The Rock County Broadband Alliance identified that rural customers had few internet provider options with high fees, data limits, and slow speeds that made even basic online activities difficult. They discussed these issues with major providers like Verizon and CenturyLink, as well as smaller regional providers. These meetings led to partnerships where providers like MVTV and Lismore Telephone Coop expanded service and developed wireless solutions. Alliance Communications also launched a $14.95 million fiber-to-the-home project using $8.95 million from Alliance, $5 million in grants, and $1 million from county bonds. This project will provide high-speed internet to over 1200 homes, 68 businesses, and 21 institutions across 600 miles of new fiber in the

1. Rock County Broadband
Alliance

2. Identifying the Problem
• Few options to rural customers
• Plans had extremely high fees and data limits
• Speed for conducting even basic level activities was
limited

3. Discussions with current providers
• Verizon
• Century Link
• Exede
• Frontier Net

4. Other Providers within region
• MVTV
• Lismore Coop Telephone
• Alliance Communications (Co-op)

5. Meeting with providers
• Meetings led to partnerships and solutions
• MVTV expanded into Rock County
• Lismore Telephone Coop developed a wireless
solution
• Alliance Communications Fiber to the Home Project

6. Fiber project projected costs
• Total project $14.95 Million
• Alliance Communications $8.95 Million
• Broadband grant $5.0 Million
• Rock County Tax Abatement Bond $1.0 Million

7. Project Impact
• 600 Miles of Fiber
• 1261 Homes and Farms served
• 68 Businesses
• 21 Anchor Institutions
• Entire county available to have 30 x 5 speeds as
base offering
• Can currently provide speeds to 100 X 25
• Will offer Gigabyte speed within next couple of
years

8. Advice
• Meet with everyone and see what they need to
develop in your area
• Continue to stress the problem
• Find partners, they can be private or public
• Be a squeaky wheel!