The Post-Bulletin provides more information on TTM’s application for federal stimulus funding. TTM (Telecom Transport Management out of Seattle) is seeking federal ARRA funding to help with the construction of a middle mile network covering approximately 7,000 square miles in Minnesota. This high speed, high capacity network will utilize fiber and microwave to provide necessary transport services to mobile wireless service providers, fixed and mobile last mile providers and community anchor institutions.

Federal funding is required, according to the article, because backhaul capacity to get from cell sites in southern Minnesota to the switches in the Twin Cities ranges, depending on where the cell site is, costs from two to 10 times as much money in southern Minnesota as it does in the Twin Cities.

The project is an opportunity to benefit not only Rochester residents, who may already have access to broadband, but residents outside the city limits, including some Olmsted Medical Center clinics in small towns.

TTM is not the only application in Southern Minnesota – but it’s nice to get a glimpse of what Minnesota has in the hopper.