Rural broadband provider Rainbow Communications is working to restore Hosted PBX and home phone service across northeast Kansas after a cybersecurity event began disrupting parts of its network Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025.
Rainbow Communications said it detected a “network interruption” affecting some internal systems on Nov. 16 and took immediate steps to contain the issue, including bringing in external technology and cybersecurity experts.
In multiple Facebook updates, the Everest, Kansas-based provider reported ongoing service interruptions for Hosted PBX and home phone customers while it gradually reconnects systems it had disconnected as a precaution to protect its network and customers.
By Tuesday, the company publicly described the disruption as a “cybersecurity event” that has caused phone outages for some business and residential users and said teams have been working around the clock with outside specialists to restore normal operations “as quickly and safely as possible.”
Most internet service remains up, though Rainbow has warned that some customers may still see connectivity issues and has urged them to reboot modems and routers while avoiding factory resets that could introduce new problems.
Because Rainbow’s own hosted phone system is affected, the company has set up a temporary help desk line for customers to report outages and request remote troubleshooting, and it continues to direct general support calls to its main number and online chat.
In a service-status notice, Rainbow said it expects Hosted PBX and phone services to be restored by Thursday morning but cautioned that the investigation into the cybersecurity event is ongoing and that it will share further details “as they become available.” The company has not said what kind of attack occurred or whether any customer or network data was accessed.
Rainbow Communications, founded in the 1950s, provides broadband, phone and video service from its headquarters in Everest, Kansas, with offices and fiber build-outs across Brown, Doniphan, Nemaha and Atchison counties in the state’s northeast corner.
Kansas has experienced a string of high-profile cyber incidents in recent years, including the May 2024 ransomware attack on the city of Wichita and the October 2023 ransomware attack that shut down the state court system’s online operations for weeks. In March 2025, a cyber incident forced neighboring Atchison County to close its offices for several days while officials worked with outside cybersecurity and forensics consultants to restore the county’s computer network.
Rainbow is continuing to post updates on its website and social channels; customers experiencing outages are being asked to call the temporary help desk, try basic reboot steps for internet equipment, and watch for additional guidance as systems are brought back online.
