The Wadena Pioneer Journal reports…

Unserved households and businesses in Wadena, Otter Tail and Todd Counties will be on the receiving end of high-speed internet access in 2018.

Townships receiving broadband include Wadena (Wadena), Compton (Otter Tail) and a small portion of Stowe Prairie Township (Todd).

They provide more info on the project…

West Central Telephone of Menahga and Sebeka received its third state grant and will be bringing high-speed internet service to 189 homes and 13 businesses next year.

According to West Central Marketing Director Geri Salmela, the telephone cooperative will be matching the state’s grant of $874,581 with a contribution of their own of $947,463.

The total cost of the project has been set at $1,822,044.

“We call it Phase 3,” Salmela said. “Once that fiber network is built all those people in that area will be able to get gigabit service.”

Service has already been brought to much of Wadena County. The first grant ran fiber optics along the Highway 71 corridor, according to Salmela. The second grant expanded on that area and branched out.

In addition to the Phase III grant, West Central received a grant of $902,695 for a project in northern Todd County. The grant will provide broadband to 209 unserved households and six businesses within portions of Staples and Villard Townships. West Central’s local match will bring the total cost of the project to $1,805,390.