Earlier this year, the Elk River City Council passed a resolution to support Sherburne County’s Broadband Access Grant program, following a shared agreement that access to high-speed broadband service is a necessity for both residents and businesses in today’s world.
At the Monday, April 4 City Council meeting, an agreement with Arvig, one of the largest independent fiber broadband and telecommunications providers in the nation, was approved to expand coverage in our community. Sherburne County and the city have partnered to use federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to cover the cost of this project, so no tax dollars will be needed to see it to fruition.
As part of the agreement, Arvig will acquire, construct, and install broadband infrastructure to serve 247 existing, previously unserved or underserved homes and businesses in Elk River. The permitting process is already underway with full completion expected by late 2023. A full list of the 247 homes and businesses included in this project can be found here.