MN Broadband Conference 2018

1. NANCY HOFFMAN – CHISAGO COUNTY HRA/EDA

2. Chisago County Broadband
Broadband Situation
Broadband Successes
Where do we go from
here?

3. County-wide Survey
2016
879 Respondents
94% would subscribe to better
service
86%Quality of life
45% Education
34% Telecommute
31% Start a business
95% Confidence level-
statistically significant.

4. Chisago County
Speeds % served 2017 % served 2018
25/3 65.25 73.27
100/20 65.45 69.53
Info on Access:
The speeds reflect the Minnesota speed goals:
•25 Mbps down and 3 up by 2022
•100 Mbps down and 20 up by 2026
Current ranking for 100/20 access: 32

5. Evaluation of CAF 2

6. SunriseTownshipBroadband Project
Partnership

7. Century Links Options
Connect America Funds –
CAF 2
Upgrade the Township with
than 25/3 no less than10/1
service
◦ Or
Fiber to the home with
Township Participation and a
Border to Border Grant

8. Partnership Financing
584 Residents – 10 Businesses
CenturyLink – CAF 2 (30%) $ 698,082
Sunrise Township (25%) $ 571,157
MN Border to Border Grant (45%) $1,038,469
Total Costs $2,307,708

9. Township Financing
Bonding Options
 Subordinated Service District
Petition signed by 50% of the residents in favor of
the project
Township determine the residents would be
assessed by Parcel not Property Value

11. Fish Lake TownshipPartners
2017 Application – 2018 install
Quick to move forward – September
grant deadline.
Really good township staff
Resident Advocates – Communications
and surveys
CenturyLink a willing provider
◦ Quick to respond
◦ Submitted the grant

12. Partnership Financing
919 Households – 7 Businesses
CenturyLink – CAF 2 (35%) $1,604,509
Fish Lake Township (25%) $1,146,077
MN Border to Border Grant (40%) $1,833,724
Total Costs $4,584,310

13. Township Financing
Bonding Options
 Tax Abatement Bonds
No Petition needed, but they did get 50% of the
residents to complete a survey. Response show 85%
were in favor.
Township property owners are assessed by property
Value

14. MN Border to Border Broadband
Shovel Ready Project
Driven by the Residents
Partnership in Financing
Township Participation / CenturyLink / MN B2B
Request is less than 50% of the project

15. What about the rest of
the County?
1.5 townships done
7.5 townships to go
+ the rural areas of the cities

16. Success means - Partnerships:
Willing Provider
Willing Townships/Cities /County
Residents willing to advocate
Regional Partnerships
Boarder to Border Grant
Opportunity