Stearns County approves $150,000 subsidy for Collegeville broadband and authorizes up to $150,000 to back other unserved areas

The Stearns County Board of Commissioners on Monday authorized the county administrator to apply for a BEAD/related broadband grant with ARVIG and commit a $150,000 county subsidy for a Collegeville Township project, and separately approved up to $150,000 in county support for other providers that expand service to the largest number of unserved premises.

County staff framed the Collegeville proposal as a sudden opportunity that would otherwise have required far greater county investment. "We can partner with ARVIG for $150,000 as opposed to more like 7 or 800,000," said Mike Cherry, staff member, describing the change in cost estimates for the Collegeville project.

The board also discussed several unsolicited proposals from private providers for pockets of unserved addresses in the Rockville/Grand Lakes area, Saint Augusta and north Maine Prairie Township. Cherry said letters of support count for five points in scoring for the next grant round, while financial commitments raise that to ten points. The board adopted a preference for supporting the proposal that provides the most new coverage and authorized county staff to analyze providers' coverage and finalize any support.

Commissioner Clark moved the motion to back financially the provider that covers the greatest number of previously unserved parcels; Commissioner Persky seconded. After discussion about the county broadband fund balance and limiting exposure, the board amended and approved authorization that allows county staff to provide up to $150,000 in financial support to such proposals.

Board members noted the county broadband fund currently holds roughly $284,000 and that additional refunds or estimates remain uncertain; Cherry told the board he had estimated available funds and would be mindful of the balance when making commitments. "I think the fund is gonna be solid, and, if we're successful with the Collegeville application, we really should have really fulfilled nearly every participating township," Cherry said.

Votes at the meeting were recorded in favor of both actions. The motions were described as authorizing the county administrator to submit the grant application with ARVIG for Collegeville Township with a $150,000 subsidy, and separately authorizing county financial support for other ISP proposals up to $150,000 with preference given to the provider offering the most new coverage to unserved areas.

The board asked staff to verify exact parcel counts from interested ISPs before finalizing the county's letters or financial commitments and to avoid supporting projects that duplicate existing service.