Broadband Grant Program

Application Process

Read about the 2023 Challenge Process for grant applications.

2023 Challenge Form

2023 Broadband Grant Applications

Selection and Scoring Criteria

Border to Border FAQs

Call for Border-to-Border and Low-Density Pilot Program Applications

Grant Instructions and Application Packet

• 2023 Minnesota Broadband Grant Application Instructions
• Part 1 - Key Application Data Form
• Part 2 - Budget Sources & Uses Worksheet
• Part 2 - Budget Sources & Uses Instructions
• Part 3 - Grant Application Word Narrative
• Checklist for Submitting a Grant Application
• SFTP Instructions for submitting a Grant Application
• Applicant Affidavit or Local Government Resolution
• Pre-Application Outreach to Existing Wireline Providers
• Proforma Financials

2023 Border to Border Broadband Grant Webinars

• Grant Eligibility Layers Overview (PPT large file)
• Grant Eligibility Layers Overview (PDF with links)

Eligibility

Eligible Areas

Broadband development projects located in unserved or underserved areas are eligible for the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grants. An unserved area is an area of Minnesota in which households or businesses lack access to wire-line broadband service at speeds that meet the FCC threshold of 25 megabits per second download and 3 megabits per second upload. An underserved area is an area of Minnesota in which households or businesses do receive service at or above the FCC threshold but lack access to wire-line broadband service at speeds of 100 megabits per second download and 20 megabits per second upload.

An interactive map showing areas reported by providers as being unserved and underserved areas is available on the OBD website.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for this program are an incorporated business or partnership, a political subdivision, an Indian tribe, a Minnesota nonprofit organization organized under chapter 317A, a Minnesota cooperative association organized under chapter 308A or 308B, or a Minnesota limited liability corporation organized under chapter 322C for the purpose of expanding broadband access.

Eligible Program Costs

The Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program can pay up to 50 percent of the broadband development costs for qualifying projects. The Low-Density Pilot Grant Program can pay up to 75 percent of the broadband development costs for qualifying projects. Eligible costs refer to the acquisition and installation of middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure that support broadband service scalable to speeds of at least 100 megabits per second download and 100 megabits per second upload.

Last mile infrastructure is broadband infrastructure that serves as the final leg connecting the broadband service provider's network to the end-use customer's on-premise telecommunications equipment. Middle mile infrastructure is broadband infrastructure that links a broadband service provider's core network infrastructure to last-mile infrastructure.

Construction of broadband infrastructure may include any of the following: project planning; obtaining construction permits; construction of facilities, including construction of both "middle mile" and "last mile" infrastructure; equipment; and installation and testing of the broadband service.

Affordability

Broadband projects constructed with public funds should demonstrate that the services provided are affordable. Consideration of a project's affordability will be evaluated by requiring that the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Plan be offered by the provider. As noted in the scoring criteria, points will also be awarded to projects that include an additional low-income broadband assistance program. Public private partnerships and community support for a project can also serve as demonstrations that the provider partner offers broadband packages that the community and individuals who will subscribe to the services find reasonable and affordable. Finally, the pricing included in the application is reviewed to ensure that the rates do not exceed the FCC's reasonable comparability benchmarks for fixed broadband rates in urban areas (a comparison the FCC does to ensure that universal service fund recipients are not charging rates that exceed the rate levels found in urban areas where competition is more prevalent).

Resources

Prevailing Wage Compliance

Minnesota law requires all state economic development grant awards of $200,000 or more to adhere to prevailing wage laws as specified by Minnesota's Department of Labor and Industry. Modifications unique to broadband grant law specify that prevailing wage law applies specifically to middle mile broadband projects or projects with middle mile components that are awarded grants of $200,000 or more. If the application is for a last mile project only, prevailing wage laws do not apply. Applicable prevailing wage rates should be figured into your project budget. Find the rates for your county.

For assistance in classifying type of labor, complete a Classification Clarification Request form from the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry. If you have other questions regarding prevailing wage as it applies to broadband grant projects, please contact Karen Bugar, State Program Administrative Director, Prevailing Wage, Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry.

Also, please see Capital Projects Fund Compliance and Reporting requirements below for additional labor requirements that may apply (pending the release of the final guidance) to projects funded with federal Capital Projects Funds.

State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)

Contact SHPO for information on reviews prior to construction for possible disturbances of historic, archaeological sites. There's also information such as hiring an archaeologist to do an archaeological assessment of the project, especially those that are going through multiple townships/counties. This would include a records search for existing archaeological sites, recommendations for surveying areas along the route (if any) and recommendations on avoiding the sites that have been identified "historic."

• Archaeological Survey Manual is what the contract archaeologists use to help guide their survey methods in Minnesota.
• Preservation Specialists Directory (this directory includes a list of qualified archaeologists). Select "archaeologist" in "Search by Specialties" box.
• For more information, contact SHPO's Review and Compliance Specialist Kelly Gragg-Johnson, 651-259-3455.

Review for Natural Heritage Site Proximity

Natural Heritage Sites might include rare plant species, animals, and protected areas, for example. For natural heritage sites, check with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for possible proximity to rare natural/plant/species areas:

• Regional Contacts
• DNR Environmental Review resources and Natural Heritage Info System
• Request form if you need a more detailed natural heritage search

Capital Projects Funds Reporting and Compliance Guidance

For any projects funded with American Rescue Plan Act Capital Projects Funds, the federal Reporting and Compliance Guidance will also apply. Draft requirements were published in the Federal Register in May 2022, see https://www.regulations.gov/document/TREAS-DO-2022-0011-0002. Grantees that are funded with CPF funding will have to agree to abide by the final Reporting and Compliance Guidance to receive funding.

2022 Grantees

2022 Broadband Grant Recipients

• Download a list of 2022 Grantees
• Read about the 2022 challenge process for grant applications
• Challenge process results 2022
• Download the 2022 Funding Summary
• View a map of the 2022 awards
• View a map of the 2022 awards with Served/Under Served, Wireline Coverage awards
• Border to Border Broadband Grants 2014-2017, 2019-2020

Recipients

AcenTek – Rural Dakota Exchange FTTP Project – GRANT $3,218,201

This last mile project will serve 486 underserved households, 34 underserved businesses, and 88 underserved farms in Winona County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, AcenTek, will offer broadband data speeds at a variety of advertised data rates, with the capability of attaining speeds of 1 Gbps symmetrical or more to every location, exceeding the 2026 state speed goals. This project will promote rural economic development by providing access to the benefits of high speed broadband to 100 percent of the households and businesses within the grant funded area, increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for the people who live, work, and farm in Winona County.

• Total eligible project cost is $8,045,502
• Local match is $4,827,301

Albany Mutual Telephone – Stearns County East, Phase I – GRANT $746,964

This last mile project will serve 191 unserved homes and 42 underserved homes in rural Northeastern Stearns County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Albany Mutual Telephone will improve service levels to 100 Mbps symmetrical speeds, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. High speed broadband networks improve access to school e-learning, enables businesses to be more competitive, and provides farmers with connectivity to critical precision-ag tools in these rural areas.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,987,857
• Local match is $2,240,893

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Borgholm Township Project – GRANT $1,118,289

This last mile project will serve 32 unserved households, 407 unserved business and farms, and 1 unserved township hall in Borgholm Township located in Mille Lacs County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Borgholm Township, Benton Telephone will improve unserved levels to 1 Gigabit per second download and 1 Gigabit per second upload, well exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building this fiber-to-the-premise network will provide advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses, and farms in the proposed grant area and stimulate the local area economy by improving access to e-learning, rural heath resources and enable precision agriculture tools.

• Total eligible project cost is $3,195,113
• Local match is $2,076,824

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Golden Spike - Mayhew Lake – GRANT $1,264,602

This last mile project will serve approximately 199 unserved households, 27 unserved business and 169 unserved farms, in portions of Gilmanton, Mayhew Lake, Minden, Sauk Rapids, St George, and Watab Townships located in Benton County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Benton County, Benton Telephone will improve unserved levels to a maximum of 1 gigabits per second download and 1 gigabits per second upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building this fiber-to-the-premise network will provide advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area, improving access to e-learning applications, agriculture enhancements including access to pricing, parts, and enabling precision agriculture tools; rural health care resources and will stimulate the local area economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $3,613,150
• Local match is $2,348,548

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – NW Benton County Project – GRANT $77,726

This last mile project will serve approximately 14 unserved households, 2 unserved business and 5 unserved farms, in Langola Township located in Benton County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Benton County, Benton Telephone will provide broadband services to a maximum of 1 gigabits per second download and 1 gigabits per second upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building this fiber-to-the-premise network provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area improves access to e-learning applications, precision ag tools, rural health care resources and will stimulate the local area economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $222,075
• Local match is $144,349

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ronneby (Oak Park) Project – GRANT $170,623

This last mile project will serve approximately 40 unserved households, 4 unserved business, 21 unserved farms, and 2 unserved churches in parts of Gilmanton and Maywood Townships located in Benton County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Benton County, Benton Telephone will improve unserved, under-served levels to a maximum of 1 gigabits per second download and 1 gigabits per second upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building this fiber-to-the-premise network will provide advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area and improve access to e-learning applications, rural health care resources and agriculture enhancements including access to pricing, parts, and enabling precision agriculture tools.

• Total eligible project cost is $487,494
• Local match is $316,871

Bevcomm – Rural Le Sueur County Broadband Expansion Project - Phase Two – GRANT $941,576

This last mile project will serve approximately 222 unserved and underserved homes, business, farms, and one community anchor institution in Le Sueur County located in south-central Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Le Sueur County, Bevcomm will offer broadband services at 1 gigabit per second symmetrical (upstream and downstream) to locations that were previously unserved and undeserved. This project will promote rural economic development by providing access to broadband to 100 percent of households and businesses within the proposed funded service areas. This proposed fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) project will provide broadband data speeds at a variety of advertised data rates, with the capability of attaining speeds of 1 Gbps or more to every location. The demand is present today for advanced technologies and high-speed broadband. This use and development of broadband will provide various home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, and inspire innovation and investment. Education, health care, agriculture, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet access.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,883,153
• Local match is $941,577

Bevcomm – Rural Faribault and Martin Counties Fiber Expansion Project - Phase Three – GRANT $1,444,030

This last mile project will serve 371 underserved and 2 unserved homes, businesses, and farms in the rural areas of Bricelyn, Elmore and Guckeen within Faribault and Martin Counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Bevcomm and Faribault County will partner to improve underserved and unserved levels up to Gigabit speeds(1000 Mbps/1000 Mbps), exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. An enhanced broadband network will eliminate the digital frustrations and limitations that residents currently battle and will provide speeds that will allow them to overcome geographical distances, engage in advanced telehealth options, efficiently and effectively telecommute, and successfully participate in distance learning.

• Total eligible project cost is $3,610,074
• Local match is $2,166,044

Consolidated Telephone Company – CTC Woods to Waters Broadband Initiative – GRANT $4,857,030

This last mile project amongst the woods and water of rural central and northeastern Minnesota will connect 1,459 unserved locations and 345 underserved locations to a fiber-to-the-premise network with symmetrical 1Gbps services and expandable to symmetrical 5Gbps, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Through multiple resident and business surveys, 66% of respondents indicated an inability but willingness to work from home and 62% of retirees indicated broadband is needed to age in place. This demonstrates the critical need in these specific communities for broadband services to prevent significant out migration, encourage business growth, increase options for education and telework, and keep individuals in their homes longer. In a partnership with the State of Minnesota, Cass County, City of Cloquet, City of Rice Lake, Gnesen Township, and Sylvan Township; this project demonstrates the need and commitment of local communities to bring much needed broadband service to their communities.

• Total eligible project cost is $9,714,060
• Local match is $4,857,030

East Central Energy – Isanti North – GRANT $5,000,000

This last mile project will serve approximately 1,988 unserved and underserved households and 142 unserved and underserved businesses, 353 Unserved and underserved farms, and 3 unserved and underserved community anchor institutions in the Isanti and Kanabec Counties of Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and local partners: Isanti County, Stanchfield, Kanabec County, Arthur, Brunswick, Southfork, Cambridge, and Maple Ridge; East Central Energy (ECE) will improve unserved/underserved levels to at least 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload, and with most having access to a 1Gbps connection; exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. This fiber-to-the-premises network will benefit households, businesses, and farms in the proposed grant area, furthering community and economic development.

• Total eligible project cost is $16,850,584
• Local match is $11,850,584

East Central Energy – Kanabec Central – GRANT $4,403,000

This last mile project will serve approximately 2,145 households and 136 businesses, 280 farms, and 2 community anchor institutions, currently unserved and underserved in Kanabec and Pine Counties of Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, and local partners: Kanabec County, City of Quamba, Arthur, and Brunswick; East Central Energy will improve unserved/underserved levels to at least 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload with an expectation that all locations will have access to 1Gbps/1Gbps connectivity if they choose. Both options exceed Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. The impacts of ECE's fiber-to-the-premises network will be felt throughout the community, supporting diverse strategies for community and economic development.

• Total eligible project cost is $14,824,350
• Local match is $10,421,350

East Central Energy – Pine South – GRANT $4,750,000

This last mile project will serve approximately 2,082 households, 122 businesses, 329 farms and 2 community anchor institutions currently unserved and underserved in Pine and Kanabec Counties of Minnesota. With funding support from the State of Minnesota and local partners: Kanabec County, Arthur, Brunswick, Pine City, Royalton, and Pine County, East Central Energy will improve unserved/underserved service speeds to at least 100 megabit per second download and 100 megabits per second upload, and access up to Gbps/1Gbps connectivity, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. ECE's fiber network will enable e-learning, access to telework opportunities, and resource optimization for agricultural lands and managed vegetation, a significant source of community and economic benefit throughout the project area

• Total eligible project cost is $15,995,002
• Local match is $11,245,002

Arvig (East Otter Tail Telephone Co.) – Otter Tail County Area Fiber Build – GRANT $1,140,705

This last-mile project will reach 171 unserved and 100 underserved households, farms and businesses in the southeastern portion of Otter Tail County near the rural parts of Battle Lake, Henning, Parkers Prairie and Urbank. Thanks to a funding partnership with Otter Tail County and with the State of Minnesota, Arvig will be able to extend its growing fiber network to these structures with internet speeds from 100 Mbps / 20 Mbps up to 10 Gbps / 1 Gbps, meeting and exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps / 20 Mbps. The all fiber-to-the-premise construction will begin as soon as the grant is awarded and will be completed before June, 2025, allowing these customers to receive the internet service they need and deserve. With the completion of this project, these Otter Tail County residents will be able to run their at-home businesses and farms, or work from home, more efficiently, they can continue or pursue their education online with confidence, they will have better access to telehealth services, and they will simply be able to access more entertainment and stay connected with their friends and family.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,851,762
• Local match is $1,711,057

Farmers Mutual Telephone Company – Chippewa County Rural FTTP Project – GRANT $4,728,186

This last mile project will provide fiber to the premise service to 636 unique locations across 10 townships in rural portions of Chippewa County in Western Minnesota. 577 of these locations are unserved and 59 are under-served. The locations served include 15 community institutions like township halls, churches, or other public property; 10 rural businesses; 256 farms and 355 residential locations. It should be emphasized that a high number of locations could be included in multiple classifications (farms, rural residences, and rural businesses). Together, Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, Chippewa County, Louriston and Rosewood Townships and the State of Minnesota will share the cost to provide 300 megabits per second symmetrical or 1G symmetrical service throughout the project area, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. The project area has little or no current access to consistent and reliable broadband. This lack of access prevents the locations in this grant from participating in a digital economy, tele-health, e-learning, precision agriculture, integrating smart technologies into the homes and buildings, and participating in social, civic and recreational online activities. Broadband access will also help attract and retain residents and businesses in the county that supports the local economy and tax base. Building a fiber-to-the-premise network that provides advanced, high-speed broadband services will position Chippewa County for the future.

• Total eligible project cost is $10,507,080
• Local match is $5,778,894

Federated Telephone Cooperative – Kandiyohi County West FTTP Project – GRANT $4,913,506

This last mile project will serve 343 unserved and 302 underserved homes, businesses, farms, and community anchor institutions in the Kandiyohi County townships of Arctander, Dovre, Lake Andrew, Mamre and St. Johns. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Federated Telephone Cooperative, along with Kandiyohi County and the aforementioned Townships as local partners, will improve unserved and underserved levels to greater than 100 megabits per second download and 100 megabits per second upload,exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. The residents of the these townships recognize that competitive e-connectivity is a fundamental need for economic development, home business innovation, advancement in precision agriculture, e-learning, utilization of telehealth, connecting with isolated loved ones and improving quality of life. These rural townships have worked diligently to provide their own funding in addition to seeking grant funding to make this broadband project possible.

• Total eligible project cost is $9,827,011
• Local match is $4,913,506

Garden Valley Technologies – Rural Warren East & Rural Oslo – GRANT $1,462,569

This last mile project will serve 47 unserved households, 2 unserved businesses, 52 unserved farms and 4 unserved community/anchor institutions for a total of 105 locations within three areas located in northwest Minnesota and include portions of the Higdem, Esther, Brislet, Angus, Helgeland and Brandt Townships in Polk County and portions of Oak Park, McCrea and Comstock townships in Marshall county. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and area businesses and residents, Garden Valley Technologies will improve unserved levels to 1 Gigabit per second download and 1 Gigabit per second upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building this fiber to the premise network and providing advanced high-speed broadband services to households, businesses, farms and community institutions in the proposed grant area improves access to critical work from home opportunities within the region as well as making agricultural operations more efficient and enhancing crop production as well as making on-line education accessible to area students. The broadband network will improve access across multiple industries and will stimulate a more robust local area economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,925,139
• Local match is $1,462,570

Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association – Nelson – GRANT $1,212,338

This last mile project will serve 300 unserved households. Of these 300 locations, 59 include home based businesses or telecommuters in the Alexandria area of Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association will improve unserved/underserved levels to 1G per second download and 1G per second upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Providing customers with adequate speeds to perform daily activities, along with improving their functionality, enables families to spend more time at home together and away from the office and school. This project will enhance the quality of life in this neighborhood for years to come.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,424,675
• Local match is $1,212,338

Hanson Communications, Inc. – Lamberton Revere FTTP – GRANT $923,918

The Lamberton Revere FTTP Project will serve 484 underserved locations and 45 unserved locations in and between the towns of Lamberton and Revere in Redwood County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Hanson Communications will improve unserved and underserved levels to 1 Gbps up and 1 Gbps down on the new fiber network, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Building a fiber to the premises network will improve access to education and healthcare services. It will also increase employment as businesses leverage this new network and telecommuting opportunities become accessible. This network is vital to these rural communities and economies.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,309,795
• Local match is $1,385,877

Hanson Communications, Inc. – Pope County SE FTTH – GRANT $4,248,796

The Pope County Southwest FTTP project will serve 504 underserved locations and 553 unserved locations in the greater Southeast Pope County area, Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Pope County, Hanson Communications will improve unserved and underserved levels to 1 Gbps up and 1 Gbps down on the new fiber network, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Building a fiber to the premises network will improve access to education and healthcare services. It will also increase employment as businesses leverage this new network and telecommuting opportunities become accessible. This network is vital to their rural community and economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $10,621,989
• Local match is $6,373,193

Harmony Telephone Company – North Preston Rural FTTP – GRANT $1,129,740

The North Preston Rural FTTP Project will serve 34 unserved households, 22 unserved businesses, and 56 unserved farms in the rural portions of Fillmore County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Harmony Telephone Company (HTC) will improve unserved levels to 1Gbps up and 1Gbps down on their fiber network, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Building this Fiber To The Premises Network will improve access to education and healthcare services. It will also increase employment as businesses leverage this new network and telecommuting opportunities become accessible. This network is vital to the rural community and economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,824,350
• Local match is $1,694,610

JTN Communications – Eureka Center – GRANT $113,076

This last mile project will serve 101 unserved homes, farms, and community anchor institutions in the Eureka Township area of Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, JTN Communications and Eureka Township will improve underserved service levels to gigabit symmetrical speeds exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. High speed broadband networks improve access to school e-learning, enables businesses to be more competitive, and provides farmers with connectivity to critical precision-mapping tools needed to enhance crop output.

• Total eligible project cost is $226,152
• Local match is $113,076

KMTelecom – Rock Dell Adjacent East Fiber Build – GRANT $1,620,007

This last mile project in SE Minnesota will serve 119 unserved households, 7 unserved businesses, and 82 unserved farms for a total of 208 serviceable addresses. The project area is located in Olmsted County and includes portions of Rock Dell, High Forest, and Rochester Townships. All 208 serviceable addresses are potential new customers. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, KMTelecom will improve current unserved levels to 1000 megabits per second download and 1000 megabits per second upload, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This rural fiber network will bring the necessary high-speed broadband connectivity to rural customers for access to education, healthcare, and telework. The network will also allow our robust farming community to increase their productivity and improve access to the latest agricultural technologies.

• Total eligible project cost is $3,240,014
• Local match is $1,620,007

KMTelecom – Rock Dell Southeast Fiber Build – GRANT $1,498,115

This last mile project will serve 120 unserved households, 10 unserved businesses, 122 unserved farms, 1 underserved community institution, and 11 underserved households in the rural Rock Dell and Salem Townships within Olmsted County and a small portion of the Vernon Township within Dodge County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, KMTelecom will improve current unserved levels to 1000 megabits per second download and 1000 megabits per second upload, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This rural Rock Dell Southeast Fiber network will bring the necessary high-speed broadband connectivity to rural customers for access to education, healthcare, and work. The network will also allow our robust farming community to increase their productivity and improve access to the latest agricultural technologies.

• Total eligible project cost is $3,329,145
• Local match is $1,831,030

Mediacom Minnesota LLC – East Scanlon – GRANT $801,834

This last mile project will serve 333 unserved homes, 222 underserved homes, 1 unserved business, 3 underserved businesses, and 1 unserved community anchor in the east side of Scanlon in the Carlton County area of Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Thomson Township Mediacom will improve unserved/underserved levels to 2,000 megabits per second download and 1,000 megabits per second upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building a Fiber-to-the-Premise network that provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area improves access to critical services such as distance learning applications, access to advanced healthcare options through telehealth and increases the economy through the attraction of new industry and the ability of remote work.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,719,526
• Local match is $1,917,692

Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Esko – GRANT $4,400,732

This last mile project will serve 863 unserved households, 796 underserved households, 7 underserved businesses, 10 unserved businesses, 1 unserved community anchor and 1 underserved community anchor in the unincorporated community of Esko, primarily in the Saint Louis County area of Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Mediacom will improve unserved/underserved levels to 2,000 megabits per second download and 1,000 megabits per second upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building a Fiber-to-the-Premise network that provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area improves access to critical services such as distance learning applications, access to advanced healthcare options through telehealth, and increases the economy through the attraction of new industry and the ability of remote work.

• Total eligible project cost is $9,779,405
• Local match is $5,378,673

Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Esquagama Lake – GRANT $821,758

This last mile project will serve 306 unserved households, 62 underserved households, 3 unserved community anchors, and 4 unserved businesses in the Biwabik Township of the St. Louis County area of Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Mediacom will improve unserved/underserved levels to 2,000 megabits per second download and 1,000 megabits per second upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building a Fiber-to-the-Premise network that provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area improves access to critical services such as distance learning applications, access to advanced healthcare options through telehealth, and increases the economy through the attraction of new industry and the ability of remote work.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,054,395
• Local match is $1,232,637

Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Project 19 – Hibbing – GRANT $2,141,135

This last mile project will serve 444 unserved households, 7 unserved businesses, 1 unserved community anchor, 116 underserved households and 5 underserved businesses in the city of Hibbing of the Saint Louis County area of Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, the City of Hibbing, IRRRB, and St. Louis County; Mediacom will improve unserved/underserved levels to 2,000 megabits per second download and 1,000 megabits per second upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building a Fiber-to-the-Premise network that provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area improves access to critical services such as distance learning applications, access to advanced healthcare options through telecom-health, and increases the economy through the attraction of new industry and the ability of remote work.

• Total eligible project cost is $4,282,269
• Local match is $2,141,135

Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Swan Lake – GRANT $99,156

This last mile project will serve 87 unserved households and 2 unserved businesses in the Hale Township of the McLeod County area of Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Mediacom will improve unserved/underserved levels to 2,000 megabits per second download and 1,000 megabits per second upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building a Fiber-to-the-Premise network that provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area improves access to critical services such as distance learning applications, access to advanced healthcare options through telehealth, and increases the economy through the attraction of new industry and the ability of remote work.

• Total eligible project cost is $330,518
• Local match is $231,363

Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Big Swan Lake – GRANT $94,182

This last mile project will serve 46 unserved rural households and 59 unserved rural businesses and one farm in central Minnesota, north of the city of Dassel. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Meeker Cooperative will improve speed levels to 1Gbps download and upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building this fiber-to-the-premise network will improve access to critical school e-learning applications while also making agricultural operations more efficient and enhancing crop production through enabled precision agriculture tools. In addition, the broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources and will stimulate a more robust local area economy. A fiber-to-the-premise network will ultimately improve the lives of all citizens of the area, lessening the "technological divide" between urban and rural areas.

• Total eligible project cost is $313,940
• Local match is $219,758

Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Collinwood Lake – GRANT $104,337

This last mile project will serve 86 unserved rural households, 16 underserved rural households and 5 farms in central Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Wright County, Meeker Cooperative will improve speed levels to 1 Gbps download and upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building this fiber-to-the-premise network will provide access to critical school e-learning applications, more work from home opportunities, improved e-commerce prospects for businesses while also making agricultural operations more efficient and enhancing crop production through enabled precision agriculture tools. In addition, the broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources and will stimulate a more robust local area economy. Lightening fast broadband service will ultimately improve the lives of all citizens of the area, lessening the "technological divide" between urban and rural areas.

• Total eligible project cost is $347,790
• Local match is $243,453

Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Dunns & Richardson Lakes – GRANT $80,202

This last mile project will serve 74 unserved rural households 4 business and 7 farms in central Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Meeker Cooperative will improve speed levels to 1 Gbps download and upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building this fiber-to-the-premise network will provide more work from home opportunities, improved e-commerce prospects for businesses while also making agricultural operations more efficient and enhancing crop production through enabled precision agriculture tools. In addition, the broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources and will stimulate a more robust local area economy. Lightening fast broadband service will ultimately improve the lives of all citizens of the area, lessening the "technological divide" between urban and rural areas.

• Total eligible project cost is $267,341
• Local match is $187,139

Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Lake Erie – GRANT $19,093

This last mile project will serve 28 unserved rural households in central Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Meeker Cooperative will improve speed levels to 1 Gbps download and upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building this fiber-to-the-premise network will improve access to critical school e-learning applications and provide more work from home opportunities . In addition, the broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources and will stimulate a more robust local area economy. A fiber-to-the-premise network will ultimately improve the lives of all citizens of the area, lessening the "technological divide" between urban and rural areas.

• Total eligible project cost is $63,644
• Local match is $44,551

Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Long Lake – GRANT $29,702

This last mile project will serve 25 unserved rural households and one business in central Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Meeker Cooperative will improve speed levels to 1 Gbps download and upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building this fiber-to-the-premise network will improve access to critical school e-learning applications and will provide more work from home opportunities and provide e-commerce prospects. In addition, the broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources and will stimulate a more robust local area economy. A fiber-to-the-premise network will ultimately improve the lives of all citizens of the area, lessening the "technological divide" between urban and rural areas.

• Total eligible project cost is $99,006
• Local match is $69,304

Arvig (Melrose Telephone Company) – Stearns County Area Fiber Build – GRANT $4,974,570

This last-mile project will reach 945 unserved and 1,204 underserved households, farms and businesses in the central portion of Stearns County near the rural parts of Sauk Centre, Melrose, Meire Grove, Greenwald, Elrosa, Spring Hill, St. Martin (and in-town St. Martin), Roscoe, Farming, Richmond, Cold Spring and Eden Valley. In a funding partnership with Stearns County and the State of Minnesota, Arvig will improve internet speeds up to 10 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. The fiber-to-the-premise will provide Stearns County residents with the ability to run their at-home businesses and farms, or work from home, more efficiently, they can continue or pursue their education online with confidence, they will have better access to telehealth services and they will simply be able to access more entertainment and stay connected with their friends and family.

• Total eligible project cost is $18,424,333
• Local match is $13,449,763

Midco (Midcontinent Communications) – Forest Lake – GRANT $975,131

This last mile project will serve 313 unserved and underserved households and 10 unserved and underserved businesses, farms and community anchor institutions in southern Forest Lake, Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and City of Forest Lake, Midco will improve unserved/underserved levels to symmetrical 5 Gbps speeds, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building a fiber to the home plant provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the Forest Lake area, improves access to critical school e-learning and makes agricultural operations, business and government more efficient. The broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources and will stimulate a more robust local area economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,950,262
• Local match is $975,131

Midco (Midcontinent Communications) – Isanti County – GRANT $1,647,321

This last mile project will serve 545 unserved and underserved households and 17 unserved and underserved businesses, farms and community anchor institutions in portions of Isanti County in Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Isanti County and Bradford Township, Midco will improve unserved/underserved levels to symmetrical 5 Gbps speeds, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building a fiber to the home plant provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the Isanti County area, improves access to critical school e-learning and makes agricultural operations, business and government more efficient. The broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources and will stimulate a more robust local area economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $3,294,642
• Local match is $1,647,321

Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) – Phase 6 MLEC Fiber to the Home – GRANT $1,231,818

The last mile fiber-to-the home project will serve 156 unserved households, 9 unserved businesses and 31 unserved farms. The project will also provide service to 39 underserved residents, 3 underserved businesses and 12 underserved farms in Aitkin County, that includes portions of the townships of Spencer, Nordland, Glen and Wealthwood. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative along with CTC and Aitkin County, will exceed Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal and bring 1 Gbps symmetrical service to the area. MLEC's FTTH proposed project will provide a high-quality dependable communications infrastructure that will fundamentally expand the educational, economic, and healthcare opportunities in the area. The FTTH project will not only help promote rural economic development but will help transform the unserved and under-served areas into highly productive rural communities

• Total eligible project cost is $2,473,636
• Local match is $1,241,818

Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Belle Lake and Hutchinson East FTTP – GRANT $1,840,250

This last mile project will serve 300 unserved and 154 underserved locations in the Belle Lake and Hutchinson area. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will improve unserved /underserved levels to symmetrical 1 Gbps speeds , exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This Fiber-to-the-Premises Network will provide reliable, affordable, high-quality broadband to rural farms, businesses, and homes. Broadband access will enable these businesses and residences to utilize new technology and tools to grow and enhance their business and community. Residents will also have increased access to health care and education, that will allow them to thrive in a modern world.

• Total eligible project cost is $4,089,444
• Local match is $2,249,194

Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Brown County FTTP – GRANT $3,839,000

This last mile project will serve 497 unserved and 181 underserved locations in the rural areas of Brown County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will improve unserved /underserved levels to symmetrical 1 Gbps speeds, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This Fiber-To-The-Premises network will provide reliable, affordable, high-quality broadband to rural farms, businesses, and homes. Broadband access will enable these businesses and residences to utilize new technology and tools to grow and enhance their business and community. Residents will also have increased access to health care and education, that will allow them to thrive in a modern world.

• Total eligible project cost is $7,678,000
• Local match is $3,839,000

Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Cedar Lake Township FTTP – GRANT $2,436,427

This last mile project will serve 439 unserved and 133 underserved locations in the rural areas of Scott County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will improve unserved /underserved levels to symmetrical 1 Gbps speeds, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This Fiber-to-the-Premises Network will provide reliable, affordable, high-quality broadband to rural farms, businesses, and homes. Broadband access will enable these businesses and residences to utilize new technology and tools to grow and enhance their business and community. Residents will also have increased access to health care and education, that will allow them to thrive in a modern world.

• Total eligible project cost is $5,414,283
• Local match is $2,977,856

Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Nicollet County RTF DTF FTTP – GRANT $479,011

This last mile project will serve 23 unserved and 68 underserved locations in the Nicollet County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will improve unserved /underserved levels to symmetrical 1 Gbps speeds, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This Fiber-To-The-Premises Network will provide reliable, affordable, high-quality broadband to rural farms, businesses, and homes. Broadband access will enable these businesses and residences to utilize new technology and tools to grow and enhance their business and community. Residents will also have increased access to health care and education, that will allow them to thrive in a modern world.

• Total eligible project cost is $958,022
• Local match is $479,011

Otter Tail Telcom, LLC – North Fergus Falls – GRANT $3,381,661

This last mile project will serve a total of 1,186 locations comprised of 495 unserved households; 334 underserved households; 245 unserved businesses, farms, and community anchor institutions; and 112 underserved businesses, farms, and community anchor institutions in the North Fergus Falls area of Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Otter Tail County, and 5 townships, Otter Tail Telcom will improve unserved/underserved levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building a fiber-to-the-premise network that provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area improves access to critical school e-learning applications while also making agricultural operations more efficient and enhancing crop production through enabled precision agriculture tools. The broadband network will improve access to rural healthcare resources and will stimulate a more robust local area economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $8,454,152
• Local match is $5,072,491

Paul Bunyan Communications – Northern Minnesota GigaZone Fiber – GRANT $3,052,120

Paul Bunyan Communications will implement the Northern Minnesota GigaZone Fiber Project to bring high-speed broadband to at least 1,035 homes, businesses, farms, and community anchor institutions in rural portions of Aitkin, Itasca, and St. Louis counties. In a funding partnership with the state of Minnesota and organized townships located within the proposed project area, Paul Bunyan will improve unserved/underserved levels to up to 10 Gbps upload/download, substantially exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. A last-mile and fiber-to-the premise project, the proposed work is in response to consumer demand and will provide relief in economically distressed communities that need new alternatives to diversify and strengthen. The project will enable businesses to take advantage of online resources including training, marketing, and business support services. In addition, it will increase quality of life and economic opportunity for all residents by providing new avenues to pursue social life, entertainment, education, and employment. The project will also improve health and safety in the area by better connecting these rural areas to healthcare and emergency services.

• Total eligible project cost is $7,630,300
• Local match is $4,578,180

CenturyLink (Qwest Corporation) – CenturyLink City of Harris – GRANT $465,814

This last mile project will deploy the fiber and electronics necessary to 119 unserved and 66 underserved locations in Harris Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and the city of Harris, CenturyLink will improve unserved/underserved levels to 940 Mbps download and 940 Mbps upload speeds, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building a fiber-to-the-premise network that provides advanced, high speed broadband services to all households, businesses, and farms in the proposed grant area improves access to critical school e-learning applications while also making agricultural operations more efficient and enhancing crop production through enabled precision agriculture tools. The broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources and will stimulate a more robust local area economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,046,814
• Local match is $581,000

Red River Rural Telephone Association – B2B Breckenridge – GRANT $2,157,663

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 315 underserved locations near the Breckenridge, Doran and Foxhome area of Wilkin County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Red River Rural Telephone Association (dba Red River Communications) will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding 2026 state speed goals, with capacity for future 10 Gbps deployment. Expanding its fiber-to-the-premise network provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses, and farms in the proposed grant area. This advanced broadband improves access to critical school e-learning applications while making agricultural operations more efficient and enhancing crop production through modern precision ag technology. In addition, the project will increase career opportunities in the area, improve access to healthcare, and provide improved public safety to the community.

• Total eligible project cost is $4,315,326
• Local match is $2,157,663

Arvig (Redwood County Telephone Co.) – Redwood County Area Fiber Build – GRANT $1,336,037

This last-mile project will reach 15 unserved and 1,855 underserved households, farms and businesses in the cities of Belview, Clements, Morgan, Seaforth, Vesta, Wabasso, Walnut Grove and Wanda throughout Redwood County. Thanks to a funding partnership with Redwood County and the State of Minnesota, Arvig will be able to extend its growing fiber network to these structures with internet speeds from 100 Mbps/20 Mbps up to 10 Gbps/1 Gbps, meeting and exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. The all fiber-to-the-premise construction will begin as soon as the grant is awarded and will be completed before June, 2025, allowing these customers to receive the internet service they need and deserve. With the completion of this project, these Redwood County residents will be able to run their at-home businesses and farms, or work from home, more efficiently, they can continue or pursue their education online with confidence, they will have better access to telehealth services and they will simply be able to access more entertainment and stay connected with their friends and family.

• Total eligible project cost is $4,453,457
• Local match is $3,117,420

Runestone Telephone Association – Herman-Dumont – GRANT $2,493,637

This last mile project located in rural West Central Minnesota will serve 406 unserved households, including businesses, farms, anchor institutions, educators, daycare providers, medical professionals, and home based businesses within the Herman telephone exchange, and a portion of the Wheaton telephone exchange. The community that this project will benefit, currently experiences unreliable and slow Internet, and no Internet access at all in some areas. This Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project will bring reliable and affordable High-Speed Internet access to this community. In addition to partnering with the State of Minnesota, Runestone Telecom has secured support and financial commitments from all three counties that will benefit from this project; Grant, Stevens, and Traverse Counties.

• Total eligible project cost is $4,987,273
• Local match is $2,493,636

Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) – Grand Lake Township Broadband Expansion – GRANT $562,098

This last mile project will serve 321 unserved households, 9 unserved businesses and farms in Grand Lake Township with Fiber to the Home. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Savage Communications Inc and Grand Lake Township will improve services to 1 Gigabit Download and 1 Gigabit Upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 speed goal. Building this Fiber to the Home network will provide advanced, high speed broadband services to households in the proposed grant area and improve access to critical school e-learning applications, and rural health care resources, and will stimulate a more robust local area economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,124,196
• Local match is $562,098

Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) – Northern Mille Lacs County Broadband Expansion – GRANT $476,108

This last mile project will serve 146 unserved households and 3 Businesses within areas of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Reservation and Northern Mille Lacs County, with Fiber to the Home. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Savage Communications Inc will improve services to 1 Gigabit Download and 1 Gigabit Upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 speed goal. Building this Fiber to the Home network will provide advanced, high speed broadband services to households and businesses in the proposed grant area and improve access to critical school e-learning applications and rural health care resources, and will stimulate a more robust local area economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $952,216
• Local match is $476,108

Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc. – Dakota County Project – GRANT $98,750

This last mile project located in northwest Dakota County, including portions of the cities of Apple Valley and Lakeville, will cover 68 households and 1 business – all of which lack access to qualifying broadband service today. Using fiber-to-the-premises ("FTTP") technology, Charter's build will offer customers speeds up to 1000 Mbps download and 1000 Mbps upload, exceeding the State's 2026 speed goals. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Charter's FTTP deployment will be relevant and suitable for remote learning and remote working, offering very high bandwidth and low latency service attributes that accommodate numerous members of a household or small business simultaneously using bandwidth-intensive applications, such as video conferencing, telemedicine, video streaming, gaming, virtual or augmented reality sessions, and numerous other applications

• Total eligible project cost is $329,166
• Local match is $230,416

Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc. – Steele County Project – GRANT $158,052

This last mile project in northern Steele County, including portions of the City of Clinton Falls and Clinton Falls Township, will cover 56 households – all of which lack access to qualifying broadband service today. Using fiber-to-the-premises ("FTTP") technology, Charter's build will offer customers speeds up to 1000 Mbps download and 1000 Mbps upload, exceeding the State's 2026 speed goals. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Charter's FTTP deployment will be relevant and suitable for remote learning and remote working, offering very high bandwidth and low latency service attributes that accommodate numerous members of a household or small business simultaneously using bandwidth-intensive applications, such as video conferencing, telemedicine, video streaming, gaming, virtual or augmented reality sessions, and numerous other applications.

• Total eligible project cost is $351,227
• Local match is $193,175

Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc. – Wright County Project 3 – GRANT $1,824,009

This last mile project in southeast Wright County, including portions of the City of Delano and Townships of Chatham, Marysville, Franklin, Woodford, and Rockford; will cover 626 households and 12 businesses, all of which lack access to qualifying broadband service today. Using fiber-to-the-premises ("FTTP") technology, Charter's build will offer customers speeds up to 1000 Mbps download and 1000 Mbps upload, exceeding the State's 2026 speed goals. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Wright County, Charter's FTTP deployment will be relevant and suitable for remote learning and remote working, offering very high bandwidth and low latency service attributes that accommodate numerous members of a household or small business simultaneously using bandwidth-intensive applications, such as video conferencing, telemedicine, video streaming, gaming, virtual or augmented reality sessions, and numerous other applications.

• Total eligible project cost is $4,290,476
• Local match is $2,466,467

Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc. – Wright County Project 4 – GRANT $1,008,146

This last mile project will provide reliable high speed internet to 387 homes and 25 business in portions of the City of St. Michaels and the Township of Rockford in Wright County; all of which lack access to qualifying broadband services today. Using fiber-to-the-premises ("FTTP") technology, Charter's build will offer customers speeds up to 1000 Mbps download and 1000 Mbps upload, exceeding the State's 2026 speed goals. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Wright County, Charter's FTTP deployment will be relevant and suitable for remote learning and remote working, offering very high bandwidth and low latency service attributes that accommodate numerous members of a household or small business simultaneously using bandwidth-intensive applications, such as video conferencing, telemedicine, video streaming, gaming, virtual or augmented reality sessions, and numerous other applications.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,384,770
• Local match is $1,376,624

Arvig (Tekstar Communications, Inc.) – Nowthen Area Fiber Build – GRANT $219,727

This last-mile project will reach 73 unserved and 8 underserved households, farms and businesses next to the city of Nowthen near Twin Lakes. Thanks to a funding partnership with the City of Nowthen and with the State of Minnesota, Arvig will be able to extend its growing fiber network to these structures with internet speeds from 100 Mbps/20 Mbps up to 10 Gbps/1 Gbps, meeting and exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. The all fiber-to-the-premise construction will begin as soon as the grant is awarded and will be completed before June, 2025, allowing these customers to receive the internet service they need and deserve. With the completion of this project, these Nowthen residents will be able to run their at-home businesses and farms, or work from home, more efficiently, they can continue or pursue their education online with confidence, they will have better access to telehealth services and they will simply be able to access more entertainment and stay connected with their friends and family.

• Total eligible project cost is $549,318
• Local match is $329,591

Arvig (Tekstar Communications, Inc.) – Sherburne County - Elk River Area Fiber Build – GRANT $217,061

This last-mile project will reach 27 unserved and 15 underserved households, farms and businesses near Elk River by Elk Lake Road, by the new fire station and on the west side of Twin Lakes by Nowthen. Thanks to a funding partnership with Sherburne County and with the State of Minnesota, Arvig will be able to extend its growing fiber network to these structures with internet speeds from 100 Mbps/20 Mbps up to 10 Gbps/1 Gbps, meeting and exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. The all fiber-to-the-premise construction will begin as soon as the grant is awarded and will be completed before June, 2025, allowing these customers to receive the internet service they need and deserve. With the completion of this project, these Sherburne County residents will be able to run their at-home businesses and farms, or work from home, more efficiently, they can continue or pursue their education online with confidence, they will have better access to telehealth services and they will simply be able to access more entertainment and stay connected with their friends and family.

• Total eligible project cost is $542,651
• Local match is $325,591

Arvig (Tekstar Communications, Inc.) – Sherburne County Clear Lake & Haven Townships Area Fiber Build – GRANT $858,883

This last-mile project will reach 182 unserved and 30 underserved households, farms and businesses in Haven and Clear Lake Townships in rural Sherburne County. Thanks to a funding partnership with Sherburne County and with the State of Minnesota, Arvig will be able to extend its growing fiber network to these structures with internet speeds from 100 Mbps/20 Mbps up to 10 Gbps/1 Gbps, meeting and exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. The all fiber-to-the-premise construction will begin as soon as the grant is awarded and will be completed before June, 2025, allowing these customers to receive the internet service they need and deserve. With the completion of this project, these Sherburne County residents will be able to run their at-home businesses and farms, or work from home, more efficiently, they can continue or pursue their education online with confidence, they will have better access to telehealth services and they will simply be able to access more entertainment and stay connected with their friends and family.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,147,208
• Local match is $1,288,325

Tri-Co Technologies, LLC dba Crosslake Communications – Anchor Point Fiber Project – GRANT $343,552

This last mile Anchor Point Fiber Project will serve approximately 245 unserved households in Crow Wing County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Crosslake Communications, will offer broadband services at 1 gigabit per second symmetrical (upstream and downstream) to locations that were previously unserved, no later than June 30, 2025. The Anchor Point Fiber Project will promote rural economic development by providing access to broadband to 100 percent of the households and businesses within the Anchor Point grant funded area. This proposed fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) project will provide broadband data speeds at a variety of advertised data rates, with the capability of attaining speeds of 1 Gbps or more to every location. Crosslake Communications believes that sustainable broadband adoption will transform these unserved areas into highly-productive rural communities. Given the current demand for advanced technologies and high-speed broadband, FTTP will empower the area by providing the opportunity to be proficient users of broadband technology. This use and development of broadband will provide various home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, innovation and investment. Education, health care, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet access.

• Total eligible project cost is $858,880
• Local match is $515,328

Wikstrom Telephone Co. Inc – Wiktel NW MN Broadband 2022 – GRANT $665,699

Wikstrom Telephone Company (Wiktel) proposes to serve rural sparsely populated areas in Kittson, Lake of the Woods, & Marshall in far NW Minnesota, passing 150 home, business, and farm locations. The last mile project covers an unserved area with speeds up to 1 Gigabit, exceeding the 2026 State speed goal, on a fiber to the premise network. This partnership with the State of Minnesota will provide service to an area with only 1.5 subscribers per route mile of cable, in several cases extending from routes placed under the 2014-2020 Border to Border State Grant program. Broadband service is the key to Economic Development and stimulating a robust local area economy providing access to critical e-learning education services for our children, precision Agriculture, and at Home Health care monitoring in this remote area.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,479,331
• Local match is $813,632

Woodstock Telephone Company – Lake Sarah Township FTTP – GRANT $1,333,199

The Lake Sarah Township FTTP Project will serve 201 unserved households, 29 unserved businesses, and 57 unserved farms as well as 16 underserved farms, 8 underserved businesses, and 58 underserved residences in Murray County. In a funding partnership with Murray County and the State of Minnesota, Woodstock Communications (Woodstock) will improve unserved levels to 1Gbps up and 1Gbps down on their fiber network, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Building this Fiber To The Premises Network will improve access to education and health care services. It will also increase employment as businesses leverage this new network and telecommuting opportunities become accessible. This network is vital to their rural community and economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,962,664
• Local match is $1,629,465

Xfinity/Comcast Cable Communications LLC – City of Corcoran - Comcast Build – GRANT $1,298,785

This last mile project will deploy broadband service to 197 unserved households, 5 unserved businesses, 6 unserved farms, 253 underserved households, 30 underserved businesses, and 5 underserved farms in the City of Corcoran. In funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, City of Corcoran, and Hennepin County, Comcast proposes to construct a network that will immediately provide these residents 1.2 Gbps download and 35 Mbps upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Furthermore, the network will be capable of symmetrical speeds exceeding 100 Mbps/100 Mbps. Providing broadband service to this primarily unserved area will greatly improve the community's quality of life by enabling residents to expand their career pathways; access and engage in telehealth opportunities; pursue education; thrive in commercial farming, and more - all while protecting the rural landscape that is a goal of the City. This project will allow unserved residents that live in a large, sparsely-populated area of Corcoran, consisting of primarily rural homesteads and farms, to receive high-speed broadband service, at the same cost as the residents that live in more densely populated areas.

• Total eligible project cost is $4,329,283
• Local match is $3,030,498

Xfinity/Comcast Cable Communications LLC – City of Rogers Comcast Build – GRANT $643,056

This last mile project will extend Comcast's existing network in Rogers to serve 86 unserved households, 1 unserved business, 66 underserved households, 1 underserved business, and 11 unserved farms. In funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Hennepin County and the City of Rogers, Comcast proposes to construct a network that will immediately provide these residents 1.2 Gbps download and 35 Mbps upload, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Furthermore, the network will be scalable and capable of symmetrical speeds exceeding 100 Mbps/100 Mbps. Providing broadband service to this unserved area will greatly improve the community's quality of life by enabling residents to expand their career pathways; access and engage in telehealth opportunities; pursue education, and more - all while maintaining the rural characteristic that Rogers residents enjoy. Improved broadband access will continue to allow this community to grow as an economic and business hub as well as a popular community for families.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,607,640
• Local match is $964,584

2019 - 2020 Grantees

2020 Broadband Grant Recipients

• Download a list of 2020 Grantees
• Read about the 2020 challenge process for grant applications
• Challenge process results 2020
• Download the 2020 Funding Summary
• View a map of the 2020 awards
• View a map of the 2020 awards with Served/Under Served, Wireline Coverage awards
• Border to Border Broadband Grants 2014-2017, 2019-2020

Recipients

AcenTek – Rural Peterson Exchange FTTH – GRANT $1,492,096

This last mile project will serve 214 unserved households, 18 unserved businesses, 88 unserved farms, and two unserved community anchor institutions as well as 47 underserved households and five underserved businesses in areas of Fillmore and Winona counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Fillmore County EDA, AcenTek will improve these 374 locations’ broadband levels up to 1 Gbps download and 100 Mbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. These investments will bring the benefits of high speed broadband, increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for the people who live, work, and farm in the rural Peterson area.

• Total eligible project cost is $4,973,654
• Local match is $3,481,558

Arvig (Tekstar Communications, Inc.) – Lake Osakis, Sauk Lake & Smith Lake Project – GRANT $486,458

This middle and last mile project will upgrade approximately 230 unserved and 39 underserved locations in Todd and Douglas counties. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Arvig (Tekstar) will improve broadband levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. The area served will realize improved quality of life, including opportunities for business, education, health care, security, and telecommuting options.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,389,880
• Local match is $903,422

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase 2 Project – GRANT $338,011

This last mile project will serve 119 unserved locations in the Ramey telephone exchange located in portions of Lakin and Mount Morris townships in Morrison County and a small portion of Dailey and Page townships located in Mille Lacs County. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Benton Cooperative Telephone Company will bring service of 250 Mbps download and 250 Mbps upload to homes, businesses and farms in the project area, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals.

• Total eligible project cost is $965,746
• Local match is $627,735

BEVCOMM (Blue Earth Valley Telephone Company, Easton Telephone Company & Cannon Valley Telecom) – Rural Faribault County and Martin County Fiber Expansion Phase 2 Project – GRANT $1,182,818

This last mile project will serve approximately two unserved households, 203 underserved households, 46 underserved businesses, and 181 underserved farms in portions of Faribault and Martin counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Faribault County EDA and Martin County EDA, BEVCOMM will provide fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) at speeds of up to 1 Gbps symmetrical, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Broadband access will provide home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, and spark innovation and investment in the project area.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,957,043
• Local match is $1,774,225

BEVCOMM (Cannon Valley Telecom, Inc.) – Rural Morristown Fiber Expansion Project – GRANT $210,692

This last mile project will serve approximately 14 unserved and 94 underserved locations in portions of Rice, Waseca, and Steele counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Rice County Housing & Redevelopment Authority, BEVCOMM will improve broadband levels to 1 Gbps symmetrical, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. With access to broadband, education, health care, agriculture, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve within the project area.

• Total eligible project cost is $526,729
• Local match is $316,037

Charter Communications (Spectrum) – Cambridge Hills – GRANT $28,950

This middle and last mile project will serve approximately 41 unserved households in Marion Township in Olmsted County. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Charter Communications will bring broadband service levels up to 940 Mbps download and 35 Mbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Broadband access will enhance the quality of life for residents in the project area, enabling students to complete their school assignments from home and adults to work from home.

• Total eligible project cost is $96,582
• Local match is $67,632

Charter Communications (Spectrum) – Getchell Road – GRANT $11,400

This middle and last mile project will provide broadband service to eight unserved households in northern Duluth in St. Louis County. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Charter Communications will provide speeds up to 940 Mbps download and 35 Mbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals.

• Total eligible project cost is $25,360
• Local match is $13,960

Charter Communications (Spectrum) – West Lake Carlos – GRANT $24,450

This middle and last mile project will serve approximately 42 unserved households on the west side of Lake Carlos in Douglas County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Charter Communications will provide broadband service levels up to 940 Mbps download and 35 Mbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals and providing quality of life enhancements for the residents of the project area.

• Total eligible project cost is $81,661
• Local match is $57,211

Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC) – Stark-Ross Lake Area – GRANT $350,805

This last mile project will serve approximately 180 unserved locations in a portion of Ross Lake Township in Crow Wing County. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, CTC will provide speeds of 1 Gbps symmetrical (1 Gbps download and upload), exceeding 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Building this high-speed broadband network will enable students to better access educational resources, families to communicate with loved ones, businesses to grow and thrive, aging residents to live longer and healthier lives, and workers to telecommute and be more productive employees.

• Total eligible project cost is $701,610
• Local match is $350,805

Crosslake Communications – O'Brien/Goodrich Lake Fiber Project – GRANT $618,970

This last mile O’Brien/Goodrich Lake Fiber Project will serve approximately 232 unserved households in Crow Wing County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Crosslake Communications will offer broadband services at speeds attaining 1 Gbps symmetrical (upstream and downstream), exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. The use and development of this broadband will provide home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, innovation and investment as well as improve education, health care, energy efficiency, and public safety for the residents of the project area.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,547,424
• Local match is $928,454

Garden Valley Technologies – Northwest Thief River Falls and Euclid – GRANT $1,640,722

This middle and last mile project will serve 104 unserved and 22 underserved locations in portions of Marshall and Polk counties. The project will bring internet speeds to a synchronous 1 Gbps capability, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. Essential to the area’s economic prosperity, broadband will allow area residents to work from home and students to participate in distance learning as well as provide improved access to telemedicine and enable businesses and farms connectivity for financial management, pest management information and up to date weather information.

• Total eligible project cost is $3,281,444
• Local match is $1,640,722

Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association – Douglas County - County Road 34 FTTH Project – GRANT $1,551,370

This last mile project will serve 71 unserved and 544 underserved locations in Ida and Carlos townships in Douglas County. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association will improve unserved/underserved levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. This fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) project will provide households, businesses and farms with high-speeds needed to work, to learn, to play, and to connect.

• Total eligible project cost is $3,447,488
• Local match is $1,896,118

Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association – Douglas County - Hazel Hill Road FTTH Project – GRANT $692,929

This middle and last mile project will serve 212 unserved households, 79 unserved businesses and one unserved farm in Alexandria Township in Douglas County. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association will provide speeds of 1Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. Providing customers with adequate speeds to perform daily activities, along with improving their functionality, will enhance the quality of life in this community for years to come.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,732,322
• Local match is $1,039,393

Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association – Douglas County - Town Hall Road FTTH Project – GRANT $90,251

This last mile project will serve 46 unserved and 3 underserved locations in La Grand Township in Douglas County, including home-based businesses and households with telecommuters. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association will improve unserved/underserved levels to 1G per second download and 1G per second upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. This fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) project will provide the most dependable, reliable technology today, enhancing lives by keeping families and communities connected.

• Total eligible project cost is $225,628
• Local match is $135,377

Halstad Telephone Company – North Fisher Expansion – GRANT $619,000

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 57 unserved and seven underserved locations in portions of Huntsville, Nesbit and Fanny townships in Polk County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Halstad Telephone Company will improve broadband with speeds up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. Families living in the project area will improve their education and health with access to e-learning, e-medicine and other quality-of-life opportunities provided through a robust broadband connection. Farms will be more efficient and reduce their impacts on the environment by utilizing precision farming techniques. Businesses can increase productivity, allow remote working, and become more competitive as they use the improved broadband for operations, marketing, data analytics, and expanded e-commerce opportunities.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,376,000
• Local match is $757,000

KMTelecom – Rock Dell Northwest Fiber Build – GRANT $385,173

This last mile project will serve approximately 125 unserved locations in the rural Ashland and Vernon townships in Dodge County and Salem Township in Olmsted County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, KMTelecom will improve unserved levels to 1 Gbps up and 1 Gbps down, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals and enabling rural customers to have adequate online access to education, healthcare and work. This network will also allow the farming community to increase their productivity and have access to the latest farming technologies.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,283,910
• Local match is $898,737

KMTelecom – Rock Dell Southwest Fiber Build – GRANT $404,709

This last mile project will serve approximately 96 unserved households, 70 farms and five unserved businesses in rural Vernon Township in Dodge County and Sargeant Township in Mower County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, KMTelecom will improve speeds to 1 Gbps up and 1 Gbps down, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This network will bring broadband speeds that are now necessary for rural customers to have access to education, healthcare and work, as well as allow the farming community to increase their productivity and have access to the latest farming technologies.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,349,031
• Local match is $944,322

Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company (Lismore Broadband) – Iona FTTP – GRANT $219,714

This last mile and middle mile project will serve approximately 100 unserved locations including 75 households, nine businesses, 13 farms, and three community institutions within the town of Iona. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Murray County, Lismore will improve speed levels to 1 Gbps up and 1 Gbps down on their fiber network, improving access to education and healthcare services, increasing employment as businesses leverage this network and making telecommuting opportunities accessible. The new network is vital to this rural community and economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $732,381
• Local match is $512,667

Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Field of Dreams Hermantown Project – GRANT $624,751

This last mile project will serve approximately 267 underserved households, six underserved businesses, and one underserved community anchor institution in Hermantown in St. Louis County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and City of Hermantown, Mediacom will improve broadband levels to 1 Gbps download and 50 Mbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. This investment will improve quality of life and business development opportunities for the project area.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,249,503
• Local match is $624,752

Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Minnetrista Project – GRANT $189,752

This last mile project will serve 80 unserved households in Minnetrista in Hennepin County. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Mediacom will provide speeds of 1 Gbps download and 50 Mbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. By bringing broadband to this unserved area, the project will enhance quality of life and provide economic opportunities.

• Total eligible project cost is $421,673
• Local match is $231,921

Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Lake Koronis – GRANT $41,927

This last mile project will serve approximately 28 unserved and seven underserved locations in Union Grove Township in Meeker County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Meeker Cooperative will improve speed levels to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, meeting or exceeding Minnesota’s 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Building a fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) high-speed broadband services network will provide households, businesses and farms in the project area with access to e-learning, telemedicine, precision agriculture tools, as well as other critical applications.

• Total eligible project cost is $139,757
• Local match is $97,830

MiBroadband, LLC – Rural Preston FTTP – GRANT $1,173,330

The Rural Preston fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) project will serve 231 unserved and 26 underserved locations in the rural portions of southern Fillmore County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, City of Preston and Fillmore County, MiBroadband will improve speeds to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps upload on a fiber network, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. Building a FTTP network will improve access to education and healthcare services. It will also increase employment as businesses leverage this new network and telecommuting opportunities become accessible.

• Total eligible project cost is $3,370,372
• Local match is $2,197,042

Midco (Midcontinent Communications) – Scandia – GRANT $78,824

This last mile project will serve 78 underserved households and one underserved business in remote neighborhoods of Scandia in Washington County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and City of Scandia, Midco will improve broadband service levels to symmetrical 5 Gbps speeds, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. By providing high-speed broadband services in the Scandia area, this project improves access to critical school e-learning and telehealth and will stimulate a more robust local economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $434,144
• Local match is $355,320

Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) – Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative Phase 4 FTTH – GRANT $198,607

This fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project will serve 80 unserved and five underserved locations along the southeast side of Farm Island Lake in Aitkin County. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, MLEC will bring 1 Gbps speeds to 84 homes and one business on the fiber route, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. With access to a high-quality dependable communications infrastructure, residents in the project area will realize expanded educational, economic and healthcare opportunities.

• Total eligible project cost is $441,350
• Local match is $242,743

Minnesota Valley Telephone Company (MVTC) – Rural Franklin Fiber Project – GRANT $226,800

This middle and last mile project will serve approximately 45 unserved locations in the City of Franklin and the townships of Sherman, Eden, Camp and Birch Cooley in Redwood, Renville and Brown counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Minnesota Valley Telephone Company will offer broadband services at 1 Gbps symmetrical (upstream and downstream), promoting rural economic development within the project area. The fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) project will transform these unserved areas into highly productive rural communities, opening doors to advancements such as precision agriculture, and will empower the area by providing the opportunity to be proficient users of broadband technology.

• Total eligible project cost is $648,000
• Local match is $421,200

Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Goodhue Welch FTTP – GRANT $340,790

This last mile project south of Welch will serve 100 unserved and 15 underserved locations in Goodhue County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will bring broadband service levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. This fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network will enable households, businesses and farms in the project area to utilize new technology and tools to grow and enhance their community.

• Total eligible project cost is $973,686
• Local match is $632,896

Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Goodhue West FTTP – GRANT $532,232

This last mile project will serve 148 unserved and two underserved locations in Goodhue, Zumbrota, Minneola, and Belle Creek townships in Goodhue County and Chester Township in Wabasha County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will bring broadband service levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. The reliable, affordable, high quality broadband service will enable residents in the project area to have increased access to health care and education, and farms and business will have the technology to enhance their operations.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,520,662
• Local match is $988,430

Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Hutchinson SE FTTP – GRANT $169,369

This last mile project will serve 42 unserved and five underserved locations in the Hutchinson area of McLeod County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will bring broadband service levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. This fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network will provide reliable, affordable, high quality broadband to rural farms, businesses, and homes in the project area.

• Total eligible project cost is $423,423
• Local match is $254,054

Nuvera Communications, Inc. – New Ulm HDT 202 FTTP – GRANT $444,386

This last mile project north of New Ulm will serve approximately 80 unserved and 67 underserved locations in Nicollet County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will bring broadband service levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. This fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network will provide reliable, affordable, high quality broadband to rural farms, businesses, and homes, enabling them to thrive in a modern world.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,269,675
• Local match is $825,289

Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Webster Rural FTTP – GRANT $431,260

This last mile project will serve 103 unserved and 178 underserved locations in Wheatland and Webster townships in Rice County, Euraka and Greenvale townships in Dakota County, and New Market township in Scott County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will bring broadband service levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. The reliable, affordable, high quality broadband service will enable residents in the project area to have increased access to health care and education, and farms and business will have the technology to enhance their operations.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,232,171
• Local match is $800,911

Paul Bunyan Communications – City of Cook GigaZone Fiber – GRANT $311,254

This last mile project will improve high-speed broadband for 57 unserved and 254 underserved locations in the community of Cook in St. Louis County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and City of Cook, Paul Bunyan Communications will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals for homes, businesses, and community facilities in the project area. The project will enable businesses to take advantage of online resources, including training, marketing, and business support services. In addition, it will increase quality of life and economic opportunity for all residents by providing new avenues to pursue education, employment, healthcare, social life, and entertainment.

• Total eligible project cost is $691,675
• Local match is $380,421

Runestone Telecom Association – Villard – GRANT $1,463,259

This last mile project will serve 496 unserved households, 36 unserved businesses, nine unserved farms, and five unserved community anchor institutions in northeast Pope County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Pope County, Runestone Telecom will bring broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and up to 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project will increase economic development and facilitate telemedicine and distance education options not only in the era of COVID-19, but beyond.

• Total eligible project cost is $4,180,741
• Local match is $2,717,482

Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) – Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (Onamia) Broadband Expansion – GRANT $70,261

This last mile fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project will serve 102 unserved households within the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Reservation in Mille Lacs County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, SCI Broadband will bring service levels of 1 Gbps down and 20 Mbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. SCI will leverage its existing middle mile infrastructure to deploy a last mile fiber solution, improving access to education, telemedicine, telecommuting, and economic development for the project area.

• Total eligible project cost is $140,522
• Local match is $70,261

Sytek Communications – Morrison/Todd/Stearns County FTTP Project – GRANT $1,048,668

This last mile project will bring service to 130 locations in Southwest Morrison, Southeastern Todd and Northeastern Stearns counties. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Sytek Communications will extend fiber-optic lines to some of the most rural parts of Minnesota at service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. As a result of this project, families will have the tools they need to earn a living, educate their children and access needed medical care.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,330,373
• Local match is $1,281,705

West Central Telephone Association – Rural Staples Phase 2 – GRANT $465,050

This last mile project will serve 56 unserved locations in extremely rural areas of Wadena and Cass counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Sourcewell and Region 5, WCTA will bring service levels of 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding Minnesota’s 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Building a fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) network provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the project area, improving their access to e-learning, telehealth, the latest precision agriculture tools, and other applications that allow businesses to operate remotely and stimulate the local economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,033,445
• Local match is $568,395

Wikstrom Telephone Co. Inc. – Wiktel NW MN Broadband 2020 – GRANT $490,997

The last mile project will serve 153 unserved locations in sparsely populated areas in Kittson, Marshall and Polk counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Wikstrom Telephone will bring broadband speeds up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network will provide service to an area with only 1.5 subscribers per route mile of cable and is key to economic development, successful e-learning for children, and home health care monitoring in this remote area.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,091,104
• Local match is $600,107

Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association – SE Faribault/W Freeborn County FTTP – GRANT $953,842

This last-mile fiber optic project will bring service to 319 unserved locations, including 289 homes, 16 businesses, 11 farms, and three community anchor institutions in the townships of Clark, Foster, Kiester, Seely, Alden, Carlston, Manchester, Mansfield, and Pickerel Lake located in Southeastern Faribault and Western Freeborn counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Association (WCTA) will bring 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload service capabilities to this very rural part of southern Minnesota, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. As a result of this project, those served will have access to the broadband they need to adapt to the rapidly changing needs of business, employment, education, and social applications.

• Total eligible project cost is $3,179,381
• Local match is $2,225,539

Winthrop Telephone Company, Inc. – Bismarck & Transit Township FTTP Project – GRANT $716,000

This last mile project will serve 148 unserved and six underserved locations, including homes, businesses and farms, in Bismarck, Transit and Round Grove townships in Sibley and McLeod counties. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Winthrop Telephone Company will offer broadband services at 1 Gbps symmetrical (upstream and downstream), exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This project will promote rural economic development and transform these unserved areas into highly-productive rural communities.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,790,000
• Local match is $1,074,000

Woodstock Telephone Company – Lynd FTTP – GRANT $325,548

This middle and last mile project will serve 203 underserved households, three underserved businesses and three underserved anchor institutions in the City of Lynd in Lyon County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Woodstock Telephone Company will improve service levels to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. The network will enable new business and employment in the community, increase educational opportunities and resources, provide increased access to health care resources and increase overall quality of life in the project area.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,085,154
• Local match is $759,606

2019 Broadband Grant Recipients

• Download a list of 2019 Grantees
• Read about the 2019 challenge process for grant applications
• Challenge process results 2019
• Download the 2019 Funding Summary
• View a map of the 2019 awards
• View a map of the 2019 awards with Served/Under Served, Wireline Coverage awards
• Border to Border Broadband Grants 2014-2017, 2010-2020, 2022

Recipients

AcenTek - Rural Houston Exchange FTTH - GRANT $2,895,318

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 485 unserved and 424 underserved locations in areas of Houston and Winona Counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Houston County, AcenTek will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. These investments will bring the benefits of high speed broadband to the many farms in the project area, enable employees in healthcare to work remotely, and allow students to be more successful.

• Total eligible project cost is $9,651,059
• Local match is $6,755,741

Arvig (Loretel Systems, Inc.) - Cormorant Lakes Area Project - GRANT $430,780

This middle and last mile project will upgrade approximately 481 unserved locations near Pelican Lake, Lake Ida, Turtle Lake, and Big Cormorant Lake in Otter Tail, Becker, and Clay Counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Otter Tail County, Arvig will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. These investments will improve quality of life and business development opportunities.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,230,800
• Local match is $800,020

Arvig (Melrose Telephone Company) - Eden Valley & Melrose Area Project - GRANT $393,890

This middle and last mile project will upgrade approximately 84 unserved and 336 underserved locations in the Rice Lake and Brown Lake areas in rural Stearns County, and part of the Melrose industrial park near Interstate 94. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and the City of Melrose, Arvig will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Having this advanced access to the Melrose industrial park will address the needs of existing businesses and attract additional businesses. The rural Eden Valley portion of the project will see improved quality of life, including opportunities for business, education, health care, and telecommuting options.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,125,400
• Local match is $731,510

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company - Ramey Phase I - GRANT $936,759

This last mile project will serve approximately 253 unserved households, nine unserved businesses, two unserved town halls, and 97 unserved farms in the Ramey ILEC exchange in portions of Alberta and Granite Ledge Townships in Benton County, and portions of Hillman, Lakin, and Morrill Townships in Morrison County, and a portion of Page Township in Mille Lacs County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Benton Cooperative Telephone Company will improve broadband service levels to at least 25 Mbps download and 25 Mbps upload, and a maximum speed of 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload, meeting or exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. These homes and businesses will have faster access to needed crop prices, ordering parts, educational opportunities, and telemedicine services.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,676,454
• Local match is $1,739,695

BEVCOMM (Eckles Telephone Company) - Le Sueur County Project - GRANT $1,857,376

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 417 unserved households, 88 unserved farms, 59 unserved businesses, and 4 community anchor institutions in rural areas around the communities of Montgomery, Heidelberg, and New Prague in Le Sueur, Rice, and Scott Counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Le Sueur County, BEVCOMM will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Sustainable broadband adoption will transform these unserved areas into highly-productive rural communities. This use and development of broadband will provide various home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, and stimulate innovation and investment. Education, health care, agriculture, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet access.

• Total eligible project cost is $3,714,752
• Local match is $1,857,376

BEVCOMM (Pine Island Telephone Company) - NE Pine Island Fiber Project Phase I - GRANT $222,222

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 54 unserved households, eight unserved farms, 14 unserved businesses, and one underserved household in areas of Pine Island and New Haven Townships in Goodhue County, and a small portion in Olmsted County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Goodhue County Economic Development Authority, BEVCOMM will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. The use and development of broadband will provide various home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, innovation, and investment. Education, health care, agriculture, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet access.

• Total eligible project cost is $634,920
• Local match is $412,698

BEVCOMM (Blue Earth Valley Telephone Company & Easton Telephone Company) - Rural Faribault County Project - GRANT: $579,781

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 112 unserved and six underserved households, 50 unserved farms, and eight unserved businesses in areas of Faribault and Martin Counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Faribault County Economic Development Authority, BEVCOMM will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Sustainable broadband adoption will transform these unserved areas into highly-productive rural communities.

• Total eligible project cost is $1,449,451
• Local match is $869,670

Bois Forte Tribal Government - Bois Forte FTTH - GRANT: $1,248,790

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 10 unserved and 468 underserved locations throughout four sectors of the Bois Forte Reservation in northeastern Minnesota: Nett Lake, Palmquist, Indian Point, and Vermilion. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Minnesota Iron Range Resource & Rehabilitation Board, and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Bois Forte will improve broadband service levels to at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, meeting or exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This project will help increase jobs, wealth, and revenue throughout the entire reservation.

• Total eligible project cost is $2,497,580
• Local match is $1,248,790

CenturyLink (Qwest Corporation) - Nessel Township FTTH Project - GRANT $1,657,550

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 956 unserved and 64 underserved locations in Nessel Township in Chisago County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Nessel Township, CenturyLink will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Building a fiber-to-the-premise network that provides advanced, high speed broadband services to households, businesses, and farms in the proposed grant area improves access to critical school e-learning applications while also making agricultural operations more efficient and enhancing crop production through enabled precision agriculture tools. The broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources and will stimulate a more robust local area economy.

• Total eligible project cost is $5,525,167
• Local match is $3,867,617

Charter Communications - Lake Carlos Project - GRANT $74,540

This middle and last mile project will upgrade approximately 43 unserved households, two unserved businesses, and two unserved farms on the eastern side of Lake Carlos in Douglas County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Charter Communications will improve broadband service levels up to 940 Mbps download and 35 Mbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Consumers will be able to work from home, have better access to education and healthcare, and businesses will be better able to compete locally and globally.

• Total eligible project cost is $149,081
• Local match is $74,541

Charter Communications - Rosemount North Project - GRANT $499,072

This middle and last mile project will upgrade approximately 40 unserved and 225 underserved locations in northwestern Rosemount in Dakota County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Dakota County, Charter Communications will improve broadband service levels up to 940 Mbps download and 35 Mbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Project area residents have been actively engaged in an effort to improve broadband service offerings in their neighborhood.

• Total eligible project cost is $998,144
• Local match is $499,072

CTC (Consolidated Telephone Company) - Fort Ripley/Executive Acres Project - GRANT $830,587

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 279 unserved and 120 underserved locations in Morrison and Crow Wing Counties. A funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, SourceWell, IronFire Inc., Rub My Rack BBQ LLC, and CTC will help to bring reliable high-speed fiber internet services to several unserved and underserved areas within north central Minnesota. The new services will provide residents and businesses with internet speeds of 1Gbps download and upload, exceeding the Minnesota 2026 speed goal. Building a fiber-to-the-premise network that provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area will enable students to better access educational resources, families to communicate with loved ones who may be homebound or deployed by the military, businesses to grow and thrive, aging residents to live longer and healthier lives, workers to telecommute and be more productive employees. The broadband network will stimulate a more robust local area economy.

• Total eligible cost is $1,661,175
• Local match is $830,588

Emily Cooperative Telephone Company - Round Lake Fiber Project - GRANT $376,000

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 242 unserved and 103 underserved locations in the Esquagamah Lake and Round Lake areas of Aitkin County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Aitkin County, Emily Cooperative Telephone Company will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. The use and development of broadband will provide various home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, and stimulate innovation and investment.

• Total eligible cost is $752,000
• Local match is $376,000

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa - Big Lake Road Project - GRANT $602,916

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 37 unserved and 99 underserved locations in a portion of Carlton County located within the boundaries of the Fond du Lac Reservation, including the western part of the City of Cloquet and Perch Lake Township. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, meeting or exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. By building a fiber to the home network, faster internet speeds will open up many opportunities such as telemedicine, home health care, electronic health records, online schooling, business development and more. All of these factors will assist in creating a more vibrant community and region.

• Total eligible cost is $1,205,832
• Local match is $602,916

Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association - Krohnfeldt Drive FTTH Project - GRANT $42,921

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 24 unserved locations in the Miltona Township area of Douglas County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, meeting or exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Providing customers with adequate speeds to perform daily activities, along with improving their functionality, will enhance the quality of life in this neighborhood for years to come.

• Total eligible cost is $95,380
• Local match is $52,459

Halstad Telephone Company - Rural East Grand Forks Expansion Project - GRANT $440,000

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 79 unserved and 22 underserved locations in areas of Rinehart, Huntsville, Sullivan, and Grand Forks Townships in Polk County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Halstad Telephone Company will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Families living in the project area will improve their education and health with access to e-learning, e-medicine and other quality-of-life opportunities provided through a robust broadband connection. Farms wills be more efficient and reduce their impacts on the environment by utilizing precision farming techniques due to the increased ability to transfer large amounts of agricultural data to consultants in shorter periods of time. Businesses can increase productivity, allow remote working, and better compete on a worldwide scale as they use the improved broadband for operations, marketing, data analytics, and expanded e-commerce opportunities.

• Total eligible cost is $1,067,362
• Local match is $627,362

Mediacom Minnesota LLC - Independence MN Project - GRANT $139,039

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 105 unserved locations in areas of Independence in Hennepin County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Mediacom will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 50 Mbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. These investments will improve quality of life and business development opportunities.

• Total eligible cost is $278,079
• Local match is $139,040

Meeker Coop. Light & Power Assoc. (Vibrant Broadband) - Lake Louisa/Lake Marie Project - GRANT $297,940

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 206 unserved locations in rural South Haven in Wright County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Vibrant Broadband will improve broadband service levels up to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, meeting or exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Building a fiber-to-the-premise high-speed broadband services network that will assist households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area by providing access to critical school e-learning applications, making agricultural operations more efficient and enhancing crop production through enabled precision agriculture tools, and providing effective telemedicine options that offset rising health care costs. The broadband network will improve the lives of all the citizens of the area, lessening the "technological divide" between urban and rural areas.

• The total eligible cost is $993,134
• Local match is $695,194

Midco (Midcontinent Communications) - Renville Project - GRANT $230,835

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 644 unserved households and 33 unserved businesses, farms and community anchor institutions in areas of the town of Renville in Renville County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Midco will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 20 Mbps upload, meeting or exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. The broadband network will improve access to e-learning applications, and rural health care resources; make agricultural operations more efficient; and will stimulate a more robust local area economy.

• The total eligible cost is $923,338
• Local match is $692,503

Midco (Midcontinent Communications) - Scandia Project - GRANT $510,358

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 64 unserved households and 155 underserved households in areas of Scandia in Washington County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and the City of Scandia, Midco will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 20 Mbps upload, meeting or exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. The broadband network will improve access to critical school e-learning applications, and health care resources; enable telecommuting options for residents; and make businesses and city institutions more efficient.

• Total eligible cost is $1,020,717
• Local match is $510,359

Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) - MLEC Phase 3 FTTH Project with CTC - GRANT $1,253,955

This last mile project will serve 282 unserved and 225 underserved households, businesses and farms in areas of Farm Island and Nordland Townships in Aitkin County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, CTC, and Aitkin County, MLEC will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. The use and development of broadband will provide new and improved home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, and encourage innovation and investment in the area. Education, health care, energy efficiency, and public safety will also be advanced with access to broadband Internet.

• Total eligible cost is $2,819,899
• Local match is $1,565,944

MVTC (Minnesota Valley Telephone Company, Inc.) - Rural Lucan Fiber Project - GRANT $635,400

This middle and last mile project will upgrade approximately 23 unserved households, 99 unserved farms, and three unserved businesses in portions of Vesta, Granite Rock, Johnsonville, Waterbury, Westline, and Vail Townships in Redwood County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, MVTC will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Sustainable broadband adoption will transform these unserved areas into highly productive rural communities, including the ability to make full use of precision agriculture advancements. Education, health care, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed internet access.

• Total eligible cost is $1,412,000
• Local match is $776,600

Nuvera Communications, Inc. - Hutchinson W Project - GRANT $346,282

This last mile project will serve 43 households, 11 businesses, and 55 farms in areas of Cedar Mills Township in Meeker County, and Boon Lake and Brookfield Townships in Renville County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This fiber-to-the-premises network will provide reliable, affordable, high quality broadband to rural farms, businesses, and homes. Residents will also have increased access to health care and education, and the opportunity to telecommute or start their own businesses.

• Total eligible cost is $910,704
• Local match is $564,422

Nuvera Communications, Inc. - New Ulm SW Project - GRANT $385,600

This last mile project will serve 51 unserved households, 13 unserved businesses, and 64 unserved farms in the New Ulm area in Brown County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This fiber-to-the-premises network will provide reliable, affordable, high quality broadband to rural farms, businesses, and homes. Broadband access will enable these businesses and residences to utilize new technology and tools to grow and enhance their business and community. Residents will also have increased access to health care and education, that will allow them to thrive in a modern world.

• Total eligible cost is $1,101,713
• Local match is $716,113

Otter Tail Telcom LLC - Long and Fish Lakes Project - GRANT $156,954

This last mile project will serve 70 unserved households and 18 unserved businesses, telecommuters, and farms in the Elizabeth Township area of Otter Tail County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Otter Tail County, Otter Tail Telcom will improve broadband service levels up to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, meeting Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building a fiber-to-the-premise network that provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area improves access to critical school e-learning applications while also making agricultural operations more efficient and enhancing crop production through enabled precision agriculture tools. The broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources, will stimulate a more robust local area economy and improve public safety through IPAWS.

• Total eligible cost is $448,440
• Local match is $291,486

Paul Bunyan Communications - North Central Minnesota Fiber Project– GRANT $2,562,916

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 914 unserved and 439 underserved locations in parts of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation and rural portions of Cass, Itasca, Koochiching, and St. Louis counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Minnesota Iron Range Resource & Rehabilitation Board, Koochiching County, and Morcom Township, Paul Bunyan Communications will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. A fiber-to-the premise project, the proposed project areas are a response to consumer demand and will provide relief in economically distressed communities that need new alternatives to diversify and strengthen.

• Total eligible cost is $6,268,400
• Local match is $3,705,484

Runestone Telecom Association - South Alexandria Project - GRANT $1,760,423

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 908 unserved locations in areas of Lake Mary, Hudson, and La Grand Townships in Douglas County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Runestone Telecom will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This project proposal began in late 2017 with three residents approaching Runestone in search of a solution to their lack of broadband service. By improving internet connectivity in rural Minnesota, this project addresses how providing broadband access can increase economic development and reduce factors contributing to the population exodus from unserved rural locations.

• Total eligible cost is $4,401,058
• Local match is $2,640,635

SCI Broadband (Savage Communications Inc.) - Glen Township Broadband Expansion Project - GRANT $195,848

This last mile project will serve 269 unserved homes, three unserved businesses, three unserved farms, one unserved community institution and five underserved homes in areas of Glen Township in Aitkin County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Aitkin County, SCI Broadband will improve broadband service levels up to 250 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. SCI will leverage its existing middle mile infrastructure to deploy a last mile fiber to the premise network to local businesses and residents. Building the fiber to the premise network will improve access to education, telemedicine, telecommuting, and economic development as a whole within the region.

• Total eligible cost is $401,695
• Local match is $205,847

WCTA (West Central Telephone Association) - Rural Staples Phase I Project - GRANT $555,355

This last mile project will serve 69 unserved households and 40 unserved businesses, farms, and community anchor institutions in areas of Staples and Villard townships in Todd County; areas of Thomastown township in Wadena County; and areas of Becker township in Cass County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Sourcewell, and Region 5, WCTA will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Broadband access will allow farmers and ranchers to follow markets, talk with customers and reach new markets, and use the latest precision agriculture tools to enhance their operations. The broadband network will improve access to health care, specifically mental health and senior care through e-visits and tele-health applications. Broadband will also help business owners manage remotely and could stimulate the local economy.

• Total eligible cost is $1,234,123
• Local match is $678,768

Wikstrom Telephone - Wiktel NW MN Broadband Project - GRANT $1,151,526

This last mile project will upgrade approximately 316 unserved locations in areas of Kittson, Marshall, Lake of the Woods, Pennington, and Roseau Counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Wikstrom Telephone will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This project will provide service to an area with 1.6 subscribers per route mile of cable, in some cases extending from routes placed under the 2016 and 2017 Border to Border State Grant program. Broadband service is the key to economic development, successful education services for children, and allows at-home health care monitoring in this remote area.

• Total eligible cost is $2,558,946
• Local match is $1,407,420

2014 - 2017 Grantees

2017 Broadband Grant Recipients

• Download a list of 2017 Grantees
• Read about the 2017 challenge process for grant applications
• Challenge process results 2017
• Download the 2017 Funding Summary
• View a map of the 2017 awards
• View a map of the 2017 awards with Served/Under Served, Wireline Coverage awards
• Border to Border Broadband Grants 2014-2017, 2019-2020, 2022

Recipients

AcenTek - Rushford Village/Rural Rushford Fiber Build - Grant $2,011,628

The Rushford Village/Rural Rushford Fiber Build last mile project will serve 226 unserved households, 20 unserved businesses, and 289 underserved households, 20 underserved businesses, and 2 underserved community anchor institutions in the Rushford Village/Rural Rushford exchange in Fillmore County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Fillmore County, AcenTek will improve broadband levels to a minimum of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) download and 100 megabits per second (Mbps) upload, exceeding the state speed goal set for the year 2026.

With fiber optic cable installation, rural Rushford will see many advancements in medicine, education, and agriculture. These three industries impact nearly every home in rural Rushford and Rushford Village. Agriculture producers will have opportunities for technology advancement, employees of area medical facilities may have options for telecommuting, and students will have faster Internet speeds for research and study materials.

Total eligible project cost is $5,158,020
Local match is $3,146,392

Advantenon - Rural Grant, Stevens and Wilkin Counties - Grant $316,554

The Rural Grant, Stevens and Wilkin Counties fixed wireless project will serve 528 unserved households, 132 unserved businesses, and 8 unserved community anchor institutions in eligible areas across these three western Minnesota counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Advantenon will improve broadband service levels to 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload, exceeding the state speed goal set for the year 2026.

This project delivers the goal of Border to Border coverage for all residents of the covered counties, benefiting residents, businesses and public entities alike through enhanced access to healthcare services, education options, entertainment and business connectivity not previously possible.

Total eligible project cost is $659,488
Local match is $342,934

Albany Mutual Telephone Association - Two Rivers Area - GRANT $616,743

This last mile project will extend the existing Albany Fiber-to-the-Home network to serve 121 unserved households and home-based businesses in an area northeast of Albany in Stearns County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Albany Mutual Telephone Association will improve broadband service levels to exceed the 2022 state goal of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. The all-optical network will provide more opportunity for the creation of new businesses, educational advances and access to healthcare services including wearable technology and home monitoring devices.

Total eligible project cost is $1,233,486
Local match is $616,743

Arvig - Pelican Rapids rural non-ACAM - GRANT $633,642

This middle and last mile project will upgrade approximately 546 unserved households and 60 unserved businesses in the Pelican Rapids rural area of Otter Tail County. A funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Arvig will improve broadband service levels to at least 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload, meeting or exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. These investments will improve quality of life and business development opportunities.

Total eligible project cost is $1,624,725
Local match is $991,083

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company - Rice Ramey - GRANT $765,015

The project will serve 250 unserved households and 73 unserved businesses in the area northeast of Rice in Benton and Morrison Counties with improved broadband service levels that meet or exceed the 2026 state goal of 100 Mbps download by 20 Mbps upload. This includes Langola, Graham and sections 5 and 6 of Mayhew Lake Townships, all located in Benton County, and a portion of Buckman Township located in Morrison County. Having this advanced access will improve quality of life in these rural Rice areas, including opening opportunities for business, education, health care, and telecommuting options.

Total eligible project cost is $2,637,985
Local match is $1,872,970

BEVCOMM (Easton Telephone Company) - Delavan SE Rural Project - GRANT $220,350

This last mile project will serve 25 unserved households and 30 unserved businesses in the Delavan SE Rural Project located in Faribault County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, the Easton Telephone Company will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals The Delavan SE Rural Project will promote rural economic development by providing access to broadband to 100% of the households and businesses within the proposed funded service area, transforming this low income area into a highly productive rural community. The use and development of broadband will open up various home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, and encourage innovation and investment. Education, health care, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet access.

Total eligible project cost is $565,000
Local match is $344,650

BEVCOMM (Cannon Valley Telephone) - Freeborn Southwest Rural Final - GRANT $122,460

This last mile project will serve 15 unserved households and 17 unserved businesses in the rural Freeborn area, in Freeborn County, completing a Border-to-Border grant build begun there two years ago. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Cannon Valley Telecom will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. The project will open up opportunities for business development including various home-based business options, stimulating economic growth, innovation and investment. Education, health care, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet access.

Total eligible project cost is $314,000
Local match is $191,540

BEVCOMM (Granada Telephone Company) - Granada Rural Final - GRANT: $202,410

This last mile project will serve 35 unserved households and 21 unserved businesses in the rural Granada area located in Martin County, completing a Border-to-Border grant build begun there one year ago. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Granada Telephone Company will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This use and development of broadband will provide various home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, and encourage innovation and investment. Education, health care, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet access.

Total eligible project cost is $519,000
Local match is $316,590

Carlton County w/ Frontier - Phase I: Cromwell/Kettle River - GRANT: $569,058

The project will leverage federal CAF II funding available to Frontier Communications combined with State of Minnesota grant dollars to bring enhanced broadband to 298 currently unserved households in the western one-third of Carlton County in northeastern MN, in and around the communities of Cromwell and Kettle River. The project will improve broadband service levels to the 2022 state speed goal of at least 25 Mbps download by 3 Mbps upload. Work, school, and family life will be vastly improved with students being able to do homework at home, along with expanded options for telecommuting and growing or starting businesses that require sufficient bandwidth to be competitive in local and world markets from this remote area.

Total eligible project cost is $1,138,117
Local match is $569,059

CenturyLink - Fish Lake Township FTTH Project - GRANT $1,833,724

This last mile, fiber-to-the-home project will serve 919 unserved households, 7 unserved businesses, and one unserved community anchor institution in Fish Lake Township in rural Chisago County. In a funding partnership leveraging federal (CAF II), state grant and local township funding, CenturyLink will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This state-of-the-art advanced broadband network will have a significant positive impact on people in the project area. Consumers will be able to work from home, have better access to education and healthcare, and businesses will be better able to compete locally and globally.

Total eligible project cost is $4,584,310
Local match is $2,750,586

CenturyLink - Fredenberg Township FTTH Project - GRANT $1,809,312

This last mile project will serve 835 unserved households and 17 unserved businesses with fiber-to-the-home in Fredenberg Township near Duluth in St. Louis County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, CenturyLink will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals in an area that for the most part, can currently obtain no more than 4 Mbps download speed. A state-of-the-art advanced broadband network will have a significant and positive impact on people in the project area. Consumers will be able to work from home, have better access to education and healthcare, and businesses will be better able to compete locally and globally.

Total eligible project cost is $3,618,625
Local match is $ 1,809,313

Farmers Mutual Telephone - City of Watson and SW Lac qui Parle County FTTP - GRANT $760,501

This last mile project will serve 136 unserved households, 15 unserved businesses, and 5 community anchor institutions within the City of Watson and several unserved areas of southwest Lac qui Parle County in western Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and the City of Watson, Farmers Mutual Telephone will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Broadband infrastructure has been identified as a high priority in the regional strategic plan.

The investments will help support job creation and economic prosperity throughout the region, helping numerous businesses create jobs and be more competitive. New jobs related to farming, home-based business start-ups, and commercial expansions are all possible with improved broadband infrastructure. It will also provide improved accessibility for all residents to health care and education opportunities.

Total eligible project cost is $1,552,043
Local match is $791,542

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa - Brookston Project - GRANT $258,265

This last mile project will serve up to 108 unserved homes, 8 unserved businesses, and 1 community anchor institution in a project area in the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation in northeastern Minnesota. This area also includes the town of Brookston. A funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goals. It will also add needed additional network redundancy for the Fond du Lac Reservation. The fiber-to-the-home network will open up many opportunities such as telemedicine, Home Health Care, and improved and secure electronic health records; and online education and improved business development and more. All these factors will assist in creating a more vibrant community and region.

Total eligible costs is $538,052
Local match is $279,787

Garden Valley Telephone Company - Bejou - GRANT $1,304,421

This last mile project will serve 214 unserved households, 17 unserved businesses, and 7 unserved community anchor institutions in Bejou and surrounding rural areas within Mahnomen County, including portions of the White Earth Reservation in northwestern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Garden Valley Telephone will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Bejou and White Earth leaders agree that the area is in desperate need of fast reliable Internet service to help the area progress, especially as technology continues to advance around them.

Total eligible cost is $2,608,842
Local match is $1,304,421

Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association - Douglas County: Country Estates FTTH Project - GRANT $101,624

This last mile project will serve 32 unserved households and 10 unserved businesses in Douglas County near Alexandria. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association will improve broadband service levels to 1Gbps per second down and 1Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This project will improve this neighborhood's quality of life, from gaining the ability to perform daily activities such as at-home online homework and telecommuting options, to opening new doors for business development and improved health care.

Total eligible cost is $225,830
Local match is $124,206

Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association - Douglas County: Pospisil Drive FTTH Project - GRANT $54,155

This last mile project will serve 18 unserved households and 6 unserved businesses in the Pospisil Drive Development near Alexandria in Douglas County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association will improve broadband service levels to 1Gbps down and 1Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This project will continue a build-out begun last year further expanding this neighborhood's quality of life, from gaining the ability to perform daily activities such as at-home online homework and telecommuting options, to opening new doors for business development and improved health care.

Total eligible cost is $120,345
Local match is $66,190

Hanson Communications - Minnewaska Area FTTP - GRANT $4,996,791

This Fiber-to-the-Premise project will serve unserved and underserved locations in Pope County, including: 274 unserved households and 535 unserved businesses; and 468 underserved households and 181 underserved businesses and 11 underserved community institution. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Hanson Communications will improve broadband service levels to 1Gbps down and 1Gbps up for rural subscribers in the Starbuck Exchange and the Lake Minnewaska Area in west central Minnesota, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Hanson worked together with Pope County officials to identify those areas in the rural portions of the county receiving less than sufficient broadband services. The primary customers will be residential customers and traditional family-owned farms, all to be served by reliable, affordable, high quality broadband to improve community and economic development opportunities.

Total eligible cost is $11,460,530
Local match is $6,463,739

Jaguar Communications - Sand Creek Township Area Broadband Project - GRANT $192,405

This last mile project will bring broadband service to 118 unserved households, 18 unserved businesses, and 3 community anchor institutions in the Sand Creek Township area of Scott County by constructing fiber to the premises. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Jaguar will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Jaguar's project will connect residents and businesses to a redundant, stable, substantial fiber optic ring, creating pathways to fully participate in today's digital society and economy.

The total eligible cost is $493,346
Local match is $300,941

KMTelecom - Rural Kasson Fiber Build - GRANT $606,108

This last mile project will serve 149 unserved households and 9 unserved businesses in the rural Canisteo and Ashland Townships located south of Kasson in Dodge County in southeastern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, KMTelecom will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Currently the City of Kasson has an all-fiber network. This rural Kasson Fiber Build is an extension of these broadband speeds to rural Kasson, bringing access to education, healthcare and work. The network will also assist area farms by increasing productivity through access to digital technologies for agricultural production and agribusiness.

Total eligible cost is $1,554,124
Local match is $948,016

Mediacom Minnesota LLC - Fountain 2018 Broadband Build - GRANT $202,125

In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Mediacom will leverage its existing hybrid fiber and coaxial network in the City of Fountain in Fillmore County in southeastern Minnesota, to increase and extend advanced broadband to 161 unserved households and 20 unserved businesses, exceeding the 2022 state speed goal of 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up. The project will unlock opportunities for distance learning, telemedicine, and telecommuting and other increased business development.

Total eligible cost is $421,094
Local match is $218,969

Mediacom Minnesota LLC - Medina 2018 Broadband Build - GRANT $62,219

In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Mediacom will leverage its existing hybrid fiber and coaxial network in the City of Medina in Hennepin County, to increase and extend advanced broadband to 22 underserved households and 12 underserved businesses, exceeding the 2022 state speed goal of 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up. The project will unlock opportunities for distance learning, telemedicine, telecommuting and other increased business development.

Total eligible cost is $159,535
Local match is $97,316

Midco (Midcontinent Communications) - Annandale East - GRANT $537,050

This project will build out improved broadband service to 40 unserved households, and 531 underserved households and 7 underserved businesses, in the area northeast of Annandale near Bass Lake and Clearwater Lake in Wright County in east central MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Midco will improve broadband service levels to up to 1 Gbps upload and download, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Residents will be able to increase work and business development opportunities, and complete a quality education online through this extension from the broadband system Midco recently built in Annandale.

Total eligible cost is $1,074,100
Local match is $537,050

Midco (Midcontinent Communications) - Wanamingo - GRANT $768,600

This project will build out improved broadband infrastructure to 597 currently unserved households, 76 unserved businesses, and 4 unserved community institutions in the City of Wanamingo in Goodhue County in southeastern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Midco will build middle mile fiber from Randolph to Wanamingo and upgrade its existing last-mile infrastructure in Wanamingo, improving broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps up and down. This build will connect Wanamingo to Midco's state of the art network, allowing customers access to a wide range of services that can improve work and business opportunities, health care access, and education access.

Total eligible cost is $1,537,200
Local match is $768,600

MVTC (Minnesota Valley Telephone Company, Inc.) - Milroy Broadband Project - GRANT $742,365

This last mile project will serve 246 unserved households and 22 unserved businesses in the Milroy Broadband Project located in both Redwood and Lyon Counties in southwestern MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Valley Telephone Company, Inc. will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. The broadband investments will promote rural economic development and transform through increased opportunity for home-based business options, education, health care, energy efficiency, and public safety.

Total eligible cost is $1,903,500
Local match is $1,161,135

New Ulm Telecom, Inc.- Hanska A&D FTTP - GRANT $324,894

This last mile project will serve 9 unserved households and 38 unserved businesses in the Hanska area south of New Ulm near the border of Brown and Watonwan Counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, New Ulm Telecom, Inc. will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This Fiber-to-the-Premises network will provide reliable, affordable, high quality broadband to rural farms, businesses, and homes. Broadband access will enable these businesses and residences to use new technology and tools to grow and enhance their business and community, including increased access to health care and education.

Total eligible cost is $721,988
Local match is $397,094

New Ulm Telecom, Inc. - White Rock Rural East FTTP - GRANT $411,704

This last mile project will serve 22 unserved households and 88 unserved businesses in the White Rock area in the northern half of Goodhue County in southeastern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, New Ulm Telecom, Inc. will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. This Fiber-to-the-Premises network will provide reliable, affordable, high quality broadband to rural farms, businesses, and homes. Broadband access will enable these businesses and residences to utilize new technology and tools to grow and enhance their business and community, including increased access to health care and education.

Total eligible cost is $914,898
Local match is $503,194

Otter Tail Telcom LLC - Red Oak Drive - GRANT $173,683

This last mile project will serve underserved and unserved residents and businesses north of the city of Fergus Falls in Otter Tail County in west central MN. This includes 7 unserved households and 2 unserved businesses, and 29 underserved households and 2 underserved businesses. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Otter Tail Telcom, LLC, will construct a fiber network initially provisioned to provide improved broadband service levels to 25/3 Mbps, meeting the state's 2022 speed goal, and will be immediately capable of meeting and exceeding the 2026 speed goal. Beyond the benefit of providing in-home access to educational resources across all learning levels and the growing adoption of telemedicine services by rural residents, these broadband investments provide families the ability to take advantage of Smart Grid and home automation technologies, shaving dollars off utility bills, contributing to a healthy environment, and adding the convenience of home network management. Self-employed individuals, contractors and business people will gain the ability to operate a virtual office. Another often overlooked benefit is improved public safety through the use of IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert Warning System) broadband compliant devices.

Total eligible cost is $347,366
Local match is $173,683

Palmer Wireless - Duelm Hwy 95 - GRANT $162,814

This last mile project will serve 60 unserved households and 21 unserved businesses near the town of Duelm in southern Benton County, using Fiber to the Home technology capable of delivering 1 Gbps speeds up and down. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Palmer Wireless will upgrade its wireless customers, and improve broadband service levels for others along the route, through a fiber network capable of meeting and exceeding the 2026 state speed goal.

The Benton Economic Partnership and Region 7W's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy identified broadband access as a fundamental infrastructure to attract and retain businesses, and enhance general quality of life. These broadband investments will help make the region a better place in which to live and to work.

Total eligible cost is $361,809
Local match is $198,995

Palmer Wireless - Sherburne County Road 3 - GRANT $110,661

This last mile Fiber to the Premise project will serve 20 unserved households and 10 unserved businesses, and one underserved community institution in Sherburne County in an area near the St. Cloud Airport with speeds of 1 Gbps download and 500 Mbps upload, which exceed the state 2026 speed goal. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Sherburne County, Palmer Wireless will make improve broadband service levels to this residential and farming area adjacent to the St. Cloud metro area, business industrial parks and the St. Cloud Airport. This builds on Palmer Wireless's partnership with Sherburne County to make broadband available to communities in which the county has proactively installed conduit and vaults along County Road 3, in conjunction with a highway improvement project.

Total eligible cost is $245,914
Local match is $135,253

Paul Bunyan Communications - North Central Fiber - GRANT $802,620

This last mile project will serve unserved and underserved areas near the communities of Park Rapids, Bigfork, and Side Lake, MN, to locations in St. Louis, Itasca, and Hubbard Counties in northern Minnesota. This includes 657 unserved households, 29 unserved businesses, and 5 unserved community institutions, and 130 underserved households, 13 underserved businesses, and 1 underserved community institution. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Paul Bunyan will build fiber-to-the-premise that will bring gigabit service to all of these locations, greatly exceeding the 2026 state and current federal speed goals. This project will improve the economic vitality of the region and bring advanced technology to areas that would likely not see state-of-the-art services without opportunities such as the Border-to-Border Broadband grant.

Total eligible cost is $1,783,600
Local match is $980,980

SCI (Savage Communications Inc.) - Dell Grove Township Broadband Expansion - GRANT $118,248

This last mile project will serve 170 unserved households, 3 unserved businesses, and 1 community anchor institution near and around Grindstone Lake located within Dell Grove Township, Pine County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, SCI Broadband will improve broadband service levels to 250 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up, meeting and exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. SCI will leverage its existing middle mile infrastructure to deploy a last mile fiber to the premise network to local businesses and residents. Building the fiber to the premise network will improve access to education, telemedicine, telecommuting and economic development as a whole within the region.

Total eligible cost is $236,496
Local match is $118,248

SCI (Savage Communications Inc.) - Shamrock Township Broadband Expansion - GRANT $148,503

This last mile project will serve 374 unserved households near and around the Big Sandy Lake area in Aitkin County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, SCI Broadband will improve broadband service levels to 250 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up, meeting and exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. SCI will leverage its existing middle mile infrastructure to deploy a last mile fiber to the premise network to local businesses and residents. Building the fiber to the premise network will improve access to education, telemedicine, telecommuting and economic development as a whole within the region.

Total eligible cost is $297,006
Local match is $148,503

Sjoberg's Inc. - NW MN Rural Broadband - GRANT $307,088

This last mile project will serve 98 unserved households, 10 unserved businesses, and 3 community anchor institutions in a large area west of Thief River Falls in Pennington County in northwestern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Sjoberg's Inc. will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and up. This project will leverage investments made by Sjoberg's and by ARRA/RUS grant/loan programs from earlier years and will finish out earlier state broadband grant projects, to complete Norden Township and a substantial portion of the unserved areas of Sanders and Rocksbury Townships. It will also support plans by DigiKey in Thief River Falls to add 1000 new employees. These employees are going to be knowledge workers, who will need access to advanced in-home broadband services for their jobs and for general quality of life in remote NW Minnesota.

Total eligible cost is $614,176
Local match is $307,088

WCTA (West Central Telephone Association) - Northern Todd County - GRANT $902,695

This last mile project will serve 209 unserved households and 6 unserved businesses within portions of Staples Township and Villard Township in Todd County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and several regional development organizations, WCTA will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Building a fiber to the home network capable of Gigabit broadband service will finally provide residents and business owners the reliable connectivity they have asked for and need. Students and instructors will be able to complete their work from home; healthcare professionals will have access to medical records and the ability to provide telehealth services; and businesses and farmers will have access to applications and online tools to boost their efficiency.

Total eligible cost is $1,805,390
Local match is $902,695

WCTA (West Central Telephone Association) - Wadena Rural Phase III - GRANT $874,581

This last mile project will serve 189 unserved households and 13 unserved businesses within Compton Township in Otter Tail County as well as portions of Wadena Township in Wadena County and in Stowe Prairie Township in Todd County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and several regional development organizations, West Central Telephone Association will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Building a fiber to the home network capable of Gigabit broadband service will finally provide residents and businesses with the reliable connectivity they have asked for and need. Students and instructors will be able to complete their work from home; healthcare professionals will have access to medical records and the ability to provide telehealth services; and businesses and farmers will have access to applications and online tools to boost their efficiency.

Total eligible cost is $1,822,044
Local match is $947,463

Wikstrom Telephone - Wiktel NW MN Broadband - GRANT $1,307,785

This project will serve rural sparsely populated areas in Kittson, Marshall, and Roseau counties in far northwestern Minnesota, passing 300 unserved homes and 31 unserved business locations. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Wikstrom will improve broadband services levels to 1 Gbps down and up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal, on a fiber optic network, and in some locations will extend the service from routes built via the 2016 Border to Border State Grant program. The broadband improvements will foster opportunities in economic development, successful education services for children and adults alike, and allow for critical home health care monitoring in this remote area.

Total eligible costs is $2,906,189
Local match of $1,598,404

Winthrop Telephone Company, Inc. - Cornish Township FTTP Project - GRANT $365,895

This last mile project will serve 58 unserved households and 2 unserved businesses in Cornish Township located in Sibley County in south central Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Winthrop Telephone Company, Inc. will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. The 60 locations are primarily agricultural-related sites, which given the size and technical sophistication of these operations, need advanced broadband to remain vital and competitive.

Total eligible costs is $813,100
Local match of $447,205

Woodstock Telephone Company - Balaton FTTP - GRANT $413,009

This last mile project will serve 305 underserved households, 28 underserved businesses, and 6 underserved community anchor institutions in the city of Balaton in Lyon County in southwestern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Woodstock will improve broadband service levels to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Woodstock has received many requests for service in the City of Balaton and is already providing service to a few businesses. Building a Fiber to the Premise network will improve access to education and healthcare services. It will also increase employment as businesses leverage this new network and telecommuting opportunities become accessible, strengthening and expanding rural community and economic vitality.

Total project cost is $1,424,169
Local match is $1,011,160

Woodstock Telephone Company - Pipestone County Wireless - GRANT $363,851

This middle mile project expands the reach of fixed wireless service to serve 135 unserved households, 540 unserved businesses, and 1 unserved community anchor institution in rural Pipestone County in southwestern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Woodstock will improve unserved levels to a minimum of 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload with higher speeds of 75Mbps/25Mbps and above where available. These speeds exceed the 2022 state speed goal. Woodstock has received many requests for service in the county and is already providing service to locations where they have existing fiber and wireless infrastructure available. Building a reliable high speed fixed wireless network with fiber backhaul will improve access to education and healthcare services and increase employment opportunities as businesses leverage this new network, strengthening and expanding rural community and economic vitality.

Total project cost is $727,703
Local match is $363,852

2016 Broadband Grant Recipients

• Download a list of 2016 Grantees.
• View a map of the 2016 awards.
• Read about the 2016 challenge process for grant applications.
• Read about the results of the 2016 challenge process.

Recipients

AcenTek Rural Lanesboro Fiber Build – Grant: $1,777,936
This last mile project will serve 431 unserved households, 42 unserved businesses, and 1 community anchor institution in the rural Lanesboro area, including Whalan, Carrolton Township, and Holt Township. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Fillmore County, AcenTek will improve service to 1 Gigabit up and down, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. The project directly affects 22 physical business buildings and provides telecommuting opportunities for employees of Rochester-based Mayo Clinic and IBM who live in the Lanesboro area, reducing 45-minute commutes to zero-minute commutes. This project has several non-financial partners, including Tri-County Electric and surrounding townships. Total eligible project cost is $4,678,780. Local match is $2,900,844.

Albany Mutual Telephone Association Big Watab Lake – Grant: $726,185
This last mile project will serve 242 unserved households near and around Big Watab Lake in Stearns County, MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Albany Mutual will improve service levels to 1 Gbps, surpassing the 2026 state speed goal. Many families work in and around the St. Cloud area and need high speed broadband service for school and work. Albany Mutual will leverage its existing network infrastructure to build out to this area. Total eligible project cost is $1,452,370. Local match is $726,185.

Arvig - Redwood County Telephone Middle Mile Fiber Extension – Grant: $27,998
This middle mile project will serve 15 unserved households and 20 unserved businesses near Morgan, MN, in an area southeast of Redwood Falls. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Arvig – Redwood Telephone will improve service levels to 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up, meeting the 2022 state speed goal. This is a rural farm area, home to Minnesota's annual FarmFest, and relies on quality broadband service for precision agriculture applications and to monitor crops and livestock. Total eligible project cost is $62,218. Local match is $34,220.

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company Bock – Grant: $510,000
This last mile project will serve 337 unserved households, 37 unserved businesses and 1 community anchor institution in the city of Bock and portions of Hayland and Borgholm Townships in Mille Lacs County and a portion of South Fork Township in Kanabec County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Benton Cooperative will improve unserved levels to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, reaching the 2026 state speed goal, increasing opportunities for educational access for all ages, telemedicine, telecommuting, and improved business development. Total eligible project cost is $1,760,897. Local match is $1,250,897.

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company Buckman – Grant: $276,230
This last mile project will serve 130 unserved households, 17 unserved businesses and 1 community anchor institution in the city of Buckman and sections of Buckman and Morrill Townships in Morrison County in central Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Benton Cooperative will improve unserved levels to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, reaching the 2026 state speed goal, increasing opportunities for educational access for all ages, telemedicine, telecommuting, and assisting the Morrison County Economic Development to enhance opportunities for existing businesses and those with an interest in locating to the area. Total eligible project cost is $708,287. Local match is $432,057.

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company Ramey – Grant: $225,100
This last mile project will serve 122 unserved households and 5 unserved businesses in the rural Ramey, MN exchange. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Benton Cooperative will improve unserved levels to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, reaching the 2026 state speed goal, increasing opportunities for educational access for all ages, telemedicine, telecommuting, and improved business development. Total eligible project cost is $776,220. Local match is $551,120.

Blue Earth Valley Telephone Co. (dba BEVCOMM) Rural Winnebago - Grant: $152,828
This last mile project will serve 18 unserved households (including farms), 8 unserved businesses, 2 underserved households, and 3 underserved businesses in the rural Winnebago area in Faribault County in Southern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Blue Earth Valley Telephone will improve unserved and underserved levels to 1 Gigabit per second up and down, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Broadband is the backbone for newer tools farmers use today. Rural Winnebago is home to livestock and grain agricultural production. Better broadband access provides greater outputs at a lower cost, including soil mapping, GPS systems for precision farming, irrigation and grain bin monitoring, livestock feed and environment monitoring, security, video surveillance, and energy management. Total eligible project cost is $382,070. Local match is $229,242.

Cannon Valley Telecom, Inc. (dba BEVCOMM) Rural Freeborn – Grant: $150,700
This last mile project will serve 10 unserved households, 6 unserved businesses, 9 underserved households, and 6 underserved businesses in the rural Freeborn area in Freeborn County in Southern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Cannon Valley Telecom will improve unserved and underserved levels to 1 Gigabit per second up and down, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. The economic engine of the proposed grant area is agriculture. Building a fiber-to-the-premise network to the farms and residences of the proposed grant area enables access to applications and tools to make their operations more efficient and enhance crop production. It will also improve access to health care and education, all factors supporting a robust local economy that is globally competitive, too. Total eligible project cost is $376,750. Local match is $226,050.

CenturyLink Thief River Middle Mile – Grant: $1,324,400
This middle mile project will serve 491 unserved households and 118 unserved businesses in a 71.4 mile fiber build from Thief River to Roseau in Northern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and CAFII federal funding, CenturyLink will improve unserved levels to meet the 2022 state speed goal of 25 Mbps download by 3 Mbps upload in CenturyLink's Baudette, Roseau and Warroad exchanges. The higher capacity broadband will help improve business development opportunities in the area, and increase access to education and health care. Total eligible project cost is $2,648,800. Local match is $1,324,400.

Eckles Telephone Company (dba BEVCOMM) Rural Heidelberg – Grant: $188,000
This last mile project will serve 51 unserved households, 7 unserved businesses, 40 underserved households, and 4 underserved businesses in the rural Heidelberg area in Le Sueur County in Southern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Eckles Telephone Company will improve unserved and underserved levels to 1 Gigabit per second up and down, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. The economic engine of the proposed grant area is agriculture. Building a fiber-to-the-premise network will enable these farmers to access applications and tools to make their operation more efficient and enhance crop production. It will also improve access to health care and education, all factors supporting a robust local economy that is globally competitive, too. Total eligible project cost is $470,000. Local match is $282,000.

Frontier Kandiyohi Initiative – Grant: $1,015,275
This last mile project will serve 1147 unserved households, 7 unserved businesses, and 7 unserved community anchor institutions in rural areas within Kandiyohi County, including the Atwater, Kandiyohi, Svea, Prinsburg, Raymond, and Lake Lillian exchanges. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Frontier will improve service levels to a minimum of 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up, meeting the 2022 state speed goal. For the businesses located in the project area, increased broadband speeds will improve work-life balance for employees, provide greater opportunities to grow and expand their customer base via increased productivity, and increase profit margins through better efficiency. Total eligible project cost is $2,030,550. Local match is $1,015,275.

Garden Valley Telephone Company Rural Thief River Falls East – Grant: $2,027,035
This middle and last mile project will serve 330 unserved households, 23 unserved businesses, and 2 community anchor institutions in rural Thief River Falls in northwestern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Garden Valley Telephone will improve unserved levels to 1 Gigabit per second up and down, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Over 100 residents and businesses in Pennington and Marshall Counties submitted petitions nearly a year in advance to support Garden Valley's B2B broadband grant application. They made both an economic and community vitality case, including the fact that two large Thief River Falls-based companies -- DigiKey and Arctic Cat -- struggle to find employees and spend considerable resources advertising for them. Broadband is essential to economic prosperity in rural communities. It enables employees to work from home when applicable and provides their children improved access to homework and educational resources. Total eligible project cost is $4,222,990. Local match is $2,195,955.

Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Douglas County Lake Louise – Grant: $68,240
This last mile project will serve 28 unserved households and 7 unserved businesses in Douglas County near and around Lake Louise. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association will improve unserved levels to 1 Gigabit per second up and down, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. With high-tech training provided by Alexandria Technical College, and major employers such as Douglas Scientific, Alexandria Industries, and Tastefully Simple, Douglas County is poised for growth. The lack of adequate broadband has been an obstacle in business development. Gigabit broadband will help to attract new residents and employees to the area, and enable current residents to more effectively run their home-based businesses and work from home. All residents will be able to tap into the power of the internet to continually self-improve and learn. Total eligible project cost is $153,348. Local match is $85,108.

Granada Telephone Company (dba BEVCOMM) South Rural Granada – Grant: $157,920
This last mile project will serve 26 unserved households and 14 unserved businesses in the rural Granada area in Martin County in Southern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Granada Telephone Company will improve unserved and underserved levels to 1 Gigabit per second up and down, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. The economic engine of the proposed grant area is agriculture. Building a fiber-to-the-premise network that provides advanced broadband services to farms and residences in the proposed grant area improves access to applications and tools to make operations more efficient and enhances crop production. It will also improve access to health care and education, all factors supporting a robust local economy that is globally competitive, too. Total eligible project cost is $394,800. Local match is $236,880.

Halstad Telephone Company Kertsonville Area - Grant: $296,665
This middle and last mile project will serve 51 unserved households in Kertsonville and Onstad Townships in Polk County in northwestern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Halstad Telephone Company will improve unserved levels to 1 Gigabit per second up and down, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. Small communities and farms in the area have changed drastically over the last decade. Farm operations now rely on and expect high-speed access to ensure they remain competitive in a high-speed global economy. Due to the very rural nature of this area and the distance required to travel to find employment, many residents have become self-employed. In Onstad Township, 30% of residents are self-employed, followed by 29.5% of residents in Kertsonville Township, nearly three times the United States national average of 10.9%. Residents use home offices to buy products, sell commodities, and do the majority of their business online. With advanced broadband access they can diversify beyond the limitations of the rural landscape and the often complicated weather challenges. Total eligible project cost is $593,330. Local match is $296,665.

KMTelecom Rural Mantorville – Grant: $764,663
This last mile project will serve 195 unserved households, 9 unserved businesses, and 1 unserved community anchor institution near Mantorville in east central Dodge County, with a small section of west central Olmsted County, in southeastern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, KMTelecom will improve unserved levels to 1 Gigabit per second up and down, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal. With broadband access to the Kasson-Mantorville school system, the Minnesota higher education system, the healthcare systems, and improved ability to compete in the business development arena, KMTelecom's subscribers will all share an enhanced quality of life. Total eligible project cost is $1,960,674. Local match is $1,196,011.

Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company Nobles County Broadband – Grant: $2,944,578
This middle and last mile fiber and wireless hybrid project will serve 469 unserved households, 1060 unserved businesses, and 6 unserved community anchor institutions across Nobles County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, along with community support from Nobles County and Nobles Economic Opportunity Network, Lismore Cooperative will improve unserved levels in the county to 25 Mbps download by 3 Mbps upload via a fixed wireless solution for nearly 1,000 passings, and fiber to obtain gigabit levels for close to 500 passings. Long-term, revenue from the hybrid project will fund fiber builds throughout the entire county, future-proofing a key economic development infrastructure and allowing enhanced access to healthcare, education, and employment via telecommuting. Total eligible project cost is $5,889,156. Local match is $2,944,578.

Martin County (with Frontier) Rural Broadband Initiative – Grant: $1,677,823
This last mile project will serve 1784 unserved households, 51 unserved businesses, and 9 unserved community institutions across Martin County in south central Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Martin County and Frontier Communications, the project will leverage federal CAFII funds and Frontier's existing hybrid fiber & coaxial network to improve unserved levels to a minimum of 25 Mbps download by 3 Mbps upload, reaching the 2022 state speed goal. Some areas will reach 100 Mbps by 20 Mbps, the 2026 state speed goal. Community leaders worked together to organize and fund a feasibility study for the project which showed a strong need for improved broadband. Without advanced broadband, future economic development would be impossible and current businesses would not be able to compete. Total eligible project cost is $3,355,646. Local match is $1,677,823.

Mediacom Fayal Township – Grant: $263,345
This last mile project will serve 167 unserved households, 3 unserved businesses, and 92 underserved households in Fayal Township, south of Eveleth in St. Louis County in northeastern MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Mediacom Minnesota LLC will improve unserved and underserved levels to 100 Mbps download by 20 Mbps upload, reaching the 2026 state speed goal. The Township and Mediacom partnered to identify areas in which broadband access should be made available, led by residents' desire to improve their quality of life through broadband expansion. Total eligible project cost is $675,243. Local match is $411,898.

Mediacom Harris Township – Grant: $224,369
This last mile project will serve 262 unserved households and 6 unserved businesses in Harris Township in Itasca County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Mediacom Minnesota LLC will leverage its existing hybrid fiber & coaxial network to improve unserved levels to 100 Mbps download by 20 Mbps upload, reaching the 2026 state speed goal. These improvements will support business development, health care and educational opportunities in the area, including enabling telecommuting to jobs and businesses outside the project area. Total eligible project cost is $773,686. Local match is $549,317.

Midco Canby to Marshall Middle Mile and Last Mile in Porter-Taunton-Minneota-Ghent – Grant: $623,000
This middle and last mile project will serve 1029 unserved households, 29 unserved businesses, and 11 unserved community institutions in and around the towns of Porter, Taunton, Minneota, Ghent, and Canby, between Canby and Marshall in Yellow Medicine and Lyon Counties in southwestern Minnesota. It will also serve several Minnesota businesses served by third parties leasing the Midcontinent Communications (Midco) network in this area. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Midco will improve service levels in the project area to 200 Mbps down by 20 Mbps up, meeting the 2026 state speed goals. One hundred percent of the homes and businesses in those communities will have access to improved broadband, significantly improving quality of life for local residents and the economic vitality of the region. Total eligible project costs are $1,599,000. Local match is $976,000.

Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative FTTP Project - Grant: $1,757,640
This last mile project will serve 763 unserved households, 2 unserved businesses, 2 unserved community anchor institutions and 31 underserved households and 2 underserved businesses in Aitkin County in north central Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, MLEC and Consolidated Telecommunications Company (CTC) will improve service levels in the project area to Gigabit speeds via fiber-to-the-home, exceeding 2026 state speed goals and bringing vital communications to Aitkin and Mille Lacs Counties. The initial project phase is located entirely within Aitkin County, the most unserved of all of Minnesota's 87 counties. CTC and MLEC are both cooperatives, following the 6th cooperative principle: Cooperation amongst cooperatives. This unique partnership will build a robust, future-proof network that helps provide new business solutions, along with enhanced employment, health care, and educational experiences. Total eligible project cost is $3,515,280. Local match is $1,757,640.

New Ulm Telecom, Inc. Goodhue-Bellechester - Grant: $332,328
This last mile project will serve 15 unserved households, 46 unserved businesses and 25 underserved households, 43 underserved businesses, and 1 underserved community anchor institution in the city limits and surrounding area of Bellechester in Goodhue County in southeastern MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, New Ulm Telephone will improve service levels in the project area to Gigabit speeds via fiber-to-the-home, exceeding 2026 state speed goals. Nearly all of the passings in this project area are farms or home-based businesses. Other businesses that will benefit include the USDA office, Ag Partners, Goodhue school system, and several banking institutions and insurance companies that interface with customers through online tools. The area also hosts many residents who will now be able to telecommute for Mayo Clinic and IBM in Rochester, MN. Since this project area is over 30 miles from Rochester, telecommuting will save significant costs on gas for and use of vehicles, and road safety and travel time. Total eligible project cost is $738,507. Local match is $406,179.

New Ulm Telecom, Inc. Hanska - Grant: $200,397
This last mile project will serve 14 unserved households and 32 unserved businesses in Lake Hanska Township in Brown County and Riverdale Township in Watonwan County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, New Ulm Telephone will improve unserved levels in the project area to Gigabit speeds via fiber-to-the-home, exceeding 2026 state speed goals. Nearly all the passings in this project area are farms or home-based businesses. It is prime area for rural/home-based businesses and farming. Access to high speed broadband can help many of these smaller operations remain in business into the future and open the doors to expansion. Total eligible project cost is $445,326. Local match is $244,929.

New Ulm Telecom, Inc. Mazeppa - Grant: $317,761
This last mile project will serve 87 unserved households, 11 unserved businesses and 66 underserved households in Mazeppa Township in Wabasha County, MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, New Ulm Telephone will improve service levels to Gigabit speeds via fiber-to-the-premise, exceeding 2026 state speed goals. Nearly all of the passings in this project area are farms or home-based businesses. Other businesses that will benefit include the USDA office, Ag Partners, Mazeppa school system, and several banking institutions and insurance companies that interface with customers through online tools. The area also hosts many residents who will now be able to telecommute for Mayo Clinic and Fairview. Total eligible project cost is $706,135. Local match is $388,374.

Otter Tail Telcom Battle Lake - Grant: $238,170
This last mile project will serve 62 unserved households in the Clitherall and Battle Lake areas in Ottertail County in northwest central MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Otter Tail Telecom will improve unserved levels in the project area to at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to meet the 2022 state speed goal. The build will enable telecommuting opportunities for workers, encourage existing residents to consider new business initiatives, and serve as a magnet for attracting new businesses to the area. Total eligible project cost is $476,340. Local match is $238,170.

Otter Tail Telcom Fergus Falls Area - Grant: $279,271
This last mile project will serve 79 unserved households near Elizabeth, MN, and in rural Fergus Falls in Ottertail County, MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Otter Tail Telecom will improve unserved levels in the project area to at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to meet the 2022 state speed goals. It will enable telecommuting opportunities for workers, encourage existing residents to consider new business initiatives, and will serve as a magnet for attracting new businesses to the area. Total eligible project cost is $558,542. Local match is $279,271.

Palmer Wireless Big Lake Industrial Park - Grant: $90,988
This last mile project will serve 17 underserved businesses and 1 underserved community anchor institution in the Big Lake, MN, industrial park on the east edge of town, adjacent to US Hwy 10. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Big Lake, Palmer Wireless will improve unserved levels in the project area to 1 Gigabit service, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps by 20 Mbps. The project will bring fiber-to-the-premise technology to the businesses, seeking to replicate the success of the 2014 Border-to-Border broadband grant project with the Becker Industrial Park, to make a positive impact on the economic health of Big Lake and the businesses in the park. Total eligible project cost is $211,600. Local match is $120,612.

Palmer Wireless Del Tone Road and St. Cloud Airport - Grant: $179,400
This last mile project will serve 14 unserved businesses and 1 unserved community anchor institution on the east side of St. Cloud, MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Sherburne County, Palmer Wireless will improve unserved levels in the project area to 1 Gigabit service, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps by 20 Mbps. The Del Tone Road, St. Cloud airport, and Hwy 10 fiber project will build fiber-to-the-premise technology to the businesses locations, leveraging the current Palmer network and other network partner assets to bring a cost effective solution to this unserved area. The resulting improvements will upgrade business connectivity in the Hwy 10 corridor, increasing business development opportunities and customer access. Total eligible project cost is $460,000. Local match is $280,600.

Paul Bunyan Communications Hubbard, Becker & Itasca Counties - Grant: $1,742,232
This last mile project will serve 785 unserved households, 26 unserved businesses, 2 unserved community anchor institutions and 143 underserved households and 2 underserved businesses in a multi-county region in north central Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Itasca County, Paul Bunyan will improve service levels in the project area to 1 Gigabit service, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps by 20 Mbps. The proposed project area includes rural portions of Itasca, Hubbard, and Becker counties. Combined, these areas are home to an estimated 2,750 people and nearly 50 small businesses. Businesses include restaurants, resorts, retailers, professional service providers, home-based ventures, and construction and landscape companies. For owners and employees alike, these businesses represent an economic engine and make possible a rural way of life. To be competitive, expand markets, ensure long-term viability, and increase employment, small businesses require access to high-speed broadband meeting or exceeding the state's broadband goals. This project will provide these businesses, households, and community institutions with that level playing field. Total eligible project cost is $3,904,083. Local match is $2,161,851.

Renville County HBC & RS Fiber - Grant: $807,966
This last mile project will serve 193 unserved households, 99 unserved businesses, and 3 community anchor institutions in portions of Preston Lake, Boon Lake, Brookfield, Osceola, Kingman, Winfield, Crooks, Erickson, Sacred Heart (North), Emmet, Flora, Henryville, Norfolk, Birch Cooley, Camp, and Cairo Townships in Renville County, MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Renville County, Hiawatha Broadband Communications (HBC), and RS Fiber will improve unserved levels in the project area to 1 Gigabit service, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps by 20 Mbps. For Renville County, fast broadband is as essential to its communities as quality roads, schools, hospitals and electricity, stimulating business and population growth. Total eligible project cost is $2,071,709. Local match is $1,263,743.

Runestone Telephone Holmes City 2 - Grant: $700,674
This last mile project will serve 267 unserved households and 32 unserved businesses in the Holmes City area in Douglas County in northwest central MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Runestone will build on its 2015 broadband grant project to expand further into the Holmes City area with 1 Gigabit service, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps download by 20 Mbps upload. Community members came to Runestone Telecom in search of a solution to their lack of Internet. They door-knocked to determine support and interest for the project. They established a practical and compelling need for broadband access to improve quality of life, including how it will positively impact their vocations, employment opportunities, access to education, health, and social connections. This project specifically addresses how providing broadband access can reduce the factors contributing to the outward exodus from unserved rural locations, reduce economic disparities, and mitigate the digital divide. Total eligible project cost is $1,401,348. Local match is $700,674

Sjoberg's Inc. Roseau and Lake of the Woods Counties - Grant: $354,740
This last mile project will serve 126 unserved households, 30 unserved businesses and 1 community anchor institution in several areas in Roseau and Lake of the Woods Counties in northwestern MN, including Jadis, Spruce, and Gudrid Townships. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Sjoberg's Inc. will improve unserved levels in the project area to 1 Gigabit service, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps by 20 Mbps. Broadband connectivity gaps remain one of the most significant barriers to furthering economic development in rural Minnesota. This investment will improve community well-being and serve as an infrastructural element that encourages job growth and business expansion. It will also enable residents to productively telework or operate a home-based business. Total eligible project cost is $709,481. Local match is $354,740.

Sunrise Township (CenturyLink) Fiber to the Home - Grant: $1,074,852
This last mile project will serve 584 unserved households, 10 unserved businesses, and 2 community anchor institutions in rural Sunrise Township in Chisago County, MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Sunrise Township, CenturyLink will leverage CAFII funding from the FCC to bring 1 Gigabit service to two-thirds of the township, exceeding the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps by 20 Mbps. When Stepp Manufacturing based in the township found that one of their highest operating costs was broadband, they started making calls to CenturyLink, Sunrise Township, and the Chisago County HRA-EDA. That resulted in the entire community working together, including a township match of nearly $600,000 in bonding, to get this fiber-to-the-home project that will improve business, education, health care, and telecommuting opportunities in the area. Total eligible project cost is $2,388,560. Local match is $1,313,708.

TDS Telecom Cass & Crow Wing Counties - Grant: $3,000,000
This last mile project will serve 3459 unserved households, 62 unserved businesses, and 4 community anchor institutions in Cass and Crow Wing counties in north central Minnesota including Backus, Hackensack, Ideal Corners, Pequot Lakes, Pine River, and Woman Lake. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, TDS Telecom (dba Arvig Telephone Company) will improve unserved levels to the 2022 state speed goal of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. Within the proposed project's footprint, 142 small enterprises (e.g., farms, breeders, taxidermy, auto shop) currently do not have access to high speed internet service. Given access to affordable high speed broadband through this project, these rural businesses will be able to expand their market beyond their local area and reach across the nation. Total eligible project cost is $6,000,000. Local match is $3,000,000.

WCTA Wadena Rural North - Grant: $718,850
This last mile project will serve 174 unserved households, 13 unserved businesses, and 2 community anchor institutions in Otter Tail County in northcentral MN, covering portions of Bluffton and Blowers Townships and also in Wadena County covering portions of Rockwood, Leaf River, North Germany and Wing River Townships, including the community of Bluegrass. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, West Central Telephone Association will improve unserved levels to 1 Gigabit speed, surpassing the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. The project will bridge the digital divide for government, businesses, consumers and students in the area, enabling this area of the state to find new ways to thrive. Total eligible project cost is $1,497,605. Local match is $778,755.

Wikstrom Telephone Company (with Beamco, Inc.) Rural Alvarado – Grant: $43,481
This last mile project will serve 11 unserved households and 1 unserved business in the Alvarado area, in a remote part of Marshall County, in northwestern Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Beamco, Inc., a local engineering and manufacturing company, Wiktel will improve unserved levels to 1 Gigabit speed, surpassing the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. This project exemplifies how rural businesses may realize greater benefit from effective Internet use than their urban counterparts because online services can remove geographic barriers to reaching customers and supply-chains. In this case, Beamco Inc. is helping fund the most up-to-date telecommunications at the highest upload and download speeds to reach its suppliers and customers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and China. In doing so, it is also helping local residents and households benefit from the same upgrades. Total eligible project cost is $86,963. Local match is $43,482

Wikstrom Telephone Company Wiktel NW MN – Grant: $950,823
This last mile project will serve 236 unserved households and 26 unserved business in rural sparsely populated areas in Kittson, Marshall, Roseau, and Lake of the Woods counties in NW Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Wiktel will improve unserved levels to 1 Gigabit speed, surpassing the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. Broadband has been clearly identified by Minnesota regional economic development agencies (including the Northwest Regional Development Commission) as an infrastructure element that encourages job growth and business expansion. Northwest Minnesota is considered to be a recreation and transportation industry cluster with major RV manufacturers such as Polaris Industries and Arctic Cat. This public-private partnership will benefit those businesses and area households alike. Total eligible project cost is $2,112,941. Local match is $1,162,118.

Winona County Pickwick Area – Grant: $416,640
This last mile project will serve 88 unserved households, 89 unserved businesses, 2 unserved community anchor institutions, and 23 underserved households and 23 underserved businesses within Wilson, Homer, Richmond, Pleasant Hill, and Wiscoy Townships in Winona County in southeastern MN. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Winona County with Hiawatha Broadband Communications will improve unserved levels to 1 Gigabit speed, surpassing the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. In addition to brick and mortar enterprises, a survey completed for the project shows at least 39 home businesses being operated in the area and an additional 45 or more individuals working from home or who would be able to work from home with improved broadband. Total eligible project cost is $868,000. Local match is $451,360.

Woodstock Telephone Westbrook – Grant: $412,391
This last mile project will serve 368 unserved households, 29 unserved businesses, and 7 unserved community anchor institutions in the city of Westbrook in Cottonwood County in southwest Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Woodstock will improve unserved levels to 1 Gigabit speeds, surpassing the 2026 state speed goal of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. Access to high-speed broadband will improve the quality of life in several different ways: new growth opportunities for businesses; more access to healthcare, education, and also employment via telecommuting. Westbrook has 10% less high school graduates than the state average. The school system has struggled to provide Internet for students. Higher education via distance learning would also become a better option with better broadband. Westbrook residents recognize that better broadband is a key element to attain, maintain, and strengthen thriving communities. Total eligible project cost is $916,424. Local match is $504,033.

2014 and 2015 Broadband Grant Recipients

2015 Broadband Grant Recipients

• See a list of all 2015 applications received at the end of this page.
• View a map of the 2015 awards.
• Read about the 2015 challenge process for grant applications.

Recipients

BEVCOMM Cannon Valley Telecom - Rural Freeborn Fiber-to-the-Premises Project

Grant award: $149,625

BEVCOMM Cannon Valley Telecom, Inc. will build out broadband infrastructure to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to 43 households and 1 business in the rural Freeborn area, in Freeborn County in south-central Minnesota, close to the Minnesota/Iowa border. The total project costs are $393,750; the remaining $244,125 (62 percent local match) will be provided by BEVCOMM.

Community and Economic Development Impact: Development and use of broadband will support various home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, and stimulate innovation and investment. Education, health care, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet access. The greatest economic development potential of the Rural Freeborn will be in area crop and livestock production including advancement in bin monitoring systems, livestock feed and environment monitoring, security, video surveillance, and energy management.

BEVCOMM Blue Earth Valley Telephone - Rural Winnebago Fiber-to-the-Premises Project

Grant award: $142,690

BEVCOMM Blue Earth Valley Telephone Co.'s Rural Winnebago Fiber-to-the-Premises Project will be building FTTP infrastructure in the rural Winnebago area to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to 30 unserved households and farms in rural Winnebago, in Faribault County in south-central Minnesota. The total project costs are $375,500; the remaining $232,810 (62 percent local match) will be provided by BEVCOMM.

Community and Economic Development Impact: The project will provide a state-of-the-art broadband network to the unserved locations within rural Winnebago. It will provide various home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, and stimulate innovation and investment. Education, health care, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet access. As in the Blue Earth-Freeborn project, the greatest economic development potential of the Rural Winnebago Project will be in area crop and livestock production. The economic engine of the proposed grant area is agriculture. Broadband investments will enable area farmers to access applications and tools to make their operations more efficient and enhance their crop production.

A second benefit is access to better health care for all, and applications that help aging adults or individuals living with disabilities to remain in their homes instead of being moved to a care facility. This improves quality of life for those individuals. In addition, the proposed broadband network will provide distinct benefits to first responders, paramedics, and rural doctors to share medical information and start vital treatment to a patient while an ambulance is en route to the hospital.

Consolidated Telecommunications Company - Fort Ripley Phase II

Grant award: $759,525

Consolidated Telecommunication Company will build out broadband infrastructure in the Fort Ripley area adjacent to Highway 371 to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to an additional 272 households. A Phase II project that leverages Phase I investments, this provider and regional development agency collaboration has extensive support from all sectors of the community and residents as part of a Resilient Region Virtual Highway multi-year, multi-phase regional development plan and strategy. The total project costs are $1,599,000; the remaining $839,475 (52 percent local match) will be provided by CTC and a combination of regional and local development agency investments.

Community and Economic Development Impact: A survey conducted by CTC within the Phase II project area concluded that greater than 83% of respondents would benefit from telecommuting, an option not available to them today without access to broadband. The project will enable that telecommuting and home-based business creation and expansion.

Federated Telephone Cooperative - Swift County FTTP 2015

Grant award: $4,950,000

FTC will build out fiber infrastructure in Swift County to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to 600 households, 425 businesses, and 75 community institutions. The project area includes the community of De Graff, the unincorporated Village of Swift Falls, and the rural parts of eastern Swift County. The project touches 13 of the County's 21 townships, filling in the entire eastern rural portions of the County plus a few locations in and around the City of Appleton in Appleton Township. Townships impacted include: Appleton/City of Appleton, Swenoda, Six Mile Grove, Clontarf, Benson, Torning, Cashel, Camp Lake, Kildare, Dublin, Kerkhoven, Hayes and Pillsbury. This is a provider and County partnership with support from all sectors of the community. The total project costs are $12,484,095; the remaining $7,534,095 (60 percent local match) will be provided by a loan to Federated by Swift County.

Community and Economic Development Impact: Both Swift County and Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission have identified broadband infrastructure as a high priority in their respective economic development plans. Completion of this priority would further their economic development goals for the county and region. Broadband infrastructure will help support job creation and economic prosperity throughout the County. The anticipated jobs impact is 500+ jobs over the next few years, related to farming, home-based start-ups, commercial expansions and more. Major industries in Swift County include bio-energy and agriculture, which both rely heavily on broadband for efficient reporting and logistics, including precision agriculture. GIS is playing an increasing role in both industries for mapping out logistics of their respective operations. There are just over 800 farms in Swift County (Ag Census 2012) and it's estimated that nearly half are located in the project area.

Halstad Telephone Company - Gentilly Township

Grant award: $424,460

Halstad Telephone Company will build out FTTH infrastructure in Gentilly Township in Polk County to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to 114 households, 20 businesses, and 1 community anchor institution in the Village of Gentilly and Gentilly Township (except for the NW corner of the township which is served already). The total project costs are $931,000; the remaining $504,540 (54 percent local match) will be provided by Halstad Telephone Company.

Community and Economic Development Impact: Among other improvements in community and economic development capacity, broadband connectivity in the project area will enable more effective agricultural management and teleworking, which creates new employment opportunities regardless of location.

Hiawatha Broadband Communications - Winona County Whitewater Area

Grant Award: $247,000

Hiawatha Broadband Communications will partner with Winona County to build out broadband infrastructure in Winona County, in Elba and Norton Townships including Whitewater State Park to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to 418 passings including 135 households, 70 businesses and 5 community anchor institutions. County and Provider-led with extensive community engagement, including schools, health care, businesses, cities and county, townships, and residents. The total project costs are $773,320; the remaining $526,000 (68% percent local match) will be provided by HBC and Winona County.

Community and Economic Development Impact: This area contains Whitewater State Park with an annual visitorship of about 300,000 people, Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, Crystal Springs Fish Hatchery, 75 farm operations, 32 commercial and industrial businesses, a school and numerous public institutions. The area has had an active group of citizens advocating for improved broadband so that businesses can grow and prosper, rural students can have improved educational opportunity, health care is more accessible, home values are supported, and public safety is improved. It also positions the area to compete for people and economic opportunities coming with the Destination Medical Center and growth occurring in the 7 Rivers Region in southeastern MN.

Midcontinent Little Fork Middle Mile

Grant award: $277,448

Midcontinent will build out broadband middle mile infrastructure between Little Fork and International Falls following MN11 to US71 to CR22 to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to 258 passings. The total project costs are $584,100; the remaining $306,652 (52 percent local match) will be provided by Midcontinent.

Community and Economic Development Impact: Once operational, these middle mile upgrades will benefit the entire community with increased speed, capacity, and reliability of data services.

MVTV Wireless Middle Mile

Grant award: $808,080

This project is a Middle Mile broadband infrastructure buildout to upgrade backhaul capacity between site locations within 20 southwestern Minnesota counties that will improve services to state speed goal levels and above to 6,000 households and businesses that are current MVTV customers, with leverage possibility of 29,000 more. The counties are: Blue Earth, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock, Redwood, Renville, Sibley Swift, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine. This project has extensive support from local public and private sector organizations and businesses and local citizens. In conjunction with existing and identified fiber points of presence, MVTV will enhance wireless backhaul aggregation links in select areas. The project deployment consists of 58 11GHz licensed radio links. Radio full duplex capacity will reach a maximum scalable throughput in excess of 1Gbps download and 1Gbps upload .The total project costs are $1,850,610; the remaining $1,042,530 (56 percent local match) will be provided by Midcontinent.

Community and Economic Development Impact: Agricultural data usage is exploding nationally and very apparent in MVTVs service area, from drone services, GPS-based millimeter farming to machine-to-machine data transfer. This broadband investment will improve broadband access and speeds for more than 3,000 current farm-based businesses and 6,000 rural residents across a nearly 30,000 square mile footprint.

New Ulm Telecom Goodhue Fiber Project

Grant award: $115,934

New Ulm Telecom will build out middle mile and last mile infrastructure in Goodhue County, Goodhue Township, near the city of Goodhue to provide state speed goal broadband service to 24 households, businesses, and community institutions. The total project costs are $244,073; the remaining $128,139 (53 percent local match) will be provided by New Ulm Telecom.

Community and Economic Development Impact: Nearly all of the passings in this project area are to farms or home-based businesses, consisting of rural residents who perform some type of work from their home location, such as farming, telecommuting, and home-based businesses. Without this investment, many residents in this area may be forced to shut down businesses, move to other locations, and resort to other measures to maintain adequate educational opportunities. There are multiple telecommuting residents, including those who do medical transcriptions.

Otter Tail Telcom Fergus Falls 864 - Hwy 59

Grant award: $295,432

Otter Tail Telcom will build out broadband infrastructure in the vicinity of Fergus Falls near Hwy 59, to extend its existing fiber cable at the north edge of Fergus Falls to serve 63 locations, including 56 households and 7 businesses and one cell tower. The total project costs are $621,962; the remaining $326,530 (52 percent local match) will be provided by Otter Tail Telcom.

Community and Economic Development Impact: The project will improve broadband service for several existing businesses and work-from-home residents. In addition, working in conjunction with the Fergus Falls Economic Improvement Commission, it will add value and create potential shovel-ready status for a new industrial park.

Otter Tail Telcom Hwy 59/94 PRT to POM

Grant award: $164,207

Otter Tail Telcom will build out middle mile broadband infrastructure north of Fergus Falls near the Hwy 59/94 intersection in Otter Tail County to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to 21 households and multiple community institutions. Areas north and south of Elizabeth, MN along Hwy 59 are included. The total project costs are $345,699; the remaining $182,437 (53 percent local match) will be provided by Otter Tail Telcom.

Community and Economic Development Impact: This new middle mile facility will provide needed increased connectivity to the Fargo/Moorhead area and redundancy for the Minneapolis middle mile facilities. All customers located in Park Region Telephone Company and Otter Tail Telcom's serving territories will directly benefit from the added connectivity. Neighboring telcos will also benefit with the added ability to provide necessary middle mile for them. Remote clinics and hospitals associated with Sanford Health and others will benefit from Metro E connection possibilities which will allow for seamless data flow of records, x-rays, scans, etc. It will also improve the capabilities of schools being served in the Region 1 area. Otter Tail Telcom and its other companies have constructed fiber to every school and library in their service areas. This new middle mile project would provide connectivity to the global network.

Paul Bunyan Central Itasca County Fiber

Grant Award: $1,980,000

Paul Bunyan Communications, in partnership with the IRRRB and Itasca County, with support from all sectors of the communities and residents, will build out broadband infrastructure in Itasca County, in portions of Balsam, Lawrence, Nashwauk Townships, and the former Iron Range Township that is now located within the City of Taconite, to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to 1193 households, 53 businesses and 5 community anchor institutions. This project is provider, county and regional development agency led, with many letters of support from all sectors of the communities and residents. The total project costs are $5,519,895; the remaining $3,539,895 (64 percent local match) will be provided by Paul Bunyan Communications, Itasca County, and the IRRRB.

Community and Economic Development Impact: The proposed project area is home to an estimated 3,500 people and approximately 100 small businesses. Businesses include restaurants, resorts, retailers, healthcare, professional service providers, home-based ventures, and construction and landscape companies, all economic engines that makes a rural way of life possible. The broadband project investments will open up new markets, provide new options for training and education of employees, increase opportunities for sales and marketing, and deliver a new world of business-related resources. In addition, it will improve the region's viability and attractiveness to telecommuters, freelancers, and others who are dependent on technology and the Internet for work.

It will also help maintain and improve health care resources, such as the Bigfork Valley health system which maintains an outreach clinic in Balsam Township. Currently, the clinic uses a cell phone hot spot which doesn’t allow the clinic to fully utilize electronic medical records, electronically share files between sites, or access online medical databases and resources. Most tele-medicine services are completely unusable with the existing technology at the clinic. The lack of broadband access seriously threatens the long-term viability of this rural clinic.

Runestone Telephone Association - Holmes City

Grant award: $189,990

Runestone Telephone Association will build out broadband infrastructure in Holmes City, in Douglas County, to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to 93 households, 14 businesses and 1 community anchor institution. This is a provider and community partnership with strong support of residents, businesses, and the township. The total project costs are $428,060; the remaining $238,070 (56 percent local match) will be provided by Runestone.

Community and Economic Development Impact: In late 2014, Runestone was approached by several members of the Holmes City area regarding the possibility of providing them with Internet service. Through a grassroots effort, residents actively gathered information, did door knocking, and held community meetings to determine support and interest. This project specifically addresses how providing broadband access can reduce the factors contributing to the outward exodus from unserved rural locations, reduce economic disparities, and mitigate the digital divide. In addition to brick and mortar businesses, numerous home-based businesses and telecommuters will benefit. As will about 32 school children who live in the area who are either home schooled or attend school in Alexandria, MN. At present, many of them cannot complete daily assignments, participate in team projects or conduct research necessary for papers and reports from home.

West Central Telephone Association Hwy 71 Wadena NORTH Expansion Project

Grant Award: $193,515

West Central Telephone Association will build out broadband infrastructure in the Wadena area and Highway 71 corridor north of Wadena to provide state speed goal broadband service to 162 households, 43 businesses, and 3 community anchor institutions. The project was designed to provide a robust fiber backbone that can accommodate a much larger project area over time. This is a multi-sector partnership, including WCTA, the National Joint Powers Alliance, the West Central Alliance (Regional Economic Development), and Region Five Development Commission, with extensive community engagement from local public and private sector organizations and businesses, and local citizens. The total project costs are $2,119,018; the remaining $1,925,503 (91 percent local match) will be provided by WCTA and a combination of investment by the local and regional organizations noted above.

Community and Economic Development Impact: Broadband investments to support e-commerce and cloud-based applications will help struggling small businesses succeed, provide telehealth to assist seniors “age in place,” tele-psychiatry to help address a shortage of mental health workers, online education to enable high school students to earn free college credits and provide others new learning opportunities.

Winona County Hiawatha Broadband Communications - Cedar Valley Area

Grant award: $314,450

Winona County and Hiawatha Broadband Communications are partnering to build out broadband infrastructure in Winona County, in and around the towns of Ridgeway, Witoka, and Wilson (Pleasant Hill, Homer, and Wilson Townships) to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to 256 households, 117 businesses and 3 community anchor institutions. The project area lies south and west of Winona from Hwy 61 along the Mississippi River to I-90. This is a multi-sector partnership between Winona County and HBC, with extensive local business, organizational and citizen engagement. The total project costs are $973,000; the remaining $658,550 (68 percent local match) will be provided by Winona County and HBC.

Community and Economic Development Impact: Due to excellent access to I-90, trucking firms find this area ideal except for the lack of broadband (as all scheduling and routing of trucks and loads is done on-line). In addition, there are 90 farm operations, 9 commercial and industrial businesses, 18 home-based businesses that have been identified (possibly 85 total), a school and numerous public institutions in the project area. Broadband investments will help businesses grow and prosper, provide rural students educational opportunities, improve health care accessibility, maintain and improve homes, and improve public safety.

2014 Broadband Grant Recipients

• See a map of grant awards.
• Read about the 2014 challenge process for grant applications, along with a list of all applications received.

Recipients

Arvig (Mainstreet Communications LLC), Sauk Lake area

Award: $536,702. Total project cost: $1.07 million. Impact: Service to 217 unserved premises.

CenturyLink Foley, Benton County–Balkan Township

Award: $382,883. Total project cost: $995,977. Impact: Service to 162 unserved households, 10 businesses, several community facilities.

Consolidated Telephone Cooperative, Region 5 Virtual Highway Project

Award: $2 million. Total project cost: $4.22 million. Impact: Service to 247 unserved and 90 underserved premises in Cass, Crow Wing and Morrison counties.

Federated Telephone Cooperative, Big Stone County

Award: $3.92 million. Total project cost: $7.92 million. Impact: Service to 1,072 unserved premises in the communities of Barry, Beardsley and Johnson, and rural parts of Big Stone County.

Halstad Telephone Co., Halstad Tract MN 11902500 FTTH

Award: $1.65 million. Total project cost: $3.3 million. Impact: Service to 249 unserved locations in Polk County.

Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative (ITC), Hendricks Town FTTP

Award: $700,000. Total project cost: $1.87 million. Impact: Service to 377 homes and farms, 57 businesses and eight community institutions, all currently underserved.

Mediacom, Pintar Road

Award: $137,848. Total project cost: $275,697. Impact: Service to 122 unserved homes and businesses on the southwest edge of the city limits of Hibbing.

Northeast Service Cooperative – Frontier Communications Corp., Border to Border Phase I

Award: $1.96 million. Total project cost: $4.35 million. Impact: Service to 877 homes and businesses in St. Louis County, including areas in and around Crane Lake, Alborn, Meadowlands, Brookston, Forbes, Kelsey, Soudan, Kabetogama, Ely and Tower.

Otter Tail Telcom, Swan Lake West

Award: $438,937. Total project cost: $877,874. Impact: Service to 110 unserved locations near Swan Lake, on the outskirts of Fergus Falls.

Otter Tail Telcom, Stuart Lake

Award: $105,364. Total project cost: $210,729. Impact: service to 47 unserved locations near Stuart Lake, just north of State Highway 210 and east of Fergus Falls.

Otter Tail Telcom, 245th

Award: $108,553. Total project cost: $217,105. Impact: service to 39 unserved locations.

Palmer Wireless, Becker Industrial Park

Award: $151,934. Total project cost: $303,870. Impact: service to 21 underserved businesses in the Becker Industrial Park and 12 vacant city-owned lots covering 70 acres.

Rock County Broadband Alliance (RCBA), FTTP Project

Award: $5 million. Total project cost: $12.85 million. Impact: service to 1,261 homes and farms, 68 businesses, and 21 community institutions in Rock County.

R-S Fiber Cooperative, FTTH Project

Award: $1 million. Total project cost: $3.32 million. Impact: Service to 62 unserved and 536 underserved locations in Sibley and Renville counties. The project is part of a larger cooperative project estimated at $38.46 million that will upgrade broadband services to several thousand locations in the region.

Sjoberg Cable, Broadband Grant Proposal

Award: $261,575. Total project cost: $523,150. Impact: Services to 107 unserved and 49 underserved homes, farms and businesses in five areas in Roseau County near Roseau, Warroad and Salol.

Wikstrom Telephone, Kittson, Marshall, Roseau Broadband Extension

Award: $425,000. Total project cost: $943,827. Impact: Service to 73 unserved and 43 underserved homes in Kittson, Marshall and Roseau counties.