About Us
Proud of Our Past,
Focused on the Future
Polar Communications was founded in 1952 with a core mission: to be an innovative industry leader that meets the evolving needs of our customers by developing the necessary technology and tools.
Today, decades later, that mission continues to guide us as we serve our communities throughout the Red River Valley and surrounding area.
Committed to Community
Committed to Quality
Our Pledge to You
Our People
Over the years we’ve learned that the key to great communication isn’t amazing technology, it’s incredible people. And Polar Communications has proven that success isn’t measured in dollars, but in satisfied customers and loyal employees. Our roots are here in the heartland, and that means that the only thing you’ll appreciate more than the cutting-edge technology we offer is the outstanding service that backs it up. That’s our pledge to you.
Connected In Rural USA
Our Service
Polar Communications provides telecommunications services to more than 8,000 subscribers in North Dakota and Minnesota. Our fiber optic network allows us to bring you the very best in voice, video, and broadband services at an affordable rate. We also provide advanced business services such as phone systems, video surveillance, and advanced networking. Living in rural America doesn’t mean you have to be disconnected.
The Very Best Tech
Our Commitment
Polar Communications is committed to bringing our customers the very best communication technology available today, then backing that technology up with the same great service you’ve come to expect from us. Whether you’re Snapchatting friends, video chatting with your sister in Europe, or streaming your favorite series, our goal is to make your life easier and more convenient. That’s our mission, and it has been for more than 65 years.
Superior Customer Service
Our Mission
Polar Communications is an exceptional provider of voice, video, and broadband services in the Red River Valley and surrounding area. The services provided are the result of superior customer service combined with state-of-the-art network technologies.
About Us
Our Core Values
Technology & Innovation
Polar prides itself on consistently being able to offer the most up to date services and technologies available to our the customers that we serve to ensure a strong and healthy exchanges for everyone we serve.
People Driven
We are committed to ensuring the success of both our fellow employees and customers by focusing on building and maintaining relationships that are respectful, honest, and professional. consistently.
Teamwork
Success is built by relationships. Through respect, encouragement, and collaboration we will be a strong united team that completes great things together.
Commitment
By displaying commitment and pride in and for our Company and our customers, we will continue to help grow the community in which we serve.
Our Community
Our Community
Scholarships
John G. Walters
Scholarship
Five $1,000 scholarships will be issued to graduating high school seniors from our service area who plan to continue their education at an accredited 2-year or 4-year college/university or vocational-technical school. Parents or guardians must be Polar customers of voice or broadband Internet service.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 6, 2020
Polar Leadership
Scholarship
Polar Communications offers the Polar Leadership Scholarship. This $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student who is involved in their school, serves their community, achieves leadership roles in activities, functions or organizations, and strives to reach their highest potential. Other considerations include any work/internship experience outside of school. Applicants must be a senior in high school or freshman or sophomore in college and their parents or guardians must be Polar customers of voice or broadband Internet service.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 6, 2020
Foundation for Rural
Service Scholarship
FRS, along with NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, promote, educate and advocate to the public rural telecommunications issues. Polar is proud to be a member of NTCA and supports FRS in this worthy endeavor. If a graduating high school senior from our service area is selected for one of the FRS national scholarships ($2,000 each), Polar will contribute an additional $500, bringing the FRS award to $2,500. Parents or guardians must be Polar customers of voice or broadband Internet service.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 6, 2020
Foundation for Rural
Service Youth Tour
The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) annual Youth Tour is one of the most visible examples of the foundation’s involvement with, and commitment to, rural youth. This year’s Youth Tour will be held June 6-10, 2020. Each year, in collaboration with NTCA member companies, FRS brings rural students from across the United States to Washington, D.C., for a four-day tour of some of the most historical sites in the nation. While there, students also learn about the telecommunications industry, as well as the regulatory and legislative processes. Educational sessions on these topics are greatly enhanced by site visits to the U.S. Capitol and the FCC to meet with industry leaders and members of Congress. The students are also given ample time to explore the nation’s capital and its many attractions.
To qualify, the student’s parents must be voice or broadband subscribers of Polar, and the student must be age 16 or 17 years old at the time of the Youth Tour. Along with submitting an application, students are required to write an essay on modern technology.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 2, 2020
Minnesota Telecom
Alliance Foundation
Scholarship
Minnesota Residents Only
The foundation will award 10 scholarships to high school seniors graduating 2020. Each scholarship will be a one-time amount of either $2,000 or $1,000. To be eligible, applicants must be attending post-secondary education at either a university, college, or technical college, be a Minnesota resident, and the applicant’s family must subscribe to at least one service from a MTA member company. Polar is a MTA member company.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 21, 2020
Our Team
CEO & Board of Directors
Karl Blake
CEO
Park River
Amber Meyer
President
St. Thomas
Jon McMillian
Vice President
Fordville
Lori Dahl
Secretary/Treasurer
Lakota
Cynthia Hejl
Asst. Secretary/Treasurer
Arthur
Brian Udby
Director
Lankin
Chris Nelson
Director
Edinburg
James Longtin
Director
Neche
Wes Welch
Director
Park River
Gordon L. Johnson
Director
Cavalier
Open Positions
Careers
Looking for a challenging position with one of the nation’s leaders in rural telecommunications? Consider a career with Polar Communications. At Polar Communications, we strive to make our company a great place to work and our communities a great place to live. Enjoy the benefits of working with tech-savvy, friendly, and hard working people! To boot, Polar offers an excellent benefits package that includes top of the line health and dental insurance, life insurance with both a Pension plan and 401k Retirement plan with employer contributions. All this, in addition to paid time off and free or discounted voice, video and data services if you reside within our territory.
Board of Directors
Applications for the Polar Communications Board of Directors will be accepted for the election to be held during Polar’s Annual Members Meeting on June 4, 2020. Positions to be filled are as follows:
District 1 –Position currently held by Gordon Johnson is up for re-election.
District 2 –Position currently held by Chris Nelson is up for re-election.
District 3 –Position currently held by Lori Dahl is up for re-election.
POLAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINATION PROCEDURE STEPS:
1. Any qualified member meeting the requirements of Section 3, Article IV of the company by-laws may request an application and petition from the cooperative headquarters. The forms can be picked up at Polar’s front desk or can be found below.
2. Members shall submit a completed application and a petition containing a minimum of thirty (30) signatures of cooperative members from the district in which the applicant resides. Please note that a husband and wife constitute one membership. Either spouse may sign the petition as a member; however, the signature of a husband and wife on the petition may only be counted as one.
3. Completed applications and petitions should be submitted by March 20, 2020, at 4:00p.m. to Polar Communications, Attn: Shari Flanders, PO Box 270, Park River, ND,58270. Please contact Shari at 701.284.4343 with questions or email sflanders@polartel.com.
4. All nominations by petition are subject to verification. Once verification is complete, the candidate will be notified and their name will appear on the ballot at Polar’s Annual Members Meeting.
To find the service areas that make up each district, please refer to Article IV, Section 2 of the bylaws of Polar Communications found in your telephone directory.
Customer Service Representative
Polar Communications is hiring for a Customer Service Representative. This person ensures professional and friendly customer service while responding to customer inquiries. A CSR will receive and answer calls related to telephone service, CATV, and Internet service inquiries. They will also assist with new services and billing questions. Polar offers great benefits including health, dental and life insurance, short and long term disability, pension and Savings Plan with an employer contribution.
Application Deadline is February 28, 2020