Category: General

Village of Howard project supported by Packerland Sunrise Rotary Club, Cellcom and Green Bay Packer Foundation

Howard, WI (May 10, 2023) – The Village of Howard is taking the next steps to add pollinator-friendly spaces at Meadowbrook Park. On May 13, volunteers led by the Packerland Sunrise Rotary Club will be spreading the seed in the new pollinator spaces that were cleared of invasive species last fall by grazing goats. The project was funded by donations from Cellcom and the Green Bay Packers Foundation.

“Pollinators are vital to sustaining healthy ecosystems that support everything from the food we eat to clean air to stable soils. With research showing that pollinator populations are on the decline, we need to do what we can to prevent further loss. The village of Howard is taking action and hoping to further inspire our residents and other communities, as well,” said Paul Evert, Village of Howard Administrator. “We’re grateful for support from community partners include the Packerland Sunrise Rotary Club, Cellcom and the Green Bay Packers Foundation.”

Cellcom donated funds for the initial clearing of the space, which was completed by goats last fall to limit negative environmental impact of the project. Goats graze as a herd and are known to eat almost anything within the confines of a fenced in area. This includes invasive, hard-to-eliminate plants like Canada goldenrod and buckthorn that are present in Meadowbrook Park. The restoration grazing service meant no gas-powered heavy equipment or herbicides.

This weekend, volunteers will tackle the next step of spreading the seeds, which were purchased thanks to a grant from the Green Bay Packers Foundation. Pollinator projects take time to reach full growth, however, residents should enjoy some first-year flowers–and the pollinators they attract—this year.

“This project will beautify and make use of vacant land within Meadowbrook Park that would otherwise not see much attention. We hope residents will stop down and see the space as it grows and consider adding natural landscaping at their homes and businesses in the future,” said Evert. “While we are in the midst of No Mow May, which is a great start for our pollinators until other plants bloom, natural landscaping allows for longer-term pollinator support.”

To support residential pollinator projects, Brown County Land & Water Conservation has pollinator seed mix available for purchase along with a resource guide from Brown County UW-Extension. The seed mix is available at their office at 2019 Technology Way, Ste. 104, Green Bay between 7:00AM-3:30PM. The packet will cover up to 1000 square feet for $15. The office can be reached at 920-391-4637.

Media Contact:

Tammy VanDenBusch
Communications Manager
(920) 617-7107

Cindy Durand
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 617-7069

Lakewood, WI (March 22, 2023) – Residents and businesses in a portion of Lakewood will soon have a new high-speed internet provider. Cellcom has partnered with Oconto County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC) and the Town of Lakewood to provide fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) internet, TV, and voice services to every address in the village. With fiber optic speed options starting at 300 Mbps up to 1 Gbps, the project will address the current need for fast, reliable internet service.

“Lakewood is a commercial hub for northern Oconto County while also being popular with recreational visitors. The town has struggled with reliable internet for residents, visitors, businesses and other organizations and we know that connectivity is critical to growth and sustainability. We look forward to working with Cellcom to bring the latest technology to Lakewood and ensure access to the latest technology that people desire and deserve,” said Jayme Sellen, executive director of OCEDC.

OCEDC partnered with Cellcom to obtain a broadband grant from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) in 2022 that will cover more than $1.2 million of the total $1.75 million project. The Oconto County Board of Supervisors pledged $250,000 to the project and the Town of Lakewood will contribute $40,000. Cellcom will be investing $182,000. The project will pass approximately 200 homes and 55 businesses in Lakewood. The project area includes households and businesses north and south of County Road F between Long St, Highway 32, and Whitetail Lane in Lakewood.

“Cellcom is committed to serving rural areas with the latest technological advances,” said Brighid Riordan, CEO of Cellcom. “We’re excited to partner with Oconto County and the Town of Lakewood to provide fiber-to-the-premises internet service to meet the need for gig-speed connections and improve the quality of life for Lakewood residents, business owners and visitors. Fiber is a significant investment and an incredible asset to a community because it’s future-proof. The technology behind can scale to support ever-evolving, higher-speed use cases.”

Fiber internet offers faster speeds, more bandwidth and improved reliability. The increased bandwidth can support more devices at one time, including multiple devices streaming or video conferencing simultaneously. Reliability keeps smart-home devices like security cameras, thermostats and more running around the clock. Cellcom will also provide equal upload and download capabilities. These symmetrical speeds are a major benefit for large uploads, smooth video calls or hosting live-streaming feeds.

Initial construction will begin soon, which will install fiber along the roadways. Installations will begin later this year. Residents and businesses can learn more at www.cellcom.com.

Cellcom is an innovative wireless and broadband company that operates its own regional network to provide service for its customer base throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. The company is respected for its long-standing reputation of delivering extraordinary customer care and being a strong community partner. As a subsidiary of Nsight, Cellcom is part of a family of companies offering complete telecommunications services. Learn more at www.cellcom.com.

Media Contact:

Tammy VanDenBusch
Communications Manager
(920) 617-7107

Cindy Durand
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 617-7069

Residents Can Pre-Order Service Today

Casco, WI (March 15, 2023) – Residents and businesses in the Village of Casco will soon have a new high-speed internet provider. The village partnered with Cellcom to provide fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) internet, TV, and voice services to every address in the village. With fiber optic speed options starting at 300 Mbps up to 1 Gbps, the project will address the current need for fast, reliable internet.

“The village has struggled with reliable internet and the pandemic really highlighted the need for faster speeds and a strong connection to every home. Connectivity is critical to growth and sustainability for a community. People who live in small communities still desire and deserve the latest technology,” said Tammy Skarban, Casco village clerk. “We saw the success Cellcom had in other communities, particularly in Luxemburg, and reached out to work with them to make this project a reality. It’s exciting that we’re able to bring fiber to Casco and ensure connectivity for our residents well into the future.”

The village of Casco partnered with Cellcom to obtain a broadband grant from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) earlier this year that will cover $265,265 of the total $698,067 project. Cellcom will be investing $307,801 and the village will contribute $125,000.

“Cellcom is committed to delivering fiber to rural areas and Casco will be among our first six gig communities, where every home and business has access to fiber,” said Brighid Riordan, CEO of Cellcom. “We’re excited to partner with the Village of Casco and improve the quality of life for residents. Fiber is a significant investment and an incredible asset to a community because it’s future-proof. The technology behind the fiber can scale to offer faster speeds to support ever-evolving use cases of the internet.”

Fiber internet offers faster speeds, more bandwidth and improved reliability. The increased bandwidth can support more devices at one time, including multiple devices streaming or video conferencing simultaneously. Reliability keeps smart-home devices like security cameras, thermostats, and more running around the clock. Cellcom will also deliver equal upload and download speeds, which isa major benefit for large uploads, smooth video calls or hosting live-streaming feeds.

Initial construction will begin in March, which will install fiber along the roadways. Installations will begin later this year. Residents can pre-order internet now and take advantage of a special promotional offer. Learn more at www.cellcom.com/casco.

Cellcom is an innovative wireless and broadband company that operates its own regional network to provide service for its customer base throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. The company is respected for its long-standing reputation of delivering extraordinary customer care and being a strong community partner. As a subsidiary of Nsight, Cellcom is part of a family of companies offering complete telecommunications services. Learn more at www.cellcom.com.

Media Contact:

Tammy VanDenBusch
Communications Manager
(920) 617-7107

Cindy Durand
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 617-7069

(March 14, 2023) – Residents on the Oneida Reservation can look forward to improved access to high-speed internet. Oneida Nation is partnering with Nsight to build a broadband network and deliver reliable, fast, and affordable internet service to the community.

“The Oneida Nation strives to continually improve communication and quality of life on the Oneida Reservation. As part of our expansion and improvement of community outreach we have partnered with Nsight to offer high-speed internet and look forward to supporting our community members,” said Dr. Shane Archiquette, CIO of Oneida Nation.

Initial plans seek to build a wireless broadband network, which will broadcast internet to homes via two towers on the reservation. The project will also provide public Wi-Fi at both the pow wow grounds and near Oneida Lake.  This would allow high-speed access in a shorter timeframe, while the entities continue to work toward the longer-term goal of constructing fiber throughout the reservation.

Nsight brings experience in both areas to the partnership as parent company of Nsight Telservices and Cellcom. Nsight Telservices has served northeast Wisconsin since 1910 providing phone, internet, TV, and currently provides service to portions of the Oneida Reservation. Cellcom is a local wireless provider whose service covers the Oneida Reservation. Nsight has successfully partnered with other Wisconsin communities to deliver high-speed broadband and will work with the Oneida Nation to secure grant funding to support construction of this new network.

“Nsight is committed to connecting rural communities and is proud to be partnering with Oneida Nation to improve internet service for residents. High-speed internet is a necessity and this partnership will allow us to make access a reality throughout the reservation,” said Brighid Riordan, CEO of Nsight.

Additional details will be shared as they become available including how to sign up for the service.

The Oneida Nation is a sovereign government located in Oneida, Wisconsin. A nation of strong families built on Tsi ni yukwalihot^ with a good mind, a good heart and a strong fire.

Nsight is the parent company of Cellcom, Nsight Telservices, and Nsight Tower. The family of companies provides complete telecommunications services, including wireless and fiber-based services to residential and business customers, along with tower erection and maintenance services in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. www.nsight.com

Media Contact:

Tammy VanDenBusch
Communications Manager
(920) 617-7107

Cindy Durand
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 617-7069

Pittsfield, WI (February 15, 2023) – Residents in the Town of Pittsfield will soon have access to fiber internet service. The town board recently entered into a project agreement with Nsight Telservices to deliver fiber internet to more than 1,000 addresses in the village. With fiber optic speed options from 300 Mbps up to a gigabit, the project will address the growing need for fast, reliable internet.

“Fast internet is a necessity. With so much grant funding available, the town board kicked off our efforts last March to bring faster internet to our residents. This allowed us to gather proposals and educate ourselves on what it may take to bring increased speeds to our residents,” said Keith Deneys, chairman of the Pittsfield town board. “Nsight Telservices has the experience and knowledge to meet the needs of our community and we look forward to working together on this project.”

The Town of Pittsfield has committed $275,000 to the project, primarily federal grant funds from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Nsight Telservices and the town will partner to seek additional grant funding to further support the project.

“Nsight Telservices is committed to serving rural areas and providing communities with the latest technological advances. Public-private partnerships are important to the success of building out rural areas and are advantageous for grant applications. We’re grateful for the support from the village and look forward to bringing fiber to the residents of Pittsfield,” said Brighid Riordan, CEO of Nsight Telservices.

Fiber internet offers faster speeds, more bandwidth and improved reliability. Because the technology is scalable to deliver faster speeds as internet use-cases evolve, it’s considered future-proof. The increased bandwidth can support more devices at one time, including multiple devices streaming or video conferencing simultaneously. Reliability keeps smart-home devices like security cameras, thermostats and more running around the clock. Nsight Telservices will also provide equal upload and download capabilities. These symmetrical speeds are a major benefit for large uploads, smooth video calls or hosting live-streaming feeds.

Project planning has begun and Nsight Telservices plans to start construction in 2024. Ongoing updates will be available at nsighttel.com.

Nsight Telservices offers world-class telecommunication solutions with exceptional customer care. Residential offerings include high-speed internet, voice and television for customers in various service areas of Northeast Wisconsin. Nsight, parent company of Nsight Telservices and Cellcom, is a premier communications provider throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. To learn more about Nsight Telservices, visit www.nsighttel.com. 

Media Contact:

Tammy VanDenBusch
Communications Manager
(920) 617-7107

Cindy Durand
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 617-7069

Sixteen $750 scholarships will be awarded

(January 13, 2023) – The online application for Cellcom scholarships is now open. Cellcom will award 16 $750 scholarships to graduating high school seniors across its service area this year.

Recipients will be selected on the basis of academic record, potential to succeed, leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience and an essay on community involvement. Financial need is not considered.

Applicants must reside within a county in Wisconsin or Michigan where Cellcom operates and be planning to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or technical school.

Applications are due March 15, 2023, and only online applications will be accepted. Interested students can visit www.cellcom.com/events for more information and to apply.

Cellcom is an innovative wireless company that operates its own regional network to provide service for its customer base throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. The company is respected for its long-standing reputation of delivering extraordinary customer care and being a strong community partner. As a subsidiary of Nsight, Cellcom is part of a family of companies offering complete telecommunications services. Learn more at www.cellcom.com.

Media Contact:

Tammy VanDenBusch
Communications Manager
(920) 617-7107

Cindy Durand
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 617-7069

Seven $1200 scholarships will be awarded

(January 13, 2023) – The online application for Nsight Telservices scholarships is now open. Nsight will award seven $1200 scholarships to graduating high school seniors in its service area.

Applicants must attend high school in Niagara, Florence, Pulaski, Oconto, Oconto Falls, Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Valders, Shawano, Luxemburg or Door County. Recipients will be selected on the basis of academic record, potential to succeed, leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience and an essay on community involvement. Financial need is not considered. Applicants must be planning to enroll full-time in an undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or technical school.

Applications are due March 15, 2023 and only online applications will be accepted. Interested students can visit https://www.nsighttel.com/about-nsight/nsight-community-support/ for more information and to apply.

Nsight Telservices offers world-class telecommunication solutions with exceptional customer experience. Residential offerings include high-speed Internet, voice, and cable television for customers in various service areas of Northeast Wisconsin. Nsight, parent company of Nsight Telservices and Cellcom, is a premier communications provider throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. To learn more about Nsight Telservices, visit www.nsighttel.com. 

Media Contact:

Tammy VanDenBusch
Communications Manager
(920) 617-7107

Cindy Durand
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 617-7069

2023 Event Set for May 21

Green Bay, WI (December 30, 2022) – Registration for the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon is open. The popular running event that draws runners from across the country and around the world will hit the streets of Green Bay on May 21, 2023. Runners can register now for the marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, half marathon relay, or 5K.

“The Cellcom Green Bay Marathon weekend of events is something that runners near and far, volunteers, and local businesses look forward to year after year. The event is a pillar of our community putting mental and physical wellness at the forefront, boosting the economy through tourism and contributing to local charities. The impact of the event is felt throughout the year and we look forward to continuing that in 2023,” said Dr. Ashok Rai, president and CEO of Prevea Health and board president of the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon.

The non-profit event awarded $100,000 to its charity partners following the 2022 event. This includes proceeds from the event and funds raised through the Run for a Reason program. Charity partners for the 2023 event will be announced in January.

Start and finish lines will be located in the stadium district and the Cellcom Green Bay 5K will take place on the same day as the distance events on Sunday, May 21. Courses are in the process of being finalized with all of the events including a signature lap around Lambeau Field.

Participants can register at the lowest rate now through December 31. For more information or to register, visit www.cellcomgreenbaymarathon.com.

The 24th annual Cellcom Green Bay Marathon will take place May 21, 2023. Over the past 23 years, the race has generated more than $1.7 million in proceeds for local charities. For more information and to register, visit www.cellcomgreenbaymarathon.com.

Media Contact:

Tammy VanDenBusch
Communications Manager
(920) 617-7107

Cindy Durand
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 617-7069

Liberty Grove and Baileys Harbor Pilot Projects Construction Completed

Liberty Grove, WI (December 21, 2022) – Cellcom has completed its first fiber-to-the-home installation in the town of Liberty Grove. Pilot projects to deliver fiber internet are complete in both Liberty Grove and Baileys Harbor, giving residents and businesses in the pilot areas access to speeds starting at 300 Mbps and ranging up to a gigabit. The first installation in Baileys Harbor will take place in early 2023.

The town of Liberty Grove and Cellcom entered an initial partnership in the fall of 2021 to bring fiber to a portion of the community. The project received a federal grant for the project awarded from the U.S. Department of Treasury from funds made available through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. This pilot project aimed to allow both entities to assess the feasibility of delivering fiber throughout the township. Cellcom had previously completed a middle-mile fiber network throughout Door County, which recently extended to Washington Island. This middle-mile fiber serves as the delivery network for the new fiber-to-the-home networks.

In October, Liberty Grove selected Cellcom to build out the remainder of the township with plans to deliver fiber to every address.

“Cellcom is committed to serving rural areas and providing these communities with the latest technological advances. We are headquartered in northeast Wisconsin and know that people who enjoy the beauty that rural Door County has to offer want access to the same technical amenities as metropolitan areas. We’re excited to have delivered access to portions of Liberty Grove and Baileys Harbor and look forward to completing projects for the entire community to effectively meet the need for high-speed connections today and for the future,” said Brighid Riordan, CEO of Cellcom.

Baileys Harbor received a broadband grant from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) in June to serve the remaining addresses in the community. This portion of the project is expected to begin in 2023 and will expand fiber to more than 1400 homes and 70 business that were largely unserved or underserved in terms of both speed and reliability.

Fiber internet offers faster speeds, more bandwidth and improved reliability over other technologies. The increased bandwidth can support more devices at one time, including multiple devices streaming or video conferencing simultaneously. Reliability keeps smart-home devices like security cameras, thermostats and more running around the clock. Since signing on to the project, Cellcom enhanced its service offering to provide equal upload and download capabilities. These symmetrical speeds are a major benefit for large uploads, smooth video calls or hosting live-streaming feeds.

Installations continue for those who have placed orders and all addresses in the pilot area are able to place orders. Additional details are available at www.cellcom.com/libertygrove and www.cellcom.com/baileysharbor.

Cellcom is an innovative wireless company that operates its own regional network to provide service for its customer base throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. The company is respected for its long-standing reputation of delivering extraordinary customer care and being a strong community partner. Cellcom also delivers fiber internet and accompanying services in select markets as part of a the Nsight family of companies. Learn more at www.cellcom.com.

Media Contact:

Tammy VanDenBusch
Communications Manager
(920) 617-7107

Cindy Durand
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 617-7069

Appleton, WI (November 22, 2022) – Food insecurity is defined as the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life and it’s a growing concern in the state of Wisconsin with nearly a half million people facing hunger. Cellcom has teamed up with its tower partner Vertical Bridge to fight hunger in communities throughout northeast Wisconsin with a $15,000 donation to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

“The impact of hunger on individuals, families, and the community are devastating. Too often food purchases are cut back to pay for other things like medicine, transportation, utilities, and housing. Thanks to Cellcom and Vertical Bridge, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin will be able to provide 60,000 meals right here in northeast Wisconsin and save families from having to make those tough choices,” said Patti Habeck, President and CEO at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin supports 154 pantries across Cellcom’s service area, distributing more than 33 million pounds of food each year.

“Cellcom is committed to supporting our neighbors in need and appreciate partners like Vertical Bridge to team up with and nonprofits like Feeding America to make the biggest impact possible in the fight against hunger,” said Brighid Riordan, CEO of Cellcom. “Food pantries are also integral to reducing food waste and its negative impact on our environment. Feeding America’s model creates a ripple effect we are proud to support.”

More than 31 percent of all food produced is wasted, equating to more than 133 billion pounds of food in landfills in the United States alone each year^[1]. Food in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Feeding America partners with food manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants and farmers to rescue high-quality foods that would otherwise go to waste and uses their expertise to get it to families in immediate need. This ultimately improves environmental sustainability.

“Cellcom is focused on reducing our negative impact on the environment and investing in projects in our communities that do the same. Food waste is a big stressor on our planet. Beyond the landfill impact, the energy and natural resources that it takes to produce, harvest and transport the food is also wasted if it is not consumed. From large food rescue initiatives like Feeding America to our individual habits, reducing food waste is a win-win effort that makes a difference for our environment and supports our communities,” said Mick O’Malley, director of sustainability at Cellcom.

Cellcom nominated Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin for a matching donation from the Vertical Bridge Charitable Network, an employee-led effort in which a committee identifies opportunities for Vertical Bridge to donate time and/or money to meaningful causes. Cellcom owns and operates its network, which includes a growing number of towers to support the data needs of customers and advanced services like 5G. Vertical Bridge manages much of Cellcom’s tower network through a master lease agreement to allow other providers to leverage Cellcom’s tower infrastructure. 

About Cellcom

Cellcom is an innovative wireless company that operates its own regional network to provide service for its customer base throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. The company is respected for its long-standing reputation of delivering extraordinary customer care and being a strong community partner. As a subsidiary of Nsight, Cellcom is part of a family of companies offering complete telecommunications services. Learn more at www.cellcom.com.

About Vertical Bridge

Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC is the largest private owner and operator of communications infrastructure and locations in the United States, with a portfolio of more than 318,000 sites, including over 9,000 owned and master-leased towers and the nation’s largest and tallest collection of broadcast tower sites. Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Vertical Bridge was founded in 2014 and is led by a senior management team with over 300 years of collective experience in tower infrastructure and related sectors. Vertical Bridge became the first tower company in the world to reach net-zero emissions, gaining CarbonNeutral® certification in 2020. The company was recertified in 2021. For more information, please visit https://www.verticalbridge.com/

About Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin:

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the leading local hunger relief organization in the state. Founded in 1982 by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a local and independent member of the Feeding America network. Driven by our mission to solve hunger and our vision of a hunger-free Wisconsin, we are bringing more people together around the table to collaboratively address the root causes of hunger. Together with our network of nearly 400 partner pantries and meal sites, we serve nearly 500,000 people across 35 counties in eastern Wisconsin each year.

^[1] https://feedingamericawi.org/about-us/why-it-matters/

Media Contact:

Tammy VanDenBusch
Communications Manager
(920) 617-7107

Cindy Durand
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 617-7069