4.6 SR 01-02-2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Tekstar/Arvig is not aware of any existing Agreements or plans to provide broadband by competing service providers. The RDOF service award territories and mapping have been referenced and there are no RDOF awardees overlapping with the proposed project. Area broadband providers have been reviewed and assessed, as seen below, for existing services and current levels of high-speed connectivity have been found to neither meet or exceed MN state requirements for the definition of broadband. Provider Offerings: Not Available in all Areas CenturyLink DSL Up to 1.5 mbps down CenturyLink DSL 20 mbps down/1.5 mbps up CenturyLink DSL 40 mbps down/3 mbps up CenturyLink DSL 60 mbps down/5 mbps up Nextera Wireless 50 mbps down/50 mbps up Proposed Tekstar/Arvig areas are designed with the future in mind. All polygon areas are set up with a forward -looking engineering perspective for expansions that may be needed as our communities and economies continue grow. B3. Project Eligibility Tekstar/Arvig will improve area broadband service levels up to iGbps exceeding the state of MN 2022 and 2026 broadband goals. Tekstar/Arvig shall use XGS-PON fiber access technology to build out the area in the fiber-to-the-home/premise solution previously mentioned capable of delivering Gigabit internet service to end users. Consumers will not only be able to work from home but will be more effective and efficient with reliable high-speed broadband Tekstar/Arvig connection. Tekstar/Arvig broadband access will enable these businesses and residences to utilize new technology and tools, grow and enhance their businesses and community, and help those that need the connectivity the most by increasing access to online healthcare and education allowing them to thrive in our ever -changing technological world. For additional detail pertaining to the XGS-PON technology proposed in order to make reliable 100/20 available to every location within the project area, please reference the Calix Summary of XGS & PON technologies specification contained in the Supplemental information Section D of this RFP response. Symmetrical business packages are available upon request. The proposed network is scalable to 100/100 and available upon demand and shall be provided for households and businesses with the purchase of a 'business service package'. 134. Demonstration of Need for Grant Stand-alone business plans often do not enable projects of this nature due to little return on investment. Without County grant participation, it is feasible that households and business remote connectivity needs would remain unaddressed until a provider was able to step forward financially supporting build out to the area without grant assistance. Considering today's immediate demand for high-speed remote connections to support teachers and students, work -from -home requirements, telehealth appointments, state and local agency workers, and other local businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic; delaying implementation of services that can be built would not in the best interests of the public. The alternative, without funding, would be to wait until a positive return on investment would allow for a financially justifiable build. Deferring to such a time could accelerate the digital divide for the area and potentially upsurge continued connectivity challenges for households. B5. Project Mapping Tekstar/Arvig proposed FTTH project area for buildout is wholly located within the rural areas of the Elk River, MN and can be referenced on the following page. Buried fiber optics include approximately six and three quarters of (6.77) miles of buried fiber passing 27 unserved structures and 15 underserved structures. The axial map for the project is wholly located within City / Township of Elk River, MN. Estimated corridor identifying proposed fiber placement is shown in red and estimated project boundaries are shown with an opaque polygon.