ST. PAUL, MN, November 22, 2017– Two communications and internet service providers in Fillmore County are set to receive funding for broadband expansion, thanks to a new round of grants announced as part of the state’s Border to Border Broadband program.
The grants were made possible after the 2017 Minnesota legislature approved a Jobs and Economic Growth bill which included $20 million for the Border to Border Broadband program.
AcenTek, in Rushford Village, will receive $2,011,628 for a major project to expand broadband access to communities that are current unserved. Mediacom, in the city of Fountain, will receive $202,125 to extend its existing service.
AcenTek will serve 515 unserved or underserved households, 40 unserved or underserved businesses, and two underserved community anchor institutions in the Rushford Village area with fiber optic cable installation. Total eligible project cost is $5,158,020. The local match is $3,146,392.
Mediacom in Fountain will extend its existing hybrid fiber/coaxial network to provide service to 161 unserved households and 20 unserved businesses. Total eligible project cost is $421,094; the local match is $218,969.
The new round of Border to Border Broadband funding included 39 projects around the state. These projects will service 9,973 households, 2,169 businesses, and 60 communities.