Broadband hookups to begin March 1

An update presented during the Feb. 3 county board meeting revealed that homeowners will begin being connected to the newly laid internet fiber optic cable network in the southern part of the county beginning March 1; it is expected about eight connections will take place each day, weather permitting, with a total of more than 600 connections to be made.

 

A listing of services and prices offered by internet provider Bevcomm is available at Bevcomm.net.

 

Information was also shared regarding what can be done for people who are relatively near the installation area, but not within it.

 

Steve Kraus, who served in an advisory capacity as Waseca County applied for and eventually received about $7.5 million in grants through the state office of broadband development, summarized the “broadband line extension program” offered by the same department. He explained individuals can apply to have an extension laid to networks within one or two miles of their location. For those whose application is selected, the office of broadband development will cover the cost of the extension up to $25,000.

 

Conversation during the summary suggested that property owners are more likely to receive the extension if a cluster of applications in an area makes it more financially practical to extend the line. Anyone interested in learning more about the line extension program can visit the state office of broadband development website at https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/extension/. The line extension application is also available on the county website.