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LaPorte County approves 10‑year Infrastructure Development Zone to extend rural broadband
Summary
The LaPorte County Board of Commissioners on July 1 approved Ordinance 2026‑4 creating a 10‑year Infrastructure Development Zone (IDZ) to help Surf Internet leverage BEAD funds for rural fiber expansion. Officials said the plan will bring roughly 3,362 addresses and about $9.586 million of new infrastructure to unincorporated areas.
The LaPorte County Board of Commissioners voted 2‑0 July 1 to designate parts of the county an Infrastructure Development Zone to support a Surf Internet broadband expansion tied to federal BEAD funding.
The ordinance (2026‑4) limits the IDZ to broadband construction in unincorporated LaPorte County, imposes a 10‑year term and requires the company to remit a portion of projected tax savings to the county. Surf told commissioners its combined investments and BEAD funding would reach roughly 3,362 locations in LaPorte County and represent a $9.586 million capital investment. Surf said it will pay existing property taxes on current assets and is seeking relief only on newly constructed rural fiber associated with the BEAD project.
"When we take the Surf funds and the BEAD funds together, it's a $9.586 million dollar capital investment in LaPorte County," Surf representative Steve Carender said during the presentation. Carender estimated the infrastructure equates to about $2,851 of network delivered to each service location.
The ordinance includes a negotiated provision for the company to remit 15% of projected tax savings over ten years; commissioners and Surf calculated that will yield roughly $9,000 a year to the county under the proposal. Attorney Guy DiMartino advised the IPDZ tax matters are governed by statute and must follow the county's formal process.
Multiple residents testified in support during the public hearing. David Weiler told commissioners he had struggled for years to get reliable service on a half‑mile dead‑end road and called the project ‘‘worth it in the long run.’’ John Matwyshyn, a long‑time Starlink user, said satellite service can be useful but that fiber remains valuable infrastructure and can provide redundancy.
Commissioner Joe Haney framed the vote as an opportunity to bring federal dollars into the county: "It would truly be reckless for us to leave the millions of dollars in new infrastructure on the table," he said, urging commissioners to approve the measure. The board suspended the rules and approved the ordinance on first reading; final approval also passed 2‑0.
Next steps described by staff include Surf providing project limits and contractor information to the county Building Department and beginning construction and grant reporting processes required by BEAD and state administrators. Commissioners emphasized the ordinance applies only to unincorporated areas and does not change taxes on existing fiber assets.
