Isanti-Chisago County Star report...

North Branch residents will soon have access to fiber internet from East Central Energy so state-of-the-art (according to ECE) it outclasses networks in the metro area.

ECE’s broadband manager, Dennis Rice, presented an update on the project to the city council, saying construction of the first stage of the network will likely be complete by August, with fiber connection “drops” to residences starting construction by November.

What’s more, Rice said, ECE members who sign up will pay no fees beyond the monthly cost of service: not for the drop, the in-home equipment, the wi-fi extenders, or even fees for long driveways.

“It’s a tremendous value with that,” Rice told the council.

The five-year project started in 2022 and will cost $350 million total, Rice said. Initial construction will focus on areas with ECE members who do not already have broadband internet access, and will expand eventually to even include non-ECE members.