Freedom Foundation of Minnesota

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$35 Million Prior Lake Telecom Proposal Pits City Against Private Business

PRIOR LAKE, MN—A recently minted $35 million taxpayer-backed telecom proposal in Prior Lake takes a sharply confrontational posture toward the very sector the project ostensibly aims to attract—private business. An $80,000 feasibility study aggressively singles out three telecom providers with thousands of Prior Lake customers that the proposed city network would compete for, even as it lays claim …

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Monticello Stops Bond Payments on Troubled Municipal Telecom

      Is city headed toward default of $26 million in bonds?     The City of Monticello has notified bondholders that it plans to stop repayment of $26 million in bonds for the troubled FiberNet Monticello telecom system, due to a shortfall in operating revenue from telecom subscribers. This development marks the most dramatic step yet in the downturn for what was once a …

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SW Minnesota Town Says $15 Million Stimulus Broadband Project May Be Shelved

Escalating cost of fiber materials raises questions for similar projects The recipient of a major federal stimulus grant and loan in southwestern Minnesota appears to be having second thoughts about proceeding with a broadband project spread out over three counties. The $15 million project which planned to expand broadband service in 15 communities may be in danger of going into the financial red …

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