According to the West Central Tribune…

Kandiyohi County will likely issue bonds to cover its matching share of a state grant being sought to improve broadband services in unserved and underserved rural areas of the county.

In partnership with Consolidated Telephone Co. of Brainerd, the county is eyeing a $10 million broadband expansion that will serve residents in the northern part of the county. If the application to Minnesota’s border-to-border broadband technology grant program is successful, construction will start next year.

Here are more details…

At a meeting Tuesday of the Kandiyohi County Board, the County Commissioners heard a presentation from Shelly Eldridge of Ehlers and Associates on the most feasible option—a general obligation abatement bond.

Eldridge said it would involve pledging a portion of property taxes and loaning the proceeds to Consolidated Telephone. Unlike general obligation bonds issued for infrastructure such as road improvements, repayment ultimately will come from the users who subscribe to the newly expanded broadband service.

If the project is funded and goes forward, it will bring broadband to approximately 1,600 new users in the neighborhoods surrounding Norway and Games Lake, Lake Florida and Lake Monongalia west of New London, as well as a rural tract east of New London.

Feels like I spent as much time in Kandiyohi last summer as I did St Paul – attending various broadband discussions and meetings. They have been investigating options, building local support and expanding broadband leadership through education. It’s a good road path for a community interested in better broadband.