4.8 SR 01-21-2025 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Tekstar Communications, Inc. d/b/a Ar ig Project Summary Executi e Summary Tekstar Cammunicatians, Inc., dba Arvig {"Tekstar/Arvig"), headquartered in Perham, MN, has been providing cor petitive broadband services to Minnesota comrnunities since 1998 with Arvig roots going back to 1950 including full-suite telecommunitations services for businesses, farms, residential custamers, counties, schools, libraries, healthcare ser+rices and other critical anchor institutions throughout the state. As part of this application, T kstar/Arvig proposes braadband serv'sces for the s arsely populated and rural areas located north and sauth of the community of Elk Ri er, MN. These areas ha e been identified as first-in-line to re eive and maxim ze the use of the broadband grant funding for the area pro ided under the American Recov ry Plan Act and 5herburne County due to lack af reliable high-speed ir ternet services and meets #he eligibility consideration criteria as unserved and underserved residential territories. Tekstarf Anrig seeks to benefit residents and businesses, 'rmproving their way of iife, with the deli ery of minimum speeds offered at 10d/20 and deploying a proposed Fiber-to-the-Fiome (fTTH) system consisting entirely o# fiber optic and Calix XGS PON equipment capable of deli ering J.ODMbps download and 20Mbp upload high-speed broadband. Using Calix XGS, subscribers ha e immediate scalability, upon placement of an order, and atcess #o a aifability af 100/10p symmetrical service. Internet service packages are anticipat2d to start at 100/20Mbps with offerings available at up to ZGig and supparting 10G with symmetrica! packages upan request. Total number of estimated households proposed as passed is approximately 42 househoids via FTTH XGS-PON construttion. Approxirnately 64% of hauseholds a e estimated to be unser ed with 3b% of households considered underserved. Minimum speeds are planned so as to support data and voice transmission. Areas are currently defined as unserved/underserved and iekstar/Arvig seeks to 6enefit residents by delivering in-home remote capabilities, remote educational oppartunities, tel health services, and remote business connections maintaining reliab;e internet connecti ity far office cammunications. Tekstar/Arvig technicians, construction and network personnel are highly trained and experienced in the maintenance and quality deiivery of these systems. Tekstar/Arvig is well-experienced and fully staffed for these types of projects ha ing pre iausly been awarded Minnesota DEED Border-ta-Border grant projects in the past. Priorfunded efforts have been managed #o suecessful completion and on-time implementation. Tekstar/Arvig technital and network teams are trained ta implement and su part our Calix systems deli ering services for projects, proving daily, Calixto be a successful platform providing the reliability necessary to feed the cfemands of today's substantially increased remote-user needs. Total residences, business and critical eommuni#y facilities estimated to have atcess to services post installation equai the total estimated households, business, and institutions passed. For a re iew of existing area broadband providers arod service speeds a ailable please referenc the Project Description SectEon B2J of this response. For Tekstar/Arvig plans currently available making the proposed broadE and servtces aftordable please reference the Project DescTiptian Seetion (B6) af thi5 response, All equipment proposed to be installed within the City of Elk Ri er area is proposed to receive funding from the She'hurne County ARPA program. The aroposed timeline for buildout is during the construction sea5on estimated to begin ap roximately April 1, 2023 and continuing up to June 30, 2025. Engineering, drafting, and perrnitting associated with the route is proposed to start in #he Spring of 2024. TekstarJArvig and its affiliated companies ha e u#ilized and de layed Calix FTTH systems succ ssfully for more than 25 years and plan to deliver the entirety of the proposed system during the 2024-5 season. Tekstar/Arvig has the expertise, local presence and ambition to stimulate the economy and opulation in the City af Elk River area by making a ai6able and providing these services to e ery ur served and underserved household and business. Stand-alone Page 78 of 155