The West Central Tribune reports…

 The Willmar City Council on Monday in split votes approved moving forward with planning for phase two of the Willmar Connect project.

Willmar Connect is the city’s initiative to install a city-wide, open-access broadband network on which multiple internet service providers can operate. It is owned by the city and managed by Hometown Fiber.

Phase one of the initiative, which will serve all homes and businesses west of First Street South between the railroad tracks and 19th Avenue Southwest, is under construction and expected to be mostly complete by December.

Phase two of the project is everything east of First Street and south of the railroad tracks. Phase three is everything north of the railroad tracks.

Monday night’s action approved the scope of work and professional services proposal from Hometown Fiber and the engineering services proposal from Bolton & Menk for phase two at a cost of $536,506.

Funding was approved…

City administration recommended funding this portion of the project using the Community Investment Fund and then reimbursing the fund later either with bond proceeds or revenue from the network. The motion to do that was approved unanimously.

The article goes on to detail the trials and tribulations of a buildout in a residential area and the financial conundrums of phasing fiber t less populated areas.