Summary (tl;dr)

Radio Link Internet, a provider serving rural southern Minnesota, abruptly ceased operations and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 1, 2026, leaving hundreds of customers without internet service and prompting an investigation by the Minnesota Attorney General.

Essential Background

For over three decades, Radio Link Internet (RLI) provided internet services to customers across approximately 5,000 square miles of southern Minnesota. The company had reportedly faced challenges, including a declining customer base and disputes with local governments regarding the placement of its equipment.

The Full Story

On June 1, 2026, Radio Link Internet abruptly shut down its services, including its website, customer service phone lines, and email addresses, without prior warning to its customers. Many customers were left stranded, with some having recently paid for internet service up to a year in advance. The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the federal District of Minnesota Bankruptcy Court on the same day. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has issued a consumer alert, advising affected customers to preserve records, contact their payment sources for potential chargebacks, and file complaints with his office. The Attorney General's office is currently investigating the cause of the sudden closure and the lack of advance notice provided to consumers. Daniel Petsinger, the owner of Radio Link Internet, attributed the closure to a changing political climate in some served communities and a declining customer base, and alleged that the cities of Ellendale and New Richland violated the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by suppressing broadband competition. Officials in New Richland have disputed this claim, stating their decision to remove RLI's equipment from a water tower was due to protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring fair compensation.

Why It Matters

The sudden shutdown of Radio Link Internet has left hundreds of rural Minnesota residents without crucial internet access, which is essential for work, telehealth services, and basic communication, particularly in areas with limited alternative broadband options. The situation is further complicated by customers who had prepaid for services, now facing difficulties in recouping their funds. This event also underscores the broader pressures confronting smaller broadband providers, including industry consolidation and the discontinuation of federal broadband subsidies like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The Minnesota Attorney General's investigation aims to protect consumer rights and seek accountability for the abrupt closure.

Geographic Location

• Ellendale, Steele County, Minnesota, United States (RadioLink Internet headquarters and alleged local government disputes)
• New Richland, Waseca County, Minnesota, United States (alleged local government disputes regarding equipment removal)
• St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States (Minnesota Attorney General's office issuing consumer alert and investigating)
• District of Minnesota Bankruptcy Court, Minnesota, United States (Radio Link Internet filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy)
• Southern Minnesota, Minnesota, United States (service area for Radio Link Internet, hundreds of customers impacted)