Southwest Minnesota Broadband Group receives ARRA funding
We are very pleased to announce that the Southwest Minnesota Broadband Group (SWMBG) was funding. It’s been a whirlwind. We think we have a great project but it still seems a little unreal after so much preparation. Here’s our press release on the news.
Klobuchar comments on major regional telecom project
(February 18, 2010) U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar expressed excitement for the nine-city fiber-to-the-home project that received a $12.7 million federal boost yesterday afternoon.
Klobuchar appeared to be very excited about the project’s potential and impact at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, when she called Citizen Online regarding this major development.
The project, which will be based in Windom, brings fiber optics to homes and businesses in the following communities: Jackson, Lakefield, Windom, Round Lake, Bingham Lake, Brewster, Wilder, Heron Lake, and Okabena.
“As a strong advocate for broadband development, I met with this group and I was supportive of their project,” said Klobuchar, a Minnesota-based U.S. Senator. “As a country, we have ensured that every American has access to telephone service and electricity – we must now do the same for broadband internet access. I have heard first-hand from Minnesotans about the importance of making sure they have access to fast and affordable high speed internet. This project will increase rural broadband access, and improve health, education and public safety services across southwestern Minnesota.”
The project is designed to increase high-speed Internet access in eight rural Minnesota communities, plus many rural farms and homes in between.
The funds were awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to help bring broadband services to rural unserved and underserved communities.
The funds were awarded to the Southwest Minnesota Broadband Group (SWMBG), a consortium of eight rural communities, selected to receive an almost $6.4 million loan and a $6.4 million grant to extend broadband to the eight cities. The funds, along with an $88,000 private investment, will provide high-speed Internet, voice, and cable television to the participating communities. SWMBG involves communities with over 3,300 residences, 292 businesses and 50 anchor institutions across the network.
The total population of the area affected by this funding is 7,337 persons.
Klobuchar serves on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has authority over telecommunications issues. Klobuchar was a key leader in the push to include high-speed Internet infrastructure investments in the economic recovery package to help jumpstart the economy and create new jobs. She also cosponsored the Broadband Data Improvement Act (S. 1492), which was signed into law in October 2008.
U-reka Broadband Ventures, a Minnesota based broadband consultant group, provided expertise in preparing both the application and additional due dilligence requests from the Rural Utility Service. U-reka was responsible for development of the engineering, financial planning, operational planning and wrote the request.
“We are quite excited about SWMBG being selected by RUS. The project will truly change the economic course of the area and provides a solid foundation for future economic development for the area. It was the effort of all the community representatives who broughtz this project together and we want to thank them for their effort and their confidence in us.” John Schultz, President of U-reka Broadband Ventures.
Additional information regarding U-reka Broadband can be found at www.u-rekabroadband.com.