Message from the CEO: Built for Rural Life

Rural communities are the heart and soul of North Dakota, and at BEK Communications Cooperative, they are the entire reason our cooperative was formed. BEK knows how to deliver technology that makes life easier, safer, and more connected for people living and working in small towns across our state.

Healthcare is a powerful example of that commitment. While clinics, pharmacies, long-term care facilities, and emergency services often face challenges due to distance and limited resources, they also consistently rise to meet the needs of their neighbors. BEK is proud to support that work with our BEK Care Solutions, technology that helps providers communicate, collaborate, and care for patients more effectively. BEK Care Solutions are designed specifically for healthcare environments.

Through BEK Care Solutions, we work directly with healthcare teams to support clear communication and coordination with staff and patients. With BEK Connect, our phone systems, video platforms, and virtual meeting rooms give providers the ability to reach patients, families, and specialists quickly and without being slowed down by geography. And our security and surveillance services help protect facilities, staff, and residents while improving peace of mind for families.

These tools may not grab headlines, but they quietly solve real problems every day. They help a nurse check on a resident in the middle of the night. They allow a specialist to meet face-to-face with a patient over video without a 100-mile drive. They help care teams ensure they have critical equipment where and when they need it. That’s rural healthcare made stronger through connection.

Rural is not a buzzword at BEK, it’s who we are. Our employees live in rural communities. Our board members are elected by rural residents. Our success is tied to the wellbeing of small towns, and we take that responsibility seriously. When policymakers talk about transforming healthcare in rural America, BEK quietly thinks, “We’ve been doing that for decades.

So, as North Dakota continues to improve access to care, expand telehealth, and support innovation in local clinics and facilities, BEK stands ready as a trusted partner. We’re already doing the work, helping communities build systems that are reliable, modern, and built to last.

Rural North Dakota deserves healthcare that doesn’t require long drives or difficult trade-offs. It deserves connection, responsiveness, and dignity. And as always, BEK is here to help make that happen today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.