Dear Members:
We are pleased to once again share another great year of progress for Plumas- Sierra Telecommunications.
As you may know, PST, the subsidiary of Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative, has been actively building numerous fiber-optic projects throughout our region.
We are building an ambitious program to meet tight deadlines in multiple locations. Our coax-to-fiber conversions are done for our electric membership. In the areas that have coax and didn’t get a grant, we were able to greatly increase speeds on the coax system for the handful of customers left. We are updating our website with a new mapping system that will launch in late summer or early fall, giving members more accurate, up-to-date information about our construction progress and build locations.
We successfully received additional grants to cover areas previously bypassed, including the eastern part of Milford and Herlong Flats in Lassen County. In Plumas County, we received additional funds for Chilcoot, Grizzly Road and the area north of 70 between Beckwourth and Grizzly Road, Mohawk Meadows subdivision and parts of Maybe, along with other small pockets. In Sierra County, we received grants for Sierraville, including West Willow Street by Sierraville.
Where we can apply depends on location eligibility as determined by the state of California. Our long-term goal is to provide high-speed service to as many members as we can. We will keep applying for grants.
Another Lassen County project, Congressionally Directed Spending from Rep. Doug LaMalfa, was delayed in the regulatory process but should soon get final environmental clearance for construction from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Service. Unfortunately, the congressman passed away, but we should be starting construction shortly after the annual meeting.
We’d also like to thank Rep. Kevin Kiley for his help in obtaining Congressionally Directed Spending for the A-15 area near Portola and Clio, which is a complementary project with the Valley Ranch to Iron Horse project. We are working through the last of the permits required for this effort.
We would also like to thank Sen. Megan Dahle and Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick for their tireless support for the California Advanced Services Fund. We are working with our congressional delegation to support flexible deadlines for the federal programs.
We were able to connect approximately 700 additional household customers to broadband service during the year, and—as we passed several hundred more homes as part of that process—we expect many more to sign up.
Visit the PST website to see where each of the grant projects will be built and what service is currently available.
Wireless
PST has upgraded our wireless system and is converting to an improved 100 Mbps symmetrical speed. Service is underway in Riverview Estates (near Beckwourth), Vinton, the Cat Cut area in the Lassen County A-3 area, and the Red Rock region. We are working on additional access points and consolidating our packages, which should give wireless customers lower prices or faster speeds.
Our fiber-optic services are as fast as 1 Gbps, with dedicated business services up to 10 Gbps available. With these speeds, you can stream videos on multiple devices simultaneously without slowing down. You can even eliminate your cable or satellite TV bills with streaming services.
The Purpose of PST
PST exists to complement our cooperatively owned electric utility through shared personnel, expertise, and cost savings, and to improve the quality of life of our region. We have approximately 5,200 customers, and we provide additional benefits through wholesale service for several wireless companies, as well as 3 wireless cellular providers. In addition, we’ve brought competition to the region, driving down prices and improving service.
The Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program was discontinued more than a year ago, but the PST board voted to offer a monthly service discount of up to $25 for qualified households. To find out if you are eligible, visit the PST website. If you are in an area included in the grants, further discounts are available.
PST Financials
PST had a slight operational loss in 2025, due primarily to the increased property tax expense of the new grants. We worked with our accounting firm and will be fixing this issue so it doesn’t impact us in the future.
For more information about our telecommunications products, including coverage maps, visit the PST website or call (530) 832-4261.
Sincerely,
David Hansen
PST Board President
Bob Marshall
General Manager