Minnesota's Rural Todd County Can't Wait for the Telcos to Provide High-Speed Internet Access

Todd County votes to pursue broadband. (MPR News, 5/17/2011)

Excerpt: Todd County commissioners took a step today toward building a fiber-to-the-home broadband system, voting unanimously to spend up to $20,000 to match a grant for a feasibility study.

Ground Level has been tracking the progress of the "Broadband 7," a group of communities across the state either planning or building broadband networks. Todd County, northwest of the Twin Cities, has been considering a high-speed system for years, but only now has taken concrete action toward building one.

Spurred on by the Todd County Livestock Advisory Council, which argues that fast connection speeds are necessary to meet the demands of a global agriculture market, the county held a community meeting at Long Prairie High School last week.

Around 80 people from all walks of life attended, said County Administrator Nathan Burkett, who has advocated broadband as an economic development tool for years.

To the deaf ears of the telcos, I presume.

Read more about this project at the Community Broadband Networks website, "Rural Todd County Embarks on Fiberband Feasibility in Minnesota".