MPR News blog picked up on the latest from Lake County and the almost $70 million broadband project. The funding comes from both stimulus grants and a loan from the US Department of Agriculture. The article also mentions the Freedom Foundation’s letter to U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Read more below:
Not everyone’s crazy about Lake County broadband
Posted at 2:36 PM on February 10, 2011 by Bob KelleherI reported the other day on some big changes with Lake County’s fiber-to-the-premises broadband project.
You may recall Lake County has received a $10 million grant and a $56.4 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service to expand fiber optic service in the region. The money is coming through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Lake County is required to come up with another $3.5 million, making the total project a $70 million dollar venture.
We learned that Lake County is looking for a project manager, after county commissioners voted to end management negotiations with National Public Broadband; a St. Paul-based consultant that helped get the project planned and funded to this point.
