from the ground up – a truly impressive journey!?His growth here has been nothing short of remarkable. We’re lucky to have Kevin on our team – thank you for your hard work and dedication in helping us stay on track!?Keep building those lines of communication, Kevin!?

Love is in the air, and so is fast, reliable internet! This Valentine’s Day, stay connected to what matters most with MINET Fiber. Whether you're sending sweet messages or streaming your favorite movie, we've got you covered!

This Monday, February 17th, in observance of Presidents Day, our office will be closed. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, February 18th. If you need assistance before the holiday, please reach out before the weekend. Wishing everyone a meaningful and restful Presidents Day!

Today we are celebrating a significant milestone at MINET & Willamette Valley Fiber as Miguel Aguilar has officially been a part of our team for 5 years.? Miguel is the Field Supervisor for the Monmouth and Independence area.? If you have been visited by a MINET field technician in the last few years, chances are it may have been him ! Miguel arrived at MINET with no previous fiber experience but with a LOT of motivation, and has since become a big part of our success.? Professional, driven, smart, funny, highly organized, leader, problem solver, with an outstanding work ethic - these are just some of the characteristics that describe Miguel. We are so glad to have you on the MINET team.? Congratulations on your 5th work-iversary Miguel ! Thank you for all that you've done for us! #workmilestone

It’s hard to believe it has been almost a decade since Ray Cruz joined the MINET & Willamette Valley Fiber team. Ray came to us with a well established background in distribution systems as a former field technician with Guam Waterworks Authority. His knowledge translated easily to our fiber distribution systems and within a very short period of time Ray began taking on increasing levels of responsibility within our Outside Plant Department. On any given day you might find Ray doing anything from house side installation, locating, construction consultation, mapping, network design, splicing, vehicle repair, training… the list goes on and on. He is truly a jack of all trades. As our Director of Outside Plant Ray has seen and been through most every scenario that gets thrown his way - and if he hasn’t he always manages to come up with a solution. Please join us in congratulating Ray on 9 years of dedicated service to the communities MINET & WVF serve. We are truly lucky to have him on our team !

The Internet is Faster Than You Think—But That’s Just the Beginning… Most people don’t realize how fiber internet is shaping the future of connectivity. Did you know? ? The fastest fiber networks can transmit over 1,000,000 Gbps—but your home connection is just scratching the surface. ?? Fiber is more energy-efficient than traditional internet, making it a greener choice. ?? 99% of global internet traffic travels through underwater fiber cables—not satellites! Fiber isn’t just about faster speeds—it’s changing the way we work, live, and connect. Curious about what else you might not know? Read the full article below.?? Let us know in the comments: What’s the most surprising internet fact you’ve learned?