KWLM 96.3 Lakeland Media reports…

The Willmar City Council this week approved issuing bonds for Phase 1 of the Willmar Connect broadband project. Phase 1 will involved laying fiber optic cable to every home and business south of Highway 12 and west of 1st Street, then leasing the cable to any company interested in providing internet service. The bond approved Tuesday is for 9.2 million dollars, and City Operations Director Kyle Box says the bond would be repaid through revenues generated by leasing the network to the internet service providers…

…Box says it is estimated the Willmar Connect project will not cash flow until after Phase Two is up and operating in a few years…

…Box says it is hoped the contractor can begin work on Phase One later this year.