ST. PAUL, MN – Lt. Governor Tina Smith and the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced grants totaling $34 million for 42 broadband infrastructure projects that will provide 16,627 households, 2,240 businesses, and 71 community institutions across Minnesota access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet. The new state funding will help level the playing field for households and businesses in Greater Minnesota by providing them access the same opportunities available to urban area residents. Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith secured the $34 million to expand high-speed internet access during the 2016 Legislative Session, after first proposing a $100 million investment.
Lismore Cooperative and other partners will provide services that improve opportunities for health care, education and telecommuting. The total eligible project cost is $5.89 million, with a $2.94 million local match.
Lismore Cooperative Telephone Co. released the following information regarding the project; “Lismore Cooperative Telephone Co. received a $2.94 million grant to create a hybrid fiber and wireless network that will eventually provide high-speed internet to all of Nobles county. Our co-op matched the $2.94 million grant which totals a $5,889,156 project.”
The project will consist of five towers distributing wireless coverage across 500 square miles. We plan to install over 82 miles of fiber optic cable. Work will begin this summer and our goal is to complete the backbone of the fiber loop as quickly as possible. The ultimate goal is to eventually provide fiber to every home and business throughout Nobles County. Wilmont and Leota will be built out completely with fiber as well as businesses and homes along the fiber transport route. Lismore currently has multiple sites throughout Nobles County already in operation with high speed, unlimited data internet.
Wireless coverage will initially reach speeds of 25 Mbps, while homes or businesses close enough to the fiber trail will have the option to use speeds up to 1 gigabit.
“This expansion of broadband that we are announcing today will level the playing field and expand education, health and job opportunities for thousands of Minnesotans. It’s not fair when almost 20 percent of Greater Minnesota households don’t have access to opportunity because they don’t have the same broadband connections as their friends and family in the cities,” said Lt. Governor Tina Smith.
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