LITTLE FALLS, MN— Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, issued the following statement regarding today's announcement from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) of new broadband access for Fairview Township. This township was brought into the 21st century with the creation of broadband access for its residents. Last summer, a supercell thunderstorm caused widespread disaster throughout the Brainerd Lakes area. During the storm, Fairview Township was forced to rely on radio and phone communication to inform residents of the pending emergency.
Fairview Township worked with Consolidated Telephone Cooperative (CTC) to provide broadband service, in part, to better handle disasters. In 2014, CTC utilized a $2 million grant through DEED’s Border-to-Border Broadband grant initiative to extend broadband throughout Cass, Crow Wing, and Morrison counties.
“Fairview Township is an example of how many small cities and townships throughout Minnesota can benefit from accessible broadband service,” said Kresha. “Providing broadband for the underserved portions of our state is a top priority heading into 2016, and I look forward to continuing this effort.”
According to DEED, the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program has awarded $30 million of grants to expand broadband access in Greater Minnesota.
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