The study showed a “Hybrid” of connected services (See lines surrounding the areas above) in Lyon County could provide broadband service for most of the county.

Goal: Broadband for all Lyon County

Saturating Lyon County with Broadband Service is a goal of the Lyon County Board. As a result, they hired an engineering firm to study the need for greater broadband services.

“We’ve done all our work on the study,” said Doug Dawson of Finley Engineering CCG Consulting of Slayton.

“We know the county’s goal is eventually to have fiber everywhere.” “The reason you’re hiring us, is because many areas of the county don’t have fiber in rural areas.

The county is typical of many rural counties where a substantial part of the county has or will soon have good broadband, including fiber, while other parts of the county have little or no broadband,” Dawson added. He said his firm has studied Green Valley, Cottonwood, Amiret and Florence.

“We also looked at scenarios to build fiber in Balaton and Lynd. These are areas where broadband isn’t available to everyone.”

“Those rural customers in the southwest service area is a worst case scenario,” said Chris Konechne, project engineer for Finley Engineering.

He indicated, “We would construct a 66 mile long biker cover for the service area.” “There are 811 miles of roads that would need fiber (including 66 miles of backbone fiber.)” “While it’s cost effective to bury the cables, the whole network could be placed on rural poles,” Dawson said.

However, the study suggested the burying of the cables.

He indicated the county should look for a partner to bring broadband to those areas without it. “The goal would be to have a partner by next year to be ready for future state grant funds.”

Some of the rural areas of the county are served by Century Link and Frontier Communications. Woodstock Communications also has asked for a grant to bring fiber to some rural areas. “Building fiber everywhere is expensive,” said Dawson.

“One way to get more grant money is to do more than one project,” he said.

“This problem will never go away. You will always be working to get fiber to everyone,” he added. “The all-fiber and hybrid scenarios each include the construction of a fiber backbone,” said Dawson.

“This is a fiber used not only to serve customers, but also to provide a connection between network huts and towers in the various areas. The backbone creates redundancy.

The recommended backbone fiber is 66 miles long and built with 96 fibers to accommodate future growth.” The report indicated the next steps are to talk to prospective partners; educate the public; be prepared to assist partners with 2018 grant filings and consider contributing county grant/loans toward the project.

“Now that we have the study in your hands, it’s time to talk to people and see what kinds of grants you can get. The No. 1 thing is to be persistent. This is not a one-year program,” he added.

Officials from MVTV Wireless of Granite Falls also appeared before the board and talked about their current program to fill in rural areas with broadband service.

“In March or April, we will piggyback with Murray County to meet together and study the needs of rural service,” said Lyon County Board Chairman Paul Graupmann.

“Hopefully, the grants will be rolling in,” Commissioner Graupmann said.

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