Hometown Source reports on an update in Farmington. It might be worth noting that HBC isn’t new, they have been building fiber networks since 1997…

A new fiber-optic provider called Hiawatha Broadband Communications is busy placing fiber across Farmington to offer the city, residents and businesses high-speed Internet, TV, along with smartphone and landline services.

In recent weeks, HBC crews have been drilling along Denmark Avenue across from Boeckman Middle School. The crews have been placing big, orange rolls of plastic tubing with fiber inside and is buried underground. This week crews are setting up fiber networks within the city’s industrial park area.

HBC, based out of Winona, is marketing a tagline of: “We Serve. We Connect. We Care.”

In the next 24 months, HBC will be building out networks underground from border to border in Farmington to complete the build out of fiber access.

More info on the network…

The city of Farmington is partnering with HBC to complete a Wi-Fi buildout that will be throughout 20 city parks to give guests free Wi-Fi access.

“This will save more than $750,000 in future expense to taxpayers,” Hoyt said.

“Our park system is critical to the quality of life to many of our residents, but it also enhances the park experience,” Hoyt said.

City park visitors will be able to access free Wi-Fi. This will enable guests to be able to take part in geocaching, scavenger hunts, augmented and virtual reality activities, geospacial visualization, interactive mapping, targeted messaging with real time feedback, along with additional public safety. City park Wi-Fi services will be free and secure, although the bandwidth will not be the fastest.

And just for Friday fun, I’ll share the headline: Hiawatha Broadband Communications lying fiber across Farmington.