MN Broadband Conference 2018

1. Koochiching Technology Initiative
Broadband Plan
Planning Charrette Findings

2. Key Situational Assessment Factors
• Our vision
• Existing providers
• Geography and demographics
• Community survey results

3. Our Broadband Vision
The Koochiching Technology Initiative will increase broadband internet
access and increase the technological knowledge and skills throughout
all of Koochiching County.
We have developed a coalition of a diverse group of stakeholders that is
well positioned to achieve tangible results. Also, we have overwhelming
support from the community and news media outlets.

4. Existing Broadband Providers
• Telephone companies
• Cooperative ISP
• Price Cap National Telecom
• Cable companies:
• Large Regional Provider
• Fixed Wireless: n/a
• Wireless companies: Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile
• Satellite:
• Hughesnet
• Viasat

5. Broadband Data
• Demographics
• Number of people: 12,528
• Growth trends: Population is at steady decline and the county has lost roughly
1000 people from 2005 to 2015. This is consistent going back to the 1970’s
• Per capita income compared to state average: Koochiching County’s median
income is $44,929, Comparatively the states median income $58,476.
• Road Miles
• Rural
• Urban: 34 miles (I-Falls only)
• Number of Passings
• Single family homes 8,741
• # of multi-family buildings and units: 1,323 units
• # of businesses 392

6. Key Community Survey Results
 282 surveys submitted.
 65% of business owners believe their internet puts them at a
competitive disadvantage.
 Bandwidth was ranked most important to 47% of survey takers
followed by price at 20%.
 61% say they would not pay more for better internet.
 People answered on average between satisfied and neutral for
four categories; speed, price, reliability, and customer service.

7. Challenges
• Low income county
• Low technical literacy in the county
• Community buy-in
• Take rates
• Geographic distribution
• Geography / Terrain (rock, swamp)
• Recreational/Seasonal locations
• Financing

8. Key Assets
• Existing provider networks
• Mainline fiber
• Cable provider
• KTI Team / local government and stakeholder buy-in
• Population density (ironically)
• Starved for broadband
• Aligns well with Economic Development plans
• Blandin partnership

9. Technology Decisions
• In the city, cable modem service from existing provider
• Extension from existing operator network
• In the rural, FTTH
• Preference toward FTTH from existing mainline fiber
providers in the area

10. Partnerships
• Existing cable company
• Existing cooperative ISP/backhaul provider
• Existing electric cooperative
• Blandin

11. Potential Finance
• Border to Border Grants
• IRRB
• USDA RUS Grants
• Consolidated Conservation
• County
• Northstar Electric Cooperative
• Blandin Broadband Community
• Business Stakeholders
• Commercial Banks

12. Our Plan Summary
In Koochiching County we have 5,661 served locations. In this
plan, we identified five distinct areas of need as the focus,
reaching 1,493 of the 3,080 unserved locations.
Developing partnerships will be a key priority for
accomplishing this plan, with an existing cable operator in one
area, and with an existing cooperative broadband/backhaul
provider in the other four areas.
Click here for Web Map

13. Koochiching Charette
Results Addresses
Mainline
Route mi
Locations
/mi Customers
Cost
Estimate
Cost /
Customer
Fiber Build 50%
Rainy Lake 375 28.22 13.3 188 $ 1,106,200 $ 5,884
Pelland Junction 257 20.92 12.3 129 $ 957,110 $ 7,419
Rogers Corner 279 35.62 7.8 140 $ 1,353,100 $ 9,665
Ray 235 56.56 4.2 118 $ 1,819,620 $ 15,421
Kabetogama 347 27.66 12.5 174 $ 1,138,440 $ 6,543
Total Project 1,493 168.98 8.8 747 $ 6,374,470 $ 8,533

14. Questions/Contact:
Koochiching Technology Initiative
Jim Yount
koochiching.tech