Qwest has submitted an ARRA broadband stimulus application for Round Two funding. The goal is to extend broadband at speeds of 12 to 40 Mbps to rural communities throughout its local service region. They are requesting a grant of $350 million for a project with a total cost of $467 million.
According to Qwest, here is how Qwest’s application would benefit Minnesota:
Total Network Investment: $54.5M
Number of New Sites: 228
Number of Newly Served/Upgraded Living Units: 47,793The Proposed Deployment Would Reach:
• Business: 4,505
• Community Support Organizations: 257
• Government Facilities: 108
• Institutions of Higher Education: 12
• Libraries: 1
• Medical and Healthcare Providers: 103
• Public Safety Entities: 22
• Schools (K-12): 42Economic Impact:
• Create/Retain 2,725 jobs
• Increased State Income Tax Revenue: $8.6M1Areas Included in the Proposed Deployment:
Adolph, Anoka, Avon, Barnum, Battle Lake, Bovey, Braham, Brainerd, Buffalo, Cambridge, Carlton, Cloquet, Cohasset, Cold Spring, Dalbo, Detroit Lakes, Dover, Duluth, Elk River, Esko, Eveleth, Eyota, Faribault, Fergus Falls, Gilbert, Grand Marais, Grand Rapids, Grasston, Harris, Hastings, Henning, Hermantown, Iron, Kilkenny, Kimball, Lake Elmo, Litchfield, Little Falls, Lutsen, Mahtowa,, Merrifield, Moorhead, Moose Lake, Mora, Morristown, Nashwauk, Nisswa, North, Branch, Northfield, Ogilvie, Oronoco, Park Rapids, Pengilly, Pillager, Pine City, Princeton, Proctor, Rice, Richwood, Rochert, Rochester, Rush City, Saginaw, Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud, Saint Joseph, Sartell, Sauk Centre, Sauk Rapids, Stanchfield, Stillwater, Sturgeon Lake, Swanville, Twig, Welch, West Lakeland, Wrenshall and Zimmerman.1 This assumes each job has an annual salary of $45,000. Taxes are at the “married, filing jointly” rate.
