Pioneer Communications: Making Sure Their Customers 'Stay Connected'

A staple of the community since 1950, Pioneer Communications has since adapted with each technological advancement over the last 72 years for the betterment of their members and western Kansas. At 90 employees strong, the member-owned cooperative provides quality Internet, voice, and Stream TV services to 24 communities over 13 counties. From the Oklahoma border to Sharon Springs, Kans., and from the Colorado border to the Garden City, Kans., area, the power of Pioneer Communications covers over 5,000 square miles.

Assistant CEO, Kasey Krueger, spoke with us about what the telecommunication company brings to the table.

"One thing we really pride ourselves on is the fact that if Pioneer Communications wasn't here, there is probably a larger company out there that wouldn't take very good care of Southwest Kansas, because we are so sparsely populated and rural and it's not a good return on investment to their shareholders," said Krueger. "The 'why?' that drives us is we really pride ourselves on connecting our rural communities to the rest of the world. A strong Internet connection allows our rural communities to thrive when it comes to our changing world of Online education, telehealth, entertainment options, and quality of life. We are guided by our higher purpose, which is connecting our communities, empowering possibilities, and making a difference - it's what we do."

Pioneer Communications has made it a point to do things differently over their 72 years in business. Currently, the cooperative has installed fiber optic connections to 75 percent of their members, an initiative started in 2008 and is a technology that some bigger cities in the area have not yet achieved.

"Southwest Kansas is set up for success for the future in an interconnected world," said Krueger. "Fiber optics are a dedicated line going into your home or business. Inside the cable are strands of glass thinner than a human hair in which light pulses back and forth down to transmit your data. Fiber is superior to other technologies when it comes to Internet speeds, bandwidth capacity, and reliability.”

Pioneer Communications is in the process of connecting every cooperative member in their 5,000 square miles to a fiber optic connection.

“We have heavily invested in our fiber optic network and are in the process of finishing converting our population centers," Krueger said. "Once those are completed in the near future, we will continue to heavily invest in connecting the rest of farms and ranches across our 5,000 square mile area. With that said, fiber isn’t cheap, averaging a cost of $30,000 per mile and covering 5,000 square miles is no easy task. However, as Internet usage has grown exponentially over the last several years, fiber is a long-term investment and is the technology that can keep up with the ever-growing demand." 

Krueger dove into the driving forces and strengths that keep us connected.

"As any business, we need to make a profit to stay in business but as a member-owned cooperative we are not profit or shareholder driven,” Krueger said. "There are many times we’ll make decisions in the best interest of our members even if the return on investment isn’t ideal. We strive to do what is best for our members and our western Kansas communities.”

A key factor in taking care of their members is the local customer service. Instead of speaking with someone thousands of miles away to troubleshoot issues, Pioneer has employees in the area, equipped and ready.

One of their best products, WiFi360, is a wireless router that stays up to date with the latest technology and provides a stable, strong wireless connection. If customers encounter issues with the router, Pioneer will troubleshoot and, if need be, will repair or replace it at no cost to the customer making the experience worry free.

Staying updated with technology is critical to protecting your information.

Krueger shared advice on security in the field of telecommunications.

“If you get an email you suspect could be spam, contact the company directly to confirm the email is from them," he said. "Check emails for odd typos and grammar. Roll over links to see what the actual link is before clicking and check the sender's email to see if they are legitimate. Be wary of urgent or threatening e-mails and phone calls. If you receive one of these calls, hang up and call your provider directly. Cybercrime is turning into a big business for cyber criminals attached to large dollar amounts and devastating effects to businesses and individuals. Lastly, make sure your connected devices have the latest update for security reasons. Cybersecurity should be a concern for any individual or small business.”

To better serve the communities of southwest Kansas, Pioneer Communications has made it a priority to invest. The cooperative has invested $7 to $8 million dollars annually into the telecommunications infrastructure of western Kansas.

In 2020, Pioneer began construction in Garden City, building to the business corridors. In doing so, more revenue can be produced, therefore protecting the cooperative and diversifying the cooperative’s investments and assets.

Another priority for Pioneer is being a good community partner. Every summer, a student is selected to attend the FRS Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. Pioneer Communications also provides $20,000 in scholarships to students more than 23 communities, as well as various scholarships from national organizations. The cooperative has donated more than $700,000 to charitable and community organizations within their footprint over the last seven years.

Visit Pioneer Communications Online at www.pioncomm.net or stop in to speak to a customer care specialist at 120 West Kansas Avenue. A friendly, familiar face will be happy to assist you from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday to make sure you stay connected.