ST. PAUL – State Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck issued the following statement regarding today’s announcement from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development that Albany Mutual Telephone Association, Big Watab Lake, is receiving more than $726,000 as one of 71 Greater Minnesota grants to expand broadband access.
According to a press release from DEED, the project will serve 242 unserved households in the Big Watab Lake area in Stearns County. Albany Mutual will improve service for families that need high-speed broadband for school and work. The total eligible project cost is $1.45 million, with a $726,185 local match.
“This is the type of project we envisioned when the House championed this investment in broadband last biennium,” Anderson said. “The goal was to bring areas with poor Internet service up to speed and this Albany project fits the bill. Those involved in making this successful application deserve credit for their efforts.”
Approximately $32 million of the $35 million in grants were targeted toward unserved areas of the state—ensuring that broadband grants are going to the communities that need it most. Additionally, because of policy reforms to the program, the Minnesota State Broadband fund leveraged Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II) federal broadband funding to amplify connectivity into rural areas of the state. In total, Minnesota is expected to see half a billion dollars in combined state and federal broadband funding between 2015 and 2021.
The Legislature approved a total of $45 million in broadband grants during the 2015 and 2016 legislative biennium. When combined with federal CAF II funds, Minnesota will see more than $100 million in broadband expansion this year alone.
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