The blue shaded area on this map of Pipestone County shows where Woodstock Communications plans to bring fiber optic internet service using a mix of state grant funds, its own funds and county funds. The green lines represent the company’s existing fiber lines. Image provided by Woodstock Communications
With $1,612,932 in grant funds on the way, Woodstock Communications plans to begin construction of a fiber optic internet network in the Hatfield area in August of 2025. Customers could potentially begin utilizing the network by the end of 2025.
That was some of the information Woodstock Communications General Manager Terry Nelson provided to the Pipestone County Commissioners during their March 26 meeting. The commissioners voted in October to provide $268,822 for the project, which would cover half of the local match, with Woodstock Communications covering the other half. The company was awarded the $1,612,932 low-density broadband grant from the state in March to cover the rest of the estimated $2,150,576 cost of the project.
A timeline presented by Nelson indicates that the grant contract with the state will likely be signed in April, engineering and design work could take place from August 2024 to January 2025, permitting could be done from December 2024 to March 2025, supplies could be ordered in April 2025, construction could begin in August 2025 and be completed in 2025, and customers could begin connecting between December of 2025 and March 2026. Nelson said there will be no charge to residents to connect their residences to the system and that there are about 120 residences in the project area.
Projected pricing for the broadband service is $44.95 for 100 megabits per second (mbps) uploading and downloading speed, $54.95 for 250 mbps, $74.95 for 500 mbps and $104.95 for 1 gigabit per second. Nelson said that pricing is consistent with what Woodstock Communications charges in the rest of its service areas.
The project in the Hatfield area would be phase one of a four-phase project to provide fiber internet access to all the rural parts of Pipestone County for an estimated $15,733,299. Nelson said the Woodstock Communications plans to seek other grants in the future to fund the other phases.
“That’s our goal as a county too, to apply for grants as they’re available and finish the rest of the county,” said County Board Chair Dallas Roskamp.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
