The IRRR Ranger reports…

Approximately 350 underserved homes and several resorts in Morse Township recently received access to highspeed broadband internet through next generation fixed wireless and millimeter wave technology. The homes and resorts are located in a coverage area surrounding Ely that includes the shoreline areas of Burntside Lake, Little Long Lake and Wolf Lake. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $150,000 Community Infrastructure grant to Morse Township. Morse Township invested $100,000, and total project investment was $450,000.

The area geology is very rocky with challenging bedrock that drives up the cost of burying fiber. Instead fixed wireless deployments were used which reduces costs by approximately 90% and drastically reduces project timelines.

The work was completed by Treehouse Broadband, an Ely-based internet service provider founded by local resident Isaac Olson. Treehouse uses fixed wireless technology to beam internet service from towers to homes and businesses, using directional antennas and receiver dishes. The company also installs whole-home WiFi, ensuring high-speed coverage even in the corners of homes and businesses. …

When fully completed, customers will have access to internet speeds of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. Their previous access was real speeds below 10 Mbps.