Dunn County task force backs $34,000 in contingency aid for two broadband projects and endorses two providers for BEAD applications

The Dunn County Broadband Task Force on an unspecified date approved contingency funding requests totaling $34,000 and adopted county-level endorsements to support two providers’ applications to the state broadband program.

The task force unanimously approved a $30,000 contingency payment for Bloomer Broadband to help the provider extend service to a handful of houses on the fringe of a planned USDA ReConnect project, contingent on Bloomer receiving the USDA grant; the committee also approved $4,000 to cover a shortfall in a Town of Grant project after a private health-care pledge was withdrawn. The group voted separately to endorse Mosaic Technologies for proposed project units north of Highway 170 and to endorse 247 (referred to in meeting materials as “20 fourseven/247”) for units south of Highway 170 for the State Public Service Commission BEAD-related process.

The task force’s staff presenter, identified in the meeting as Dan (staff member), told members that the county is still "in a holding pattern" while project units for the federal/state program are finalized, but said the map locations are set. "The location is finalized, but the project units are not finalized yet," Dan said. He cautioned that some small “straggler” addresses shown as uncovered on the broadband map may be false negatives caused by mapping data quirks and urged coordination with providers and the Public Service Commission to correct those records before dollars are allocated.

Mark Leonard of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, participating online, told the committee that if the county or providers have evidence that a location shown as BEAD-eligible is actually served, the PSC can adjust money in the affected project unit. "If you do have a location that you know for sure is covered, but under the BEAD rules we have it as eligible for BEAD, let us know," Leonard said, adding that the PSC can reduce dollars for project units that turn out to be already served.

Dan described Bloomer Broadband’s request as targeted to a small number of homes — he estimated the number in the “high teens to maybe 20” — in the Whitetail golf course area (Colfax/County M corridor). Bloomer has applied for a USDA ReConnect grant for the larger project area; Dan said the USDA standard (about 25 Mbps down/3–5 Mbps up) differs from the PSC/BEAD standard the task force is using (100 Mbps down/20 Mbps up), leaving some houses eligible for county/BEAD support but ineligible for the USDA award. Bloomer asked for help covering the incremental, out-of-grant cost to reach those fringe houses. The task force first proposed $25,000, then amended the motion and approved $30,000 contingent on Bloomer winning the USDA ReConnect award. The motion passed unanimously.

On the Town of Grant request, Dan said a private healthcare provider that had pledged $10,000 for the project rescinded that commitment while the implementation was underway, leaving a funding gap in a BEAD-eligible application. The task force approved a $4,000 contingency payment to help fill that shortfall; the motion was made and seconded and carried unanimously.

Deanna, who identified herself as representing Mosaic Technologies, walked the committee through Mosaic’s proposed project units in Hay River Township and the Boyseville area. Mosaic’s proposal covers roughly 104 PSC-confirmed locations in the primary hex shown to the task force, with an estimated 16 additional locations for a combined estimate of about 120 locations and roughly 35 miles of mainline fiber. Deanna said Mosaic intends to pay for customer drops from the main line to homes and businesses as part of the company’s deployment; free installation was offered with a 12- or 24-month service agreement.

Deanna noted that the provider submitted a letter of intent and was invited to participate in the BEAD process; she asked the task force for a county board letter of endorsement to improve Mosaic’s score under the Public Service Commission’s application weighting. "As part of the 100 points to participate and be awarded, the broadband providers such as Mosaic Technologies is seeking your endorsement through community engagement," she said. The task force approved a motion to endorse Mosaic’s application for areas north of Highway 170 and approved a separate motion to endorse 247’s application for areas south of Highway 170; both motions passed unanimously and will be forwarded as resolutions to the full county board in January for formal endorsement.

Task force members framed the votes as an investment in school connectivity and local economic stability. Several members noted the projects target Colfax School District households and could help families who rely on broadband for work and schooling. One supervisor cited an example of a local family affected by inadequate service and argued local tax base and recruitment advantages justify the contingency spending.

Votes at a glance — Bloomer Broadband contingency: motion to provide $30,000 contingent on the provider receiving USDA ReConnect funding; outcome: approved (unanimous). Town of Grant contingency: motion to provide $4,000 to cover a private pledge shortfall for a BEAD-eligible project; outcome: approved (unanimous). Endorsements: motions to endorse Mosaic Technologies for areas north of Highway 170 and 247 for areas south of Highway 170 for BEAD-related applications; outcomes: both approved (unanimous). The task force also approved the prior meeting minutes at the start of the session.

The task force chair and staff said endorsed resolutions and minutes will be included in provider BEAD applications, and contingency fund awards will be forwarded to the county administration committee for final disbursement. Dan told members the county board will consider the endorsements at its January meeting.