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Broadband Committee
Broadband Line Extension Connection Program
The State of Minnesota’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) recently created the Broadband Line Extension Connection Program with the purpose of providing grants for the extension of existing broadband infrastructure to unserved locations. An unserved location is a location that does not have a wired broadband service of at least 25Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. Wright County residents and businesses are encouraged to report that they are unserved by submitting an application:
• Online Broadband Line Extension Connection Application
• Household Downloadable Application
• Business Downloadable Application
• For assistance completing the application or to request a paper form to complete please call 651-259-7610 or email DEED.broadband@state.mn.us.
Every six months, OBD will send the list of addresses to each broadband provider offering service in Minnesota. Providers then have ten days to notify OBD that they can provide service at any of the addresses on the list. OBD will then contact those people to let them know the name of the broadband provider that can offer them service and any discounted pricing plans available. For more information, please see the Line Extension Connection Fact Sheet.
Broadband Fabric Challenge
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has created a new map showing where high-speed service is – and is not – available across the country. An accurate map will help identify the communities in need to funding for high-speed internet projects. Residents are encouraged to dispute, or challenge, inaccurate information show using tools built into the map. There are three types of challenges that can be submitted:
1. Location Challenges:
• Add a missing location
• Correct the address or other details of your location
• Correct the geographic placement of your home or small business
2. Service Availability Challenges:
• Correct services not offered or reported speeds that are not available for purchase.
• Report that a provider denied a request for service or demanded connection charges that exceed its standard installation charge.
• Report that a provider failed to schedule an installation within 10 business days of a request for service or failed to perform the installation.
3. Mobile Availability Challenges:
• Test your speed, using the FCC Speed Test App. To participate, download the app onto your mobile device.
For location and service availability challenges, please visit the FCC National Broadband Map and enter in your address. For additional information on how to submit a challenge, visit Broadband Data Collection Consumer Information.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to identify broadband needs in Wright County, identify delivery options within the county, oversee disbursement of state and federal American Rescue Plan funds, serve as a broadband granting organization and serve as a sponsoring agency for internet service providers.
- Is Wright County becoming an internet provider?
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No, Wright County will never be an internet provider. The County intends to partner with established internet providers and pay the cost of laying fiber to extend and strengthen services to rural areas, areas which are currently underserved or not served at all. The County will be partnering with internet providers who show plans to expand service of Wright County to ensure more areas will receive access to internet.
- How will the County be involved in this?
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Wright County is involved in this by running internet speed tests, community surveys, meetings with providers, and paying for the providers to expand services to rural areas, underserved areas, and unserved areas to allow access for greater numbers.
- Will I have better/more options of internet providers to choose from?
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The intent of using American Rescue Plan funds for broadband is to provide the ability for more internet providers to expand services into portions of the county. However, it is up to those private businesses to determine where they provide service; the County will have no involvement in the process.
- Will this lower my monthly internet service bill?
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The price each household pays monthly for internet services is dependent on the plan the household agreed to and the providers price schedule. The County has no involvement in monthly costs as the County Government is not an internet provider.
- Will I have to pay for this?
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No. The County will be paying for the installation of fiber using the federal funds awarded through the American Rescue Plan.
- Will I have to pay for other people's internet service?
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No. You would continue paying for your own internet services only.
Broadband Grant Recipients
Wright County is excited to announce our grant recipients for our most recent broadband expansion project. We will be adding fiber opportunities to 1,645 total households across the county:
Wright County Broadband Feasibility Study
Wright County has contracted with Design Nine of Blacksburg, Virginia to complete a feasibility study, with an expected completion of December 2021. The study will provide information needed to analyze, select and implement the best solution(s) to improve broadband within Wright County.
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household. For more information on the program visit https://www.fcc.gov/acp.
Wright County Unserved and Underserved Areas
- Wright County Map @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Resources
- Minnesota Office of Broadband Development
- Blandin Foundation
- MN Rural Broadband Coalition @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Agendas & Minutes
Broadband Committee Members & Staff
Name |
Email Address |
Phone Number |
---|---|---|
Darek Vetsch, Commissioner District 2 | Darek.Vetsch@co.wright.mn.us | (763)682-7687 |
Tina Diedrick, Commissioner District 1 | Tina.M.Diedrick@co.wright.mn.us | (763)682-7697 |
Lee Kelly, County Administrator | Lee.Kelly@co.wright.mn.us | (763)682-7378 |
Elizabeth Karels, Project Administrator | Elizabeth.Karels@co.wright.mn.us | (763)684-8604 |
Matthew Fomby, IT Director | Matthew.Fomby@co.wright.mn.us | (763)682-7316 |
Lindsey Meyer, Finance Director | Lindsey.Meyer@co.wright.mn.us | (763)684-8602 |
Heather Lemieux, Assistant Finance Director | Heather.Lemieux@co.wright.mn.us | (763)682-7582 |
Greg Kryzer, Civil Division Chief | Greg.Kryzer@co.wright.mn.us | (763)682-7344 |
John Holler, Communications Specialist | John.Holler@co.wright.mn.us | (763)684-4532 |
Zack Breyen, Business Analyst | Zachary.Breyen@co.wright.mn.us | (763)684-8618 |