The Blandin Foundation is helping Staples look at FTTH by providing $25,000 for a $50,000 feasibility study. The other $25,000 is coming from the Staples Broadband Collaborative, which consists of Central Lakes College, City of Staples/Staples EDA, Lakewood Health System, National Joint Powers Alliance, the Staples Motely School District and West Central Telephone Association.

According to the Staples World, the study will include market analysis, engineering and estimate costs of laying fiber throughout the town.

I got a quick update on the story from John Schultz, his company U-reka Broadband will be doing the feasibility study…

We had our kick-off meeting on Thursday. It is great to see a community with so many champions for improving broadband. Of course there has been a lot of thought around broadband in the community but they seem specifically excited to now focus on the feasibility study.