Big thanks to Randy Lehs from CarverLink for the update on broadband in Carver County…

“On May 20, 2024, CarverLink, Carver County’s publicly owned fiber optics network, executed amendments to CarverLink’s 2022 Connect Up Carver (CUC) project with Metro Fibernet, LLC (Metronet) for the Connect Up Carver Expansion (CUCE) project.  The CUCE expands on the existing CUC project, utilizing $2.5 million in County funds to construct an additional 80+ miles of rural fiber that will make fiber available to all remaining rural locations throughout the County that do not currently have access to fiber internet.  The amendments also initiated construction of fiber in the City of Chanhassen and pending the execution of the CarverLink drafted City Fiber Agreement between the City of Victoria and Metronet, which was executed on June 10, 2024, of an overall CUCE rural and city fiber build project estimated at $14.3 million.

The CUCE project brings Carver County closer to its goal of becoming the first county in the State of Minnesota with a population over 10,000 and the first Twin Cities Metro County to have high speed wired broadband service available to anyone within the County that desires it.  The CUCE’s rural build fiber is planned for completion by June 30, 2025 and the city fiber build in Chanhassen and Victoria are planned for completion by June 30, 2026.  Visit www.carverlink.com for more information on Carver County’s broadband efforts.

In parallel CarverLink contributed to discussions between the City of Chanhassen and Comcast, which led to Comcast signing a franchise agreement with the City on May 13, 2024.  During the discussions Comcast identified that they would be building out a fiber network that once complete would provide 1GB capable fiber service at symmetrical speeds.”