Rural residents of Harmony may have noticed an increase in trucks and workers along Highway 139. The increase in traffic is due to the installation of fiber for Harmony Telephone Company.
In January, Harmony Telephone Company was announced as a recipient of a ReConnect Program award totaling $5.4 million.
Harmony Telephone Company is using the combination $2.7 million loan and $2.7 million grant to construct a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network to connect 577 households, a health care center and a critical community facility spread over 143 square miles in several counties bordering southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.
“The documents were finalized June 30. We are excited to see the fiber going in the ground and having the project underway,” says Jill Huffman, Harmony Telephone Company COO.
Prior to the pandemic rural residents were in need of dependable, affordable, high-speed internet options.
“Under normal circumstances, having access to broadband speeds is considered life-changing. The pandemic has placed even more importance on access with increases in distance learning, remote workforces and communication services,” Huffman explained. “We felt this award was a huge win in January and given today’s circumstances it is even more critical for our area.”
Huffman explained potential subscribers are being contacted. Cutovers will begin this winter and this project is estimated to end in 2023.