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Area broadband group advances in funding process: System would serve Windom, at least seven other communities
WINDOM, Dec 05, 2009 (The Daily Globe - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
The Southwest Minnesota Broadband Group's application for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars has proceeded to the second phase of funding evaluation.
The group's application for funds from the USDA's Rural Utilities Service Broadband Initiative Program was among the roughly 2,200 applications to pass the first phase of consideration.
"They did like our application; it looked good," reported Windomnet Manager Dan Olsen. "We're thankful we weren't weeded out. ... So far everything is looking positive."
Olsen said phase two is due diligence, which will require the group to demonstrate it is a real organization and determine its commitment to provide capital dollars for the proposed project.
The grant would finance a $12.7 million, multi-city telecommunications project that would use fiber optic cables to deliver broadband Internet access, telephone services and cable TV to eight communities in southwest Minnesota.
Windomnet in Windom would serve as a hub for the system, which would also serve Brewster, Bingham Lake, Jackson, Lakefield, Heron Lake, Round Lake, Wilder and rural areas near those cities.
The group will submit the requested information to the federal review committee in the next 30 days, and awards will be announced early next year. If the grant is awarded, Olsen said preparation work for installation of the cables could begin as early as February.
The group's application could also be transferred to BTOP, comprised of National Telecommunications and Information Administration organizations, which could also award the requested funds through either a grant or loan process.
Olsen said the funding is not yet guaranteed, but he remains optimistic.
"We believe the project is strong for many reasons including the partnership of the member communities, the participation of a strong provider in Windomnet and local champions who believe that broadband is the future lifeblood of their communities," he wrote in a news release Friday.
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