The International Falls Journal reports…

Koochiching County will benefit from more than $23 million [actually the state will benefit from $23 million, benefits to Koochiching are listed below] in Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program funds to 30 broadband projects across the state.

Projects receiving funding include $2.5 million toward Paul Bunyan Communications’ upgrades in Koochiching, Cass, Itasca, and St. Louis counties and on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation, and $1.2 million toward upgrades on the Bois Forte Reservation.

The article highlights local broadband proponent and International Falls legislator Rep Ecklund…

Rep. Rob Ecklund, DFL – International Falls, championed funding for the grants during the 2020 legislative session.

“There are numerous reasons for continued public investment in high-speed broadband. For our students, it’s unacceptable that many of them need travel to a coffee shop, restaurant, or library to connect to Wi-Fi just to do their homework,” Ecklund said. “My region and others in greater Minnesota also have a ton of potential for new economic opportunities, and I’m hopeful we can see current companies and emerging entrepreneurs prosper. By taking advantage of these opportunities, we can keep our rural communities thriving and vibrant.”