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BLM says USDA grant offered to expand wireless at 'Hobbit Hole' site in Pilot Valley
Summary
The Bureau of Land Management said it has offered a USDA RUS grant to expand wireless service at the Hobbit Hole communications site in Pilot Valley, which the agency says will increase internet opportunities for rural residents once executed.
Brady Eldens, assistant field manager with the Bureau of Land Management's Wells Field Office, told the Elko County advisory commission the agency has offered a Rural Utilities Service grant for the Hobbit Hole communications site in Pilot Valley.
"1 is that we have offered a grant for the Hobbit Hole communications site which actually is located in Pilot Valley ... going to use wireless Internet to expand Internet opportunities there in the Pilot Valley for those rural residents," Eldens said. He said the award was issued through USDA RUS and BLM will sign and execute the agreement when the grantee returns it, "assuming they have no comments or concerns with their stipulations."
Eldens said the project ties into existing Beehive fiber in the area and that the ultimate number of residents served will depend on future development and exact coverage plans. Commissioners asked for an estimate of affected residents; Eldens said he was not certain and that coverage will vary with project design and later infrastructure decisions. The agency emphasized the grant is intended to expand wireless access rather than to create new fiber mainlines.
The BLM said it will proceed with execution once the grantee returns the agreement and any stipulations are resolved. Commissioners and staff asked for follow-up information to quantify expected coverage and implementation timing.
