By DEB BENTLY
Staff writer
Waseca County learned in March that its application for a $4.38 million grant to install fiber internet in four of its townships had been approved. It was a triumphant moment, given that the county had twice previously completed the lengthy and demanding application process, but had not received any funding.
Under the grant, Byron, Freedom, Vivian and Wilton townships–essentially the southwest third of the county–will be having fiber cable installed.
Like the two before it, the successful application was supported, completed and submitted by county leaders–including commissioner DeAnne Malterer and county administrator Michael Johnson–and staff of the Blue Earth based telecommunications company Bevcomm. Aside from area residents who wrote letters of support, relatively few people in the 500 homes and businesses within the affected townships were aware of the application or the possibilities it presented.
With the promise of the grant secured, Bevcomm began the process of public outreach by holding a “Bash” at the Waldorf Community Center the evening of Thursday, April 4; about 125 people attended.
Regarding the event, Bevcomm CEO Bill Eckles commented, “I think our Broadband Bash was a great success Thursday night. The support we are seeing for the Fiber to the Home project (FTTH) in Waseca County has been amazing. Everyone from the homeowners to the County Commissioners have been great to work with. We are looking forward to Bevcomm becoming part of the Waseca County community.”
During the three-hour meeting, those attending were invited to speak with the 10 or so Bevcomm representatives to have their questions answered and their concerns addressed.
Area residents were asked to sign up for at-home consultations during which they would be provided with more information about how the installation would go at their site. Those in attendance also had their questions answered by Bevcomm staff, including CEO Bill Eckles.
Eckles informed residents the main cables will be buried parallel to roads throughout the four townships beginning in June. Somewhat later, depending on location, individual customers will have cable buried across their property and up to their homes.
No one is required to allow the lines to be installed on their private property, however, according to discussion at recent county board meetings, doing so could increase their property value by $3,000 to $5,000. While there is no charge to install the lines during this initial phase, anyone who refuses the installation and then requests it later will be expected to pay.
During an interview in March, Malterer referred to high-speed internet as a “utility” and suggested that, even if current residents don’t believe they will get any use out of the fiber connection, they should consider allowing the installation now. “As time moves forward,” said Malterer, “that connectability will become more and more important.”
During the “Bevcomm Bash,” visitors were provided with information about the services which will be available once the installation process is complete, likely by fall of 2025. Bevcomm’s printed materials explained that customers can choose from a three-part “buffet” which consists of phone service, internet, and television. They need not purchase any, may select any one or two they would like, or can arrange for “packages” which supply various combinations of the options.
Residents joked among themselves about the buffer times and episodes of lost service they currently experience with wireless providers, commenting that the times they most wanted their service–for example during bad weather–seemed to be when they were least likely to have it.
Anyone residing in the four townships who was unable to attend the gathering will still be contacted sometime during the installation process; cables can be installed on private property only after required forms are completed by a qualified individual.