Last month, Community Development Coordinator Amanda Othoudt sent out a survey to garner interest from several businesses, specifically in the industrial park, to bring high-speed fiber broadband internet to the city.

 

Othoudt said broadband – or high-speed internet access – is considered a key economic development tool, with a number of national studies finding that communities with access to broadband have a competitive advantage over areas that do not. Othoudt said businesses are increasingly having work done online and this ability to sell to consumers worldwide requires reliable, world-class connections. 

 

In addition, broadband infrastructure enhances the local business environment through education, health care, public safety and emergency response, citizen and social services, workforce development and rural and regional development.

 

The survey was sent to 20 industrial park businesses and Othoudt received feedback from about a dozen, all championing the cause to bring broadband to the area to aid their companies.

 

The next step in the process is to collaborate efforts with Sherburne County to conduct a survey to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the current county wide broadband infrastructure. The survey will be available online through the month of July at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6FCX33F. 

 

The survey asked to identify the businesses’ current internet provider, what type of service they had (dial up, DSL, etc.), what their speeds are for uploading and downloading, their satisfaction with said service providers and any issues they are experiencing. The survey also asked if the telecommunications services they are experiencing has put them at an advantage, a disadvantage or if it had no impact. In closing, the survey asked what kinds of things the businesses use the internet for, including selling products online, purchasing supplies, maintaining contacts with customers and online banking.

 

Othoudt encourages business owners to participate in the survey so that the city is able to get an idea of what the demand really is. Results of the survey will be tabulated and presented at a community wide meeting this Fall. From the informationed gathered in the survey, the county will be able to produce a feasibility study to better understand the technical, financial, organizational or political components of the proposed development.

 

Othoudt and the City of Becker are currently working with Palmer Wireless as they have expressed interest in expanding fiber internet service from Co. Rd. 8 in Clear Lake/Clearwater to the Becker community.

 

They are anticipating  this project will be complete this Fall.

 

Othoudt says for Becker to achieve this advanced technology would be a boon for the community as many potentially inquiring businesses have expressed their great desire for the technology and would consider establishing their businesses in a place that provides this service.

 

“The benefit to Becker in regards to attaining broadband for the industrial park and throughout the city would be huge,” said Othoudt. “So far, this process is making it possible for us to learn all we can about the fiber technology to better serve our existing and future businesses here at home.”

 

The county and participating cities will then schedule a public meeting sometime after the month of July to go over the results of the surveys that are being circulated throughout the county. 

 

Sherburne County is also working with the Blandin Foundation to acquire matching grants to support the cost of research in the feasibility study. 

 

On May 20 of this year, Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law the new border-to-border broadband development grant program through the Dept. of Employment and Economic Development. This $20 million grant program is to be used to fund the build-out of infrastructure to promote the expansion of broadband service to areas of the state that are unserved or underserved.

 

Eligible applicants will include incorporated businesses for the purpose of expanding broadband access.

 

Palmer Wireless expanded their communications services to the City and Township of Becker  in 2013. They are currently delivering high-speed internet and cell phone service to businesses and residents in the Becker community. Palmer Wireless has been active at both the federal and state levels in participating in meetings and submitting applications for broadband initiative programs that are promoting the long-term sustainability of the communities they serve.

 

The City of Becker is only participating as a supporting party for the broadband services with the area businesses and residents anticipated to pay for the infrastructure.