Pioneer Broadband expands services

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Continuing its efforts to provide total market coverage, Pioneer Broadband of Houlton recently added telephone service to its line of products and services.
    According to Tim McAfee, chief executive officer for Pioneer Broadband, the decision to branch out into telephone service was a “no-brainer.”
    “The equipment we use to provide DSL (Internet) also has the ability to provide phone service,” McAfee said. “We figured this would be a great time to offer phone service because it can save our customers money.”
    Similar to other phone/Internet companies, bundled packages are offered by Pioneer Broadband starting at $74.95. Prices increase based on the speed of the DSL selected. Separate phone-only packages are also available.
    With phone service, customers are able to keep their same existing phone number, but also get unlimited long distance calls to anywhere in the United States and Canada. Another perk is customers receive caller ID, call waiting and voicemail all at no additional charge.
    McAfee said Pioneer Broadband is able to offer phone service on the existing telephone lines to residents’ homes or businesses as part of a “Competitive Local Exchange Carrier” agreement. The timing to offer phone service stems from the completion of a recent project.
    “We just finished up a lot of the fiber optic core network and we did not want to offer phone until that was complete,” he said.
    Pioneer Wireless, Inc. is a Maine company, with offices in Houlton and Presque Isle. They provide service from Fort Kent to Lubec and Howland. Its network is based on carrier-class microwave radio equipment — the same equipment utilized by major communication companies to extend their coverage area.
    For more information, call 1-866-335-1254.