Midcontinent Communications plans to invest $5 million to build an extension of its Northern Plains Network from Williston to Bismarck, ND. As an extension of the current fiber run from Minot to Williston, the added 100 miles of fiber are intended to provide network redundancy in an area where construction and digging have periodically resulted in service outages to local residents and businesses.

Construction on the fiber extension is scheduled to begin in early 2015.