According to the West Central Tribune…

With sign-ups at 46 percent of the goal, the push is continuing to enlist customers for a broadband project coming to north central Kandiyohi County.

Consolidated Telecommunications Co. hopes to start construction of a fiber line this summer that would bring high-speed internet to 1,600 rural homes and businesses.

It’s important for customers to sign up soon so the company can reach the goal it needs to make the project cost-effective, said Connie Schmoll, business development specialist with the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission.

They are about halfway to where they want to be…

CTC has said it wants to reach its goal of 800 initial sign-ups by the end of April. As of Friday afternoon, it was almost halfway to that goal.

Progress has been slower than supporters would like, however, prompting Kandiyohi County this week to postpone the sale of $5 million in tax abatement bonds to finance the local share of the project. County officials hope to go ahead with the sale soon but they said this week that the customer target must be met first.

“We won’t go forward, CTC won’t go forward, until we get (800 sign-ups),” said Larry Kleindl, county administrator.

They are having meetings to get folks signed up…

CTC will host four meetings this coming week to give prospective customers a chance to meet company representatives, hear about the project and sign up.

The meetings are at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Monday and 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Lake Andrew Town Hall.