The Duluth News Tribune reports…

In what was characterized as a “rubber-stamp” approval, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission OK’d Lake Communications’ application for the authority to provide broadband fiber-optic service in Lake and St. Louis counties.

Lake Communications is the two-man team hired by the county to run an Internet, telephone and television service using $66 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service. The county is adding $3.5 million in matching funds.

After running into some roadblocks it sounds like the Lake County project is on its way. You can also track progress of the projects by looking into the expenses approved for the project in the unofficial Lake County Board notes. Here’s a sample:

MOTION BERGMAN, SECOND CLIFFORD: 18 – Authorize payment in the amount of $16,525.06 to JSR Professional Services for fiber optic project management for the period of July 14-August 14, 2011. Absent:
Jones

MOTION BERGMAN, SECOND CLIFFORD: 19 – Authorize payment in the amount of $3,678.28 to GRSsr Telecommunications Consulting, LLC for the period of July 14-August 14, 2011. Absent: Jones

MOTION BERGMAN, SECOND CLIFFORD: 24 – Authorize payment in the amount of $82,830.56 to Compass Consultants for fiber optic project engineering professional services through July 16, 2011. Absent: Jones

It’s good to see that the project is moving forward – and it’s good to see that the ARRA funding is appearing to fund jobs as well as broadband.