Category Archives: Community Networks

League of MN Cities take on American Broadband Deployment Act permitting bill

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I wrote about The American Broadband Deployment Act pause button  last week, the League of Minnesota Cities has a more detailed follow up this week…

The measure was removed from the U.S. House Rules Committee agenda after strong opposition from local government groups, including the League and national partners.

The U.S. House Rules Committee was scheduled to consider the American Broadband Deployment Act (H.R. 2289) on April 20, a necessary step before the bill could advance to the full House floor for a vote. After significant advocacy efforts by the League of Minnesota Cities and its national partners, the bill was pulled from the agenda when it became clear it lacked the votes to pass.

In addition to the League, the coordinated efforts included the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors.

They detailed…

Specifically, the bill as written would:

  • Force taxpayer subsidies. It would replace the current “fair and reasonable” compensation standard with a strict limit based on “actual and direct costs.” This creates a new unfunded mandate that could force Minnesota residents to subsidize the infrastructure costs of private corporations.

  • Allow automatic permit approvals. The bill would codify federal “shot clocks” and add a “deemed granted” penalty. This means that if a city misses a deadline, broadband companies could start construction without local approval. This would take away a city’s ability to protect public safety and manage its streets and public rights-of-way.

  • Weaken cable franchising authority. The legislation would permanently exempt bundled broadband services from local franchise agreements and allow providers to unilaterally modify existing agreement terms. This could significantly weaken a city’s ability to enforce local standards and services.

  • Shift dispute resolution. The proposal would move legal disputes from local courts to the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. This would increase costs and complexity for Minnesota cities when defending local interests.

Midco’s Scandia fiber project nears completion (Washingonton County)

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The Country Messenger reports…

After years of planning, grant applications and phased construction, Scandia’s long-awaited high-speed internet expansion is entering its final stretch.

Midco, the internet provider in the expansion, has begun construction this month and is projected to complete the project by the end of July. Once complete, the expansion will bring fiber optic internet access to roughly 95% of households in the City of Scandia.

Seeing the project nearing completion is encouraging to Scandia’s Internet Action Committee, which has been working for years to improve internet access for Scandia residents. According to the committee’s chair, Bob Wilmers, the city first partnered with Midco in 2019 when approximately half of the city’s households had access to reliable internet coverage. Since that time, Scandia and Midco have worked together to find funding through local investments and outside grants, including the Minnesota Border to Border Broadband Grant Program.

“In the last seven years, Midco and the city have applied for multiple grants from the State of Minnesota, Washington County, and the Federal Government to provide financial assistance for the expansion of high-speed Internet service in the rest of Scandia,” Wilmers said. “When this project is completed, we’ll have reached about 95% of the households in Scandia for high-speed Internet, doubling the number we started with in 2019.”

The total cost of the expansion is nearly $7 million, according to Wilmers, with the city investing approximately $1 million, which makes up roughly 15% of the overall cost. The remaining funding has been provided through grants and Midco.

Should the data center conversation also include broadband expansion?

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An Op-Ed from Next City wonders why municipalities aren’t looking at broadband expansion as a talking point for data centers…

As data centers pop up across the country, communities are asking hard questions about their true value: megawatts of electricity used, gallons of water absorbed, tax abatements for developers, and the true number of jobs created.

The current debate positions data centers as a tradeoff between growth and strain, pitting economic development versus environmental and infrastructure impact.

These are important questions. They deserve scrutiny. But they are not the whole picture. …

For communities — especially in rural areas — who may still be working to install broadband networks, the data center debate is an opportunity for a structured and thoughtful broadband infrastructure transformation.

While discussions on water and power define where a data center will locate, it is the connectivity that will define what impact it will have on a community.

I have wondered why this hasn’t come up earlier in this current chapter of data centers. Around 2014, Eagan made very purposeful strides to connect broadband to data centers as an economic development strategy. And I remember (in 2011), when Duluth was trying to become a Google Fiber Community that the cold as an asset to data centers and the recent addition of the Involta data center was a plus. Clearly, this is a decade before the arrival hyperscale data center in Minnesota and hyperscale is a game changer. But this article got me looking at what happened years ago. I cannot say whether data centers are a good or bad idea for you community, but the advice I saw 10 years ago looks similar to the first step given in this article…

To create a robust plan for local connectivity, all stakeholders must be involved. That includes broadband providers that lay the fiber and build the infrastructure that connect our businesses, schools, and hospitals to the modern economy. These companies are core stakeholders, not background infrastructure.

However, these providers are often noticeably absent from such conversation. At a recent Columbus City Council hearing about data center development, for example, not a single internet provider or broadband expert was among the presentations. The room was filled, the news was filming, strong opinions were shared – and yet, broadband was not represented.

Not having all stakeholders at the table means that decisions about data centers are being made with incomplete information as to the whole picture of the costs and benefits of development.

What is the digital last inch? And how does it impact counties?

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digitalLIFT is a nonprofit in San Francisco that focuses on digital inclusion. They have an interesting article that adds the last inch onto the analogy of first mile, middle mile, last mile…

We talk about miles, but digital equity is measured in inches. We use the term final inch to describe the moment when broadband moves beyond infrastructure and becomes meaningful for a person. The final inch is the small but critical distance between the network and the moment someone touches a device and successfully uses it, for example:

  • A resident taps a screen to schedule a telehealth appointment
  • A parent logs into a school portal
  • A job seeker submits an online application
  • A small business owner processes a digital payment

From a technical perspective, broadband may already be available. The fiber may pass the home. The drop may be installed. Wi-Fi may be active inside the building. But until the connection reaches a person’s hands, and they can use it confidently, the promise of broadband isn’t fulfilled.

The final inch is where infrastructure becomes opportunity. It’s the moment when a network connection turns into access to services, economic mobility, education, healthcare, or civic participation. In other words, the final inch is the human connection.

And why this matters to counties…

County governments are positioned at the intersection of:

  • Infrastructure deployment
  • Workforce development
  • Public health
  • Economic development
  • Aging services
  • Libraries
  • Schools
  • Social services

When counties focus only on the last mile, they risk leaving impact on the table. But when counties plan for the final inch, they multiply their return on investment.

That means pairing infrastructure funding with:

  • Digital literacy training
  • Device access programs
  • Digital navigators
  • Multilingual outreach
  • Enrollment assistance
  • In-home technical support

Broadband is not just a utility. It is now the delivery system for government services. If residents cannot use it, counties cannot fully serve them.

Paul Bunyan Communications expanding fiber to more than 2,400 Homes and Businesses in Central Aitkin County

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From Paul Bunyan Communications…

Paul Bunyan Communications will be expanding its all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, to over 2,400 more locations in Aitkin County this year.
This expansion in central Aitkin County includes the cities of McGregor, Palisade, and Tamarack along with areas of Clark, Haugen, Libby, Logan, McGregor, Shamrock, and Workman Townships.
Once the new all-fiber optic network is operational, homes and businesses can get fast, dependable GigaZone™ Internet and WiFi built to keep every device connected. Voice services, including unlimited local and long-distance will also be available. Business customers will gain access to Managed IT Business Services like VOIP, Disaster Backup and Recovery, and Network Management. In addition, Paul Bunyan Communications is an authorized DIRECTV dealer and certified Apple Service Center. There is no membership fee to join the cooperative. membership begins when you subscribe to GigaZone™ Internet or local phone service.
Construction will take place over the summer with services expected to be available by winter. To get connected, residents and businesses need to sign up for service before construction leaves the area. Sign up online, over the phone, or in person at our Grand Rapids Customer Service & Technology Center. To check to see if a specific location is within an expansion area and sign up for services, visit https://paulbunyan.net/
“We’re excited to share our plans to expand into additional areas of Aitkin County, bringing gigabit broadband to more residents and businesses,” said Chad Bullock, CEO and General Manager of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Reliable internet access is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. Our cooperative remains committed to delivering this essential service to communities across northern Minnesota.”
“This project represents a major service upgrade for these areas,” said Leo Anderson, Chief Technology Officer of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Without true high-speed internet, everyday tasks, whether for work, school, or business, can be extremely challenging. Our all-fiber optic network delivers fast, reliable connectivity with speeds up to 10 Gig, and it will be a game changer for these communities.”

Stearns County Administrator Mike Williams retires after tenure of broadband expansion

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KNSI Radio reports on the retirement of Stearns County Administrator Mike Williams…

After a decade leading Stearns County through some of its most consequential years, County Administrator Mike Williams has announced he’s retiring.

A nice nod to his broadband work…

His tenure will be remembered in large part for a sweeping broadband expansion effort that has transformed rural connectivity across the county. By leveraging American Rescue Plan funds, state Border-to-Border grants, and township contributions, the county secured more than $60 million for the project. Nearly every home and business in Stearns County now has, or will soon have, access to high-speed internet.
Williams also helped guide the county through the Justice Center project, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and efforts to strengthen intergovernmental partnerships and improve countywide planning.

In 2021, he received the Joe Ries Excellence in County Management Award, the highest annual honor given by the Minnesota Association of County Administrators.

New MN Bill introduced: Municipalities prohibition from entering into nondisclosure agreements SF4379

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I am going to try to at least track the bills that get introduced that are at all related to broadband and/or broadband use. I may not follow all closely. Click the bill number for more info and updates: This meeting is happening today (Mar 19).

From the MN House:

Committee on State and Local Government
Chair: Sen. Tou Xiong
11 a.m.
Hybrid hearing: Room 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg. and Remote
*Agenda items may be added or removed. Please submit documents to Committee Administrator, mikayla.mtanous@mnsenate.gov by Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 2:00pm. Late submissions may not be posted in advance of the hearing or included in prepared materials for committee members. TESTIMONY: Testimony is limited. The number of testifiers and length of time permitted is at the discretion of the chair and is subject to change. Please plan accordingly. If you would like to testify, please email the Committee Administrator, mikayla.mtanous@mnsenate.gov by Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 2:30pm. Requests for Zoom testimony must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Include the bill number, your name, title and/or organization where applicable, and whether your testimony will be in support of or opposition to the bill. WRITTEN TESTIMONY AND HANDOUTS: Written testimony is encouraged. To submit written testimony or hand-outs, email Committee Administrator, mikayla.mtanous@mnsenate.gov by Wednesday, March 18 at 2:30pm. Please email the submission in following pdf format: yearmonthday_bill number_organization_testimony-or-handout Example: 20250329_SF2373_MinnesotaOrganizationName_Testimony
Agenda:
Call to Order

S.F. 4379-Maye Quade/Maye Quade: Municipalities prohibition from entering into nondisclosure agreements.

Willmar Council to consider agreements for Willmar Connect initiative on March 16, 2026

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The West Central Tribune reports…

The Willmar City Council will consider two agreements for the Willmar Connect initiative during its meeting on Monday, March 16.

Other items on the agenda include approval of several capital improvement projects and two land agreements.

Willmar Connect is the city initiative to construct a more than $25 million city-wide, city-owned fiber optic network. Hometown Fiber has been contracted to manage the network and various internet service providers will pay fees to operate on the network. It is expected that the fees will pay the debt service and interest on the bonds issued by the city for construction of the network.

The council will consider an amendment to the Willmar Connect construction services contract with Bolton & Menk, expanding the existing agreement to address additional professional service needs as the project transitions into construction.

The council on Oct. 7, 2024, approved a professional services contract with Bolton & Menk for phase one of Willmar Connect and amended that contract April 21, 2025, to assist with right-of-way easements in specific areas. The total spent for those services was $503,000.

According to the March 16 agenda materials posted on the city website, the amended contract adds developing contract documents and revisions, construction services, GPS services as the project is constructed and recording the plans at a cost not to exceed approximately $520,000, for a total cost of a little more than $1 million.

The second agreement related to Willmar Connect is a professional services agreement with Hometown Fiber for construction oversight, technical consulting and Network Operations Center planning services for phase one of the project at a cost not to exceed $400,000.

According to the agenda materials, capital improvement projects to be considered by the council on Monday are replacement of the Blue Line Arena roof at the Willmar Civic Center at a cost of approximately $264,000, reconstruction of the Iverson Park lift station at a cost of approximately $549,000, approving plans and specifications for the reconstruction of Fourth Street Southwest and the purchase of a dump truck and snow removal equipment at a cost of approximately $298,000.

The council will also consider approving a professional services agreement with Donohue and Associates for the Jennie-O Turkey Store nutrient removal project in the amount of $99,755. The project includes the design of nutrient removal using biology to remove phosphorus in the industrial clarifier instead of chemicals. This is a more efficient process in the industrial treatment conducted by the Willmar Wastewater Treatment Plant and also provides long-term cost savings for the city.

Willmar City Council offers contact to build community network to third option Kramer Group

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I posted this news earlier this week, but always interesting to get another local perspective, this time from Lakeland Media (KWLM 96.3fm in Willmar)…

The Willmar City Council Monday awarded a bid of 8.2 million dollars to Kramer Service Group of Wisconsin to do Phase One of the Willmar Connect broadband project. 10 companies initially bid on the project last December…the lowest bidder withdrew their bid after realizing they left out certain costs, and the second lowest bidder, NC3 of Clearbrook Minnesota, had their bid rescinded after they informed the city they no longer had the financial and operational capacity to do the project. So Kramer, which was the third lowest bidder, gets the job. Willmar Operations Director Kyle Box says Kramer has experience in doing this type of work.

Kramer’s bid is slightly higher than the engineer’s estimate of 8 million dollars, but Box says that estimate will likely go down because the industrial park portion of the project may be financed through a grant. Next month they will sell bonds in the amount of 9.2 million dollar.

Willmar Council rescinds contract offer to NC3 and goes with the Kramer Group to build network for community broadband

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The West Central Tribune reports…

After learning NC3 is not able to fulfill the scope of work for phase one of the Willmar Connect project, the Willmar City Council in a 5-3 vote approved awarding the bid to the next lowest bidder.

The Willmar City Council on Monday unanimously approved rescinding the bid award to NC3 for Willmar Connect phase one and in a split 5-3 vote approved awarding the bid to Kramer Service Group.

Willmar Connect is the city’s initiative to build a city-owned fiber-optic broadband network on which multiple internet service providers can lease space to provide internet services. Network fees from the providers operating on the open-access network will be used to fund the construction debt.

The motion to award the bid to Kramer Service Group was made by Councilor Tom Gilbertson and seconded by Councilor Vicki Davis. Both voted in favor of the motion, along with Councilors Audrey Nelsen, Justin Ask and Carl Shuldes. Voting against the motion were Councilors Rick Fagerlie, Stephen Gardner and Tom Butterfield.

Those three council members had also voted against awarding the bid to NC3 on Jan. 20.

Staff at that time determined that NC3 had demonstrated the responsibility, qualifications and financial capacity sufficient to complete the project in accordance with the bid specifications and contract requirements, according to the memo in the Jan. 20 packet of meeting materials.

“Over the last two weeks, NC3 has informed the city that it has bid on additional work and no longer has the financial or operational capacity to complete the Willmar Connect project as originally proposed,” said Willmar City Operations Director Kyle Box.

They are looking at another option…

Box informed the council that Kramer Service Group has been contacted and has confirmed that it is still willing to be a contractor for this project under its original bid price. …

He explained that Kramer Service Group is a well-known contractor within the industry and has completed similar types of projects in size and cost for a number of cities, including Buffalo, Minnesota, and it will be constructing phase two of the open-access network being constructed in Superior, Wisconsin, this summer.

“The considerations that the council should be aware of is that this bid is approximately $570,000 higher than the bid award to NC3,” Box added.

Wadena County talks about plans for future, giving a nod to broadband progress

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The Wadena Pioneer Journal reports…

From housing and growth to long-term priorities, residents had an opportunity to share their ideas for the future of Wadena County during a public meeting as the county prepares to update its comprehensive plan.

Ben Oleson, planning consultant with Hometown Planning, kicked off the Feb. 26 meeting and noted the county has not updated its comprehensive plan since 2013. The purpose, said Oleson, is to develop a roadmap for the future of Wadena County by gaining input from residents. The process involves reviewing existing policies and updating demographic data with new census information.

They spoke about a number of topics, including broadband…

Wadena County resident Joy Weyer highlighted the need for reliable day care services beyond in-home providers and access to high-speed internet services. Weyer noted that in-home day care providers have been the backbone of child care options in the county, but day care centers that are able to provide drop-in options are limited.

Some shared info on broadband improvements…

Commissioner Bill Stearns said Wadena County has achieved a high rate of broadband coverage, mostly due to West Central Telephone’s commitment to serving Wadena County residents.

“Our county has 98 percent coverage in the county for broadband and it’s one of the highest in the state for coverage,” said Stearns, who added access to high-speed internet is a crucial component for attracting remote workers and new residents.

Willmar City Council considers rescinding award to build broadband for of Willmar Connect

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The West Central Tribune reports…

The Willmar City Council on Monday, March 2, will consider rescinding the bid award to NC3 for construction of phase one of Willmar Connect and re-awarding the bid to Kramer Service Group.

Hometown Fiber has been contracted to manage the network and the ISPs will pay fees to the city to run on the network. Those fees will be used to fund the debt service and interest on the bonds that will be issued to pay for the construction of the network.

NC3 was awarded the bid for phase one construction on Jan. 20 by the Willmar City Council, having determined at that time that NC3 had demonstrated responsibility, qualifications and financial capacity sufficient to complete the project in accordance with the bid specifications and contract requirements.

However, after the awarding of the bid, NC3 notified the city that it no longer possesses the financial and operational capacity necessary to complete phase one of the project as originally proposed and bid, according to the memo in the agenda packet of materials for the March 2 meeting.

Although NC3 and the staff discussed alterations to the project scope and delivery approach, the alterations deviated from the work as bid and posed a great risk to the city, and staff was no longer confident in the contractors’ ability to perform the work in accordance with the bid documents and conditions under which the award was made, according to the memo.

City staff’s recommendation is to rescind the bid award to NC3 and award it to the next lowest bidder for the project, which is Kramer Service Group of Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin, in the amount of approximately $8.2 million, according to the memo. The estimate for the cost of the project from Bolton & Menk, the city’s contracted engineers, is a little more than $8 million.

This is a new page of an ongoing story with many chapters.

Breitung Township Board get broadband update: some areas up by mid-summer, take rate is good (St Louis County)

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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.

Willmar City Council approves selling bonds for Phase 1 of Willmar Connect project

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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.

Willmar City Council to meet Feb 17 to discuss city-owned broadband network

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West Central Tribune reports…

The Willmar City Council will meet Tuesday, Feb. 17, and will conduct four public hearings.

The first two public hearings are related to the issuance of tax abatement bonds for Connect Willmar, the city’s initiative to construct a city-wide, city-owned broadband network on which multiple internet service providers can lease bandwidth to provide internet services to Willmar residents. …

The meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the boardroom at the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services Building, 2200 23rd St. N.E. in Willmar. The council is meeting Tuesday due to the Presidents Day holiday on Monday.

The full agenda and accompanying packet of meeting materials can be viewed on the city’s website at willmarmn.gov on the mayor and council page under agendas, minutes, and videos for 2026 meetings.