Annandale has been looking to improve broadband for a while. About a year ago, Annandale posted a RFP for a fiber partner. They have been very active and vocal about pursuing a municipal network out of frustration with lack of providers interested.

Earlier this year they were in a precarious position when the legislature went from looking for special funding for Annandale to that funding being zeroed out. There was some discussion on the politics of their special designation of funds and the cut of those funds. Regardless the city’s broadband did not improve.

It turns out that Mid-Continent is going to be improving broadband in the area. WatchDog reports…

Then, virtually out of cyberspace, Mid-Continent Communications unveiled plans to install a broadband cable network in the city of 3,300, advertising, some of the fastest speeds in the country by 2017.

“Is it our ultimate network that we wanted? No. Is it very, very close? I would say, yeah. Is it going to do what our residents and businesses need here for the near future? Yes, so it was a pretty easy decision,” Gunnarson said.

“We’ll take the risks and we’ll take the opportunities, as well,” said Tom Simmons, Mid-Continent Communications senior vice president of public policy. “We think we can bring this service to them in a cost-effective manner.”

It reminds me of the conversation with  the FCC at the Task Force last week when they noted that fiber is the ultimate goal. It’s what everyone really wants but when no one is willing to step up with a fiber plan, when no one can make a business case, it makes sense to look at the next best offer. It seems like being a squeaky wheel may have helped expedite the process in Annandale. Sounds like construction will begin soon…

Mid-Continent will start design work over the winter with construction set to begin in spring. The high-speed system should come online later in 2016, risk-free to local and state taxpayers.