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County gets update on BEAD-funded broadband build; Bevcon reports mainline complete and ESOP ownership change
Summary
County received a progress update on two linked broadband grants (rounds 9 and 10): mainline cable is complete, 544 property agreements returned, and 448 service drops plowed; Bevcon reported an ESOP ownership change and new CEO. The board also agreed to sign a letter supporting BEAD-funding that favors fiber-to-the-premises.
County broadband staff and the service provider updated commissioners on progress for the combined round‑9 and round‑10 broadband grants. The presenter said the mainline fiber construction paralleling roads is finished, and that 683 potential customers were identified in the project area; 544 property agreements have been returned and 448 service drops have been plowed to properties so far. An electronics hut (NOC/aggregation point) is scheduled for placement in September, and installers expect to begin customer installations by the end of the year.
Bevcon's representative reported an internal ownership change effective July 1, converting about 40.9% of the company to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan; the family retains a majority stake and the company named Jake Anderson as CEO. Commissioners asked about service take rates and timing; the presenter estimated roughly 50% adoption within 12–18 months after the network is live, depending on local contracts and incumbent providers.
The board voted to sign a letter requested by the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development to signal local support for using BEAD funds to prioritize fiber-to-the-premise projects in Waseca County, particularly in northern townships where federal eligibility is limited to a small number of locations. Staff noted the county has 17 BEAD-eligible locations under current mapping.
Next steps: electronics hut installation in September and staged customer installs; county will sign and submit the support letter to the state Office of Broadband Development.
