Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Broadband Overview topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pine County board hears broadband progress, maps and funding gaps
Summary
County economic-development staff laid out four years of mapping, surveys and grant wins — but county leaders and providers said permitting, locating crews and winter construction remain the biggest barriers to reaching every household.
Leslie Sauter, Pine County’s economic development coordinator, told the Board of Commissioners the county has used community speed tests, mapping and targeted grants to drive broadband expansion since 2021, and that the work has materially advanced coverage in populated areas. "So while the whole county isn't covered today or won't be covered once all of these projects are finished, we've definitely put a dent in it," Sauter said.
Sauter reviewed funding the county and partners have secured: a CDBG coronavirus award used for low- and moderate‑income areas (about $3,000,000), congressionally directed reconnect funding for hard‑to‑serve pockets, several state Border‑to‑Border program awards, county ARPA investments, and a private Blanton Foundation grant Sauter estimated at about $75,000. She said those resources, plus provider private capital, have enabled targeted builds by Midco, ECE Fiber, SCI/Savage Communications and Starwire Technologies.
County Chair Josh Moore framed broadband as a near‑term essential for households and businesses, asking providers to outline realistic last‑mile costs and the incremental per‑home subsidy that would make connections economically feasible. Commissioners asked staff to compile provider shape files into a cleaned GIS overlay showing current coverage, funded builds and remaining gaps so the county can demonstrate progress and identify holes to policymakers.
