The beginnings of a fiber optic communications network are making their way up the North Shore. The North East Service Cooperative, awarded Round 1 “stimulus funding” from the federal Rural Utilities Service (RUS), will be building 915 miles of “backbone” fiber optic cable that will connect more than 85 northeastern Minnesota communities, including towns along Highway 61 all the way to Grand Portage.
County Information Systems Director Danna MacKenzie told the county board Tuesday, August 17, 2010 that the Cook County Fiber Optic Network Commission will be pursuing representation with the North East Service Cooperative as that project is launched.
The Cook County Courthouse, North Shore Hospital, and Cook County Schools are slated to be on the “backbone,” which will allow them to accomplish much more than they can accomplish with the speed currently available in Cook County.
MacKenzie said she has heard each entity will be required to pay a connection fee of about $2,500 and will be required to agree to continue to pay whatever they’re paying now for Internet service from other providers.
Fiber to the home
The North East Service Cooperative as well as Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, Inc. expects to hear by September 7 whether its application for Round 2 funding has been accepted. Both organizations have been asked to send additional information, generally considered a sign that their applications are being considered.
If either one of the applicants were awarded the grant, the backbone made possible through Round 1 funding through the North East Service Cooperative could be extended to homes and businesses throughout the county.
An update from Mackenzie on her “Broadband Blog” (cookcountybroadband. com) states, “We have also been told the RUS sent someone to Cook County to fieldcheck both applications.”
Arrowhead Electric had proposed its project in partnership with Pulse Broadband, a regional Internet service provider. “Arrowhead Electric is still in discussions with Pulse Broadband,” she wrote, “on how to close a gap in their proposal that was left last month when Pulse withdrew from a portion of the original agreement.”
Bruce Kerfoot speaks to FCC rep
Senator Amy Klobuchar invited Gunflint Lodge owner Bruce Kerfoot to speak to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski at a broadband summit August 24 at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.
In her blog, MacKenzie wrote, “Senator Klobuchar is active at the federal level in the arena of achieving access to high-quality broadband connections for all U.S. citizens and businesses.”
Kerfoot will address the need for Minnesota’s small businesses to have access to high quality, affordable broadband.
Regarding Kerfoot’s ability to facilitate cooperation, Commissioner Fritz Sobanja said, “He’s a professional at that.”
“Yah,” Commissioner Jan Hall quipped, “he’s dangerous!”
Ideas sought for broadband
projects
Cook County has been awarded $100,000 from the Blandin Foundation for projects that demonstrate how high-speed fiber optic infrastructure can benefit communities.
Individuals or organizations with ideas on small projects that could use broadband to benefit the Cook County community are invited to respond to a request for proposals, published online at cookcountybroadband. com.
Called the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities Project, the program will fund at least four projects in Cook County.
The ideas of Cook County community members can be submitted, viewed and even voted on at http:// ccmirc.ideascale.com/.
The application deadline is October 11. Questions regarding this can be directed to Paul Richard Harvey at paul@starbear.org or (218)370-7994.
The Cook County Broadband Initiative Steering Committee can be reached at info@cookcountybroadband. com.
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