After the Minnesota Broadband Coalition meeting last week people have been sending me their stimulus plans. I thought it would be a good idea to start posting them here (with their permission) to spur conversations. (We are also starting a conversation about this on Coalition LinkedIn Group page.)

I don’t have firsthand knowledge of the ins and outs of RUS funds. But I’ve applied for NTIA money and I know they have rewarded collaboration in the past and suspect they will continue to reward it. So if you have an idea you want me to post – please send it. Feel free to post a comment on any of the projects I post or contact the idea owner directly.

I’m going to start with MVTV Wireless; here’s what I got from Dan Richter, President of MVTV. (Thanks to Dan for allowing me to share this!)

First, I would like to invite you to check out our web site www.mvtvwireless.com and see the 10,000 square miles of west central Minnesota that MVTV ‘s Broadband Two-way Wireless Internet System currently covers.

MVTV is a non-profit member owned cooperative which pays no dividends or return on investment. We provide services to ourselves at the lowest possible cost.

MVTV is a Licensed Broadband Internet Service Provider –owning the southern half of the Willmar-Marshall BTA # 477. MVTV also currently has 54 Access Points–repeater sites operating on the 2.4 and 5.8 Unlicensed Frequencies.

MVTV participated with Connected Nations project with the Mapping of the State of Minnesota. Further, we plan to use them as MVTV’s Engineering Firm to put forth a Proposed Stimulus Plan Project to expand our Network to unserved or underserved areas adjacent to our current coverage area.

MVTV currently has a USDA –RUS Pilot Broadband Loan and hope to apply through their Stimulus Plan Loan or Grant Program when guidelines have been established. MVTV’s Board of Directors unanimously approved putting a project together to serve unserved or underserved adjacent areas.