Ceremony marks continuation of broadband expansion

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

OMA, Wis — Local and state officials gathered at the old Pine Lake fire tower in Oma Wednesday to celebrate the beginning of the second phase of Iron County’s broadband Internet expansion efforts.

Joining the locals responsible for moving the second phase of the effort through the state’s grant process were Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp and State Broadband Director Angie Dickison.

Dickison told the group the county’s application beat out 32 other projects this grant cycle to receive funding, and praised the number of partners that have bought into the project.

“I think (partnerships) are a priority factor ... because partnerships help make these projects successful. Bringing all these different folks together from the community really shows they’re eager for these projects to be successful,” Dickison told the Daily Globe, following the ceremony. “It’s an example we share with other folks around the state.”

The county’s second phase of broadband expansion focuses on the southern parts of Iron County, primarily through the use of old DNR fire towers, and is funded through a grant provided by the state’s Public Service Commission.

The grant gives Iron County — through a partnership between the Iron County Resource Development Association, and GogebicRange.net — $79,101 to fund the effort.

The grant money, along with a $80,100 local match of money and in-kind installation costs, will be used to add broadband equipment to fire towers in Pine Lake, Springstead and the Popko Circle, Mercer areas. The equipment will send a wireless Internet signal to receivers in GogebicRange.net customers’ homes. The grant also calls for building a tower in Saxon to service Saxon Harbor, both during the rebuilding process following the July 11 storm that flooded and destroyed the harbor and following the opening of the rebuilt campground and marina.

While the effort hopes to make it more convenient for residents, Iron County Development Zone Coordinator Kelly Klein said there was a clear economic benefit in increasing broadband accessibility.

A couple years ago, the county conducted a survey of county residents to gauge their desire to improve Internet access.

Wednesday, Klein said that of the over 800 people who responded to the survey, well over 300 said they would be willing to telecommute from Iron County if the technology was able to meet their needs.

“So these are people who already have places in Iron County, but if they can telecommute they can spend more time here,” Klein said. “And if they’re spending more time here, they’re going to spend more money at our area businesses — that’s economic development.”

About 160 people said they’d consider starting a business of some sort if the technology was there, he continued.

“Obviously it’s convenience for the people who already live here, but we want people to be here longer and more business opportunities — and I think this is going to do it. Especially once we get into the lake country,” Klein said, referring to the Oma, Mercer and Springstead areas. “Because that’s where the people, you know they have a lake home, they may come up from the Madison area or something — but if they are here two or three weeks out of the year, if they can telecommute maybe they’ll be here three or four months out of the year. So area restaurants, grocery stores, everyone benefits from something like that.”

While there haven’t been set plans yet, Klein said the third phase of the county’s expansion will likely keep the focus on the southern part of the county — specifically in the areas around Spider, Catherine and Fisher lakes.

“There’s an area out there that has quite a few places and I don’t think this will reach them, so that might be the next step,” Klein said, adding the area around Island Lake as another possible area of focus.

This is the second broadband expansion grant the county received, having been awarded a 2015 grant to expand broadband Internet services in the Hurley, Saxon and Upson areas.