Category Archives: Community Networks

Kandiyohi County Board approves fiber expansion to Svea

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Yahoo News reports...

Fiber internet is spreading farther in Whitefield Township through Svea. An expanded infrastructure project has been approved by the Kandiyohi County Board and will pass by 70 additional properties from the originally intended 52, for a total of 122 passings.

More on the project…

In April of this year, the voted to approve the installation of fiber internet around Svea in partnership with Vibrant Broadband and Whitefield Township. The original project used American Rescue Plan Act funds, according to Kandiyohi County Administrator Kelsey Baker.

More details…

The expansion of the project will cost the county $88,927.98. This is in addition to the $100,800 in rescue plan dollars approved for the original plan. The new costs will be drawn from the county’s reserve funds as one-time expenditures.

“There was some leftover ARPA dollars for broadband at the time we had to make a commitment. Those dollars went into reserve and now they are coming back out. It is not new levy dollars being used here,” Kandiyohi County Commissioner Roger Imdieke said during the discussion Tuesday.

The cost to the county is matched funds. Kandiyohi County and Vibrant Broadband each will pay for 28% of the project expansion. Whitefield Township pays 9% of the costs, and the state Broadband Line Extension Connection Program will pay 35%.

The original project cost a total of $210,000. The project expansion will cost an additional $312,532.26. Together, the total project is now $522,532.26.

July 21 EVENT: Kandiyohi County Board to discuss broadband project expansion

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The West Central Tribune reports…

The Kandiyohi County Board is expected to take action Tuesday on the 2026 Svea Fiber Internet Project.

A proposal to expand the project will be brought before the board at its regular meeting on July 21 in Willmar.

In a regular meeting in April, the Kandiyohi County Board approved the original project totaling $210,000. Of that, the county would be responsible for $100,800 of funding.

The new proposal in front of the board on Tuesday would allow the original project to pass by an additional 70 homes in Whitefield Township at a cost of $1,271 per passing for the county.

The county is responsible for 28% of the costs for the expansion, according to meeting materials posted with the agenda, and Vibrant Broadband for another 28%.

The largest contributor to the project is a grant, secured by Vibrant Broadband, from the state Broadband Line Extension Connection Program, which is expected to pay 35% of the costs.

According to the materials, the project in total would cost $312,532.26. Of the total, Kandiyohi County would be responsible for $88,972.98.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services Building, 2200 23rd St. N.E. in Willmar.

Northfield considers broadband franchise fee as cable subscriptions decrease

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KYMN Radio reports…

As traditional cable television subscriptions continue to decline, Northfield officials are exploring a broadband franchise fee as a way to replace lost revenue that has historically funded the city’s communications efforts and reduced pressure on property taxes.

During a recent city council work session, City Administrator Ben Martig said cable franchise fees have long supported public communication infrastructure, including technology used to broadcast council meetings, maintain the city website, and provide information through social media and other public outreach channels. However, as residents increasingly move away from cable television services, the revenue generated by those fees has steadily declined.

EVENT July 7: Control + Shift + ALTernative: Building Community-Owned Fiber

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From the Institute for Local Self Reliance…

July 7th, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST

The latest installment in a joint webinar series from the American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) and the Community Broadband Networks initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) will showcase a new financing and governance model being put into real-world action that allows for communities to control their digital futures.

The free, one-hour live webinar — “Control + Shift + ALTernative: Building Community-Owned Fiber” — will go behind the scenes of two real-world community fiber projects to tease out the practical lessons that other communities can learn from.

The webinar will feature four practitioners who have been in the trenches of community broadband development: Jim Cannon, CEO of Pivot-Tech; Scott Corbitt, General Manager of the Port of Lewiston; Christina Burns, Kendall County Administrator; and Chris Perlitz, Managing Director at Municipal Capital Markets Group, Inc.

The conversation will be grounded in two case studies — Kendall County and Lewiston — that together illustrate what it actually takes to move a community fiber project from idea to operating network, using a creative “63-20” tax-exempt bond model championed by Pivot-Tech Development, which specializes in public-private partnerships for community-owned broadband networks.

Click to register

Groundbreaking for Willmar Connect, a city-owned, citywide broadband project, happened May 12

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The West Central Tribune reports...

It’s official. The city of Willmar is on its way to becoming a “gig-city” following the groundbreaking for Willmar Connect — a city-owned, citywide broadband network.

“Willmar Connect will help ensure that Willmar is connected and in a position of success for generations,” said Willmar Mayor Doug Reese. “Years from now, we will look back on today as the moment Willmar took control of its digital future and invested boldly in the next generation.”

The article reports on the history and context of the project…

The city will own the infrastructure and Willmar Connect will be operated and managed by Hometown Fiber. Multiple internet service providers will operate on the open-access network, paying fees that will generate revenue to service the debt and interest on the bonds issued to fund network construction.

Kramer Service Group of Wisconsin was awarded the bid to construct phase one of the project at a cost of approximately $8.2 million. Phase one includes installing the network infrastructure to all businesses and residences west of First Street between U.S. Highway 12 and 19th Avenue, excluding the Willmar Industrial Park.

The city is continuing to pursue an approximately $1.5 million economic development grant that will build out fiber, as well as other infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer, in the Willmar Industrial Park.

In April, the Willmar City Council approved the issuance of approximately $8.3 million in general obligation tax abatement bonds at approximately 3.9% interest to fund construction of phase one.

Phase two of the project will build out the network in the southern and eastern portions of the city and phase three will build it out to the north. The total cost if all three phases are completed exceeds $30 million, including debt service and interest on the bonds. Phase two and three are expected to be completed in the next few years.

Willmar Council seeks bids to turn former wastewater treatment plant into the network operations center for Willmar Connect.

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The West Central Tribune reports…

During a brief 15-minute Willmar City Council meeting last week, the council approved more than $6.2 million in street improvement projects to be completed this summer.

The council accepted the low bids and approved the as-bid budgets for the reconstruction of Fourth Street Southwest, several seal-coating projects and stormwater improvements.

The council during the May 4 meeting also authorized the advertisement for bids for renovation of the former wastewater treatment plant building on Fifth Street Southeast to be the network operations center for the citywide broadband project known as Willmar Connect.

More info on the Willmar Connect project…

Willmar Connect is the city’s plan to construct a city-owned, open-access broadband network that will be operated and managed by Hometown Fiber. Multiple internet service providers can operate on the network, paying fees to the city that will generate revenue to service the debt and interest on the bonds issued to pay for network construction.

Phase one of the project will take place this year, constructing the network operations center and installing fiber-optic lines for all businesses and residences west of First Street South between U.S. Highway 12 and 19th Avenue.

Phase two of the project will install fiber-optic lines for businesses and residences south of 19th Avenue and east of First Street South and is expected to commence next year. Phase three, expected in 2028, will finish the installation of fiber-optic lines north of Highway 12.

 

City of Superior (WI) expands ConnectSuperior broadband by 1000 locations

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WDIO reports…

On Friday, the City of Superior kicked off the second phase of expanding its ConnectSuperior fiber broadband internet network.

This phase aims to add another 1,100 homes and businesses to the network, increasing the service area to more than 2,000 passings. …

Residents in the current service areas can now sign up to schedule free service installation, while those in the new North End area will be able to sign up in mid-summer.

To learn more about the project, click here.

EVENT May 12: Windom City Council to hear Windomnet acquisition proposals

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Windom News reports…

The Windom City Council will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, beginning at 4:30 p.m., at the Windom Community Center.

The purpose of the meeting is to hear proposal presentations from entities that are interested in purchasing the Windomnet telecom system from the city.

The city received requests for proposals from three companies that expressed interest in purchasing Windomnet: Midco, Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services and Federated Broadband. Each of the three will make their presentations for the council to consider at the meeting. However, no action to authorize a sale of Windomnet will take place at this meeting.

The meeting was moved to the Community Center to accommodate public attendance at the meeting.

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.