The Timberjay reports…

Breitung Township Board Chair Matt Tuchel gave an update on broadband internet at the township’s monthly meeting held Feb. 17.
Tuchel reported that he recently met with representatives from CTC, Lake Country Power, IRRR, CBDG, and representatives from other local municipalities, and that the new internet connections installed last summer will be up and running for Breitung residents along McKinley Park Rd. by mid-summer. He said that just under 50 percent of residents chose to connect to the service, a higher percentage than other townships.
Tuchel said that there are 250 poles within Breitung Township that need to be replaced as part of the broadband project. The current poles can’t handle the addition of the new fiberoptic lines. This is in areas where the broadband cables cannot be buried due to ledge rock, for example. Lake Country Power will not pay for pole replacement but will be stringing the fiber lines on the new poles.
A study, with an estimated cost of $175,000, will be needed to determine pole replacement. IRRR will cover 50 percent of the cost, and three townships — Greenwood, Beatty, and Breitung — would share the remaining cost. Bois Forte is planning to apply for a NTIA grant to cover the cost for pole replacements and other costs to complete this broadband expansion. Total funding needed may be as high as $6 million.
The places identified that need poles are Echo Pt. Rd., Carol Ln., Swamp Rd., and Echo Narrows Ln. The other areas that weren’t addressed that still need service will have fiber laid underground, including McKinley Park Acres Rd., Miettunen Plat Rd., and a portion of Echo Pt Rd.
Tuchel said that broadband service will be discussed further at the township’s annual meeting and invited residents to weigh in on the issue.