It’s fun to get a sneak peek at who is applying for Minnesota Broadband Funds. Today’s peek comes from the Swift County Monitor-News…

Swift County again has pledged bond funds to help Federated Telephone expand broadband fiber optic cable to unserved areas in the eastern half of the county. However, the costs have gone up substantially.
Last October, the county approved bonding for up to $5 million with the funds going to Federated as part of a $10 million project. Federated had agreed to make the bond payments over a 20-year period. It also agreed to pay the bonding issuing costs. …

Last year, Federated was also working with Big Stone County on expansion of broadband fiber with that project awarded $3.92 million to construct broadband infrastructure to 1,072 un-served residences.
DEED has said that it wants grant awards to show geographical fairness across the state, which meant that once Big Stone was approved, Swift County was out of consideration.
Now Federated, with the help of the Upper Minnesota Regional Development Commission (RDC) in Appleton, is again seeking grant funds and asking for county backing.