Otter Tail County reports…

Internet providers throughout the State of Minnesota will receive close to $100 million in funding to expand broadband coverage in the State. The Border-to-Border Broadband program provides grant funding and is administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)’s Office of Broadband Development. Providers in Otter Tail County are to receive over $4.5 million of funding that will extend new high-speed internet connections to almost 1,500 homes, farms, and businesses in the County.

Otter Tail received a few grants through two different applicants, including Otter Tail Telecom…

Otter Tail Telcom will build a 271-mile fiber optic high-speed service network serving 1,186 locations including farms and businesses. Park Region partnered with Elizabeth, Friberg, Aurdal, Dane Prairie, and Buse Townships; the State; and Otter Tail County to bring this project to the area.

Arvig…

Arvig (East Otter Tail Telephone) will build a fiber optic mainline in the southeast region of Otter Tail County near Battle Lake, Henning, Parkers Prairie, and Urbank. Speeds are expected to increase throughout the area. According to the project outline, with the completion of this project, these Otter Tail County residents will be able to run their at-home businesses and farms, or work from home, more efficiently. They can continue or pursue their education online with confidence, they will have better access to telehealth services, and they will simply be able to access more entertainment and stay connected with their friends and family.

There is one central place to go to see if you are in an improving area…

Carter Grupp, Otter Tail County’s Broadband Coordinator through the American Connection Project, restated the importance of the projects. “These projects are big wins for Otter Tail County’s critical infrastructure and its residents. We were successful because of the collaboration and partnership between our local providers, Otter Tail County, and several townships who contributed $281,384 to these projects.”

If you are without broadband or are interested in finding out if your home, business, or farm is in the project areas listed above contact Carter Grupp at 218-998-8048 or cgrupp@co.ottertail.mn.us.