According to the Ely Echo, Ely is waiting to hear if they will become part of the Blandin Broadband Communities program…

The initiative has picked up steam the last several weeks with the city looking to the Blandin Foundation, which is partnering with the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board to select four Range communities and assist them in bringing broadband service.

Of the city’s application, Fedo said “it’s a proposal that if approved gives us a leg up to begin a meaningful process to solve our downtown issues.”

The article gives a glimpse of what they would like to do…

“Phase one would be to bring fiber to the Sheridan area and phase two would be to reach out further from there,” said Langowski.

Hailed as an “essential utility” by Fedo and other city officials, broadband or high-speed internet has been cited as vital for economic development, community vitality, health care, education and government.

Numerous projects have failed to come to fruition, and council members have been openly frustrated with private service.

Various area entities, ranging from the Ely School District and Morse Township to Vermilion Community College, have endorsed Ely’s efforts to become one of a handful of regional communities to obtain Blandin funding.