NU Telecom expands westward

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

REDWOOD FALLS -- It seems one local business is adopting a policy of westward expansion.

In keeping with moves made here, New Ulm's one and only telephone company recently made a move into a more westward market when it opened a new store in downtown Redwood Falls one week ago.

It was almost one year ago when NU Telecom opened a newly-refurbished location on Minnesota Street in downtown New Ulm, which added a showroom for phones and Internet access. The company also has locations in Springfield and Aurelia, Iowa.

Like its counterparts in those towns, the Redwood Falls store will offer DSL, digital TVs, web site hosting and design, as well as customer service and support. The new store is expected to cost $6 million.

The company began its Internet services in 1995 and expanded into voice, digital television and DSL services with a $8 million investment in 2000. It spent its 90 years prior to that as New Ulm's local telephone company.

Even though the new location is open, service to the Redwood Falls area won't start until early July. Even so, it is hoping to win new customers with package deals on services. Its Redwood Falls competitor, Mediacom, is also sending out offers to its existing cutomers in the area.

NU-Telecom President Bill Otis said the company hopes to open its new Redwood Falls location as soon as possible.