Message from the CEO
MyLine: When Talking Beats Scrolling
November 2025
There was a time when many homes had what we might now call a “family line.” It was the extra phone line set up just for the kids, a way for them to talk with friends without tying up the main household phone. Before smartphones and social media, that second line gave young people a sense of independence while keeping communication close to home.
Today, that idea is making a surprising and welcome comeback. Across the country, families are rediscovering the value of the home phone—not just for nostalgia, but for health, safety, and real connections. Parents are looking for ways to help their children communicate meaningfully without the constant noise of social media or the pressures that come with smartphones.
At BEK Communications Cooperative, we’ve always believed that community begins with people, and that includes caring for our children. We’re committed to helping families find healthier, safer ways to stay connected. That’s why we’re reintroducing what we’re calling BEK MyLine, a modern take on the old “teen line.” BEK MyLine gives kids their own phone line to connect with friends and family without screens, scrolling, or social media. It’s communication made simple, safe, and real.
There’s a certain irony in this moment for BEK. Our cooperative began more than 70 years ago as a telephone company, connecting rural North Dakota families with the world through landlines. Also, our most advanced and innovative service today, BEK Fiber internet, delivers lightning-fast connectivity to homes and businesses across the region. And yet, in the same breath, we recognize the importance of encouraging our children to occasionally step away from being “online.”
That balance, between innovation and intention, is at the heart of who we are as a cooperative. Technology should serve people, not the other way around. BEK MyLine represents that balance: a way for families to embrace modern progress while protecting what matters most: health, connection, and conversation.
Landline phones continue to offer advantages that mobile networks can’t match: clearer, more consistent sound quality, reliability during power outages, and dependable service in rural areas where cell coverage may falter. For families in our cooperative communities, those qualities make all the difference.
At BEK, our mission has always gone beyond technology. We care deeply about the well-being of the people we serve. As we continue expanding fiber and enhancing broadband capabilities, we also take pride in offering tools that strengthen family life and community health. Whether it’s faster internet for learning or a BEK MyLine phone line that brings peace of mind, BEK is here to serve you, your family, and your community.
More stories in this Issue
BEK Member Plays Role in Winning World War II
November 2025
Message from the CEO
November 2025
Honoring Those Who Serve
November 2025
Behind the Board
November 2025
BEK Honored by Bismarck State College
November 2025
Rural Ambulance District Receives FRS Community Grant
November 2025
Building Stronger Communities
November 2025
Investing in Tomorrow’s Leaders
November 2025
Calling All Cooperative Youth
November 2025
Don’t Take the Bait!
November 2025
Stay One Step Ahead of Winter
November 2025
Pumpkins for Piggies
November 2025
