Dairyland power cooperative (DPC) will implement its TRI-state fiber deployment project (TSFDP), which will retrofit 240.23 miles of fiber optic communications network using mostly optical ground wire…

Dairyland Power Cooperative received a $30.4 million project grant award from the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration under the Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program (CFDA 11.033). The grant will support Dairyland Power Cooperative's implementation of its Tri-State Fiber Deployment Project to install 240 miles of fiber optic cable on existing electric transmission lines between July 2023 and June 2026. This fiber deployment will expand middle mile broadband infrastructure across rural communities in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota that are currently unserved or underserved. Specifically, the project aims to install 17,136 strand miles of fiber optic cable on transmission lines passing through nine counties. This expanded infrastructure will enable local internet service providers to offer affordable high-speed broadband access to residents and businesses. The project aims to support economic development, connectivity needs of distributed energy resources, and mission-critical utility operations through open access fiber networks. No subrecipient activities are associated with this award.

Activities

Project will use fiber to build new/resilient middle mile network through unserved and underserved communities with a commitment to open access and carrier neutral non-discriminatory interconnect. The period of performance is expected to be 3 years .

Expected outcomes

1. Installing 240.23 miles of fiber to replace and enhance the current wireless system in eight segments on existing transmission lines while passing through barron, polk, burnett, and washburn counties in wisconsin, winneshiek and mitchell counties in iowa, and fillmore, freeborn, and mower counties in minnesota. 2. Offering competitive pricing to regional middle mile fiber users that are fair and reasonable as compared to the regional market prices. 3. The 240.23 miles of opgw retrofit will total 17,136 fiber strand miles and will allow last mile networks to provide the level of service required to attract and support all types of last mile connections, especially businesses and those with critical uptime requirements. 4. Enabling high quality and affordable connectivity to maintain and attract residents who reside in these rural communities to work remotely, launch entrepreneurial endeavors, engage in distance learning, utilize telemedicine, and ultimately, live life uninhibited by poor or no internet service.

Intended beneficiaries

Beneficiaries are in the unserved and underserved communities of barron, polk, burnett, and washburn counties in wisconsin, winneshiek and mitchell counties in iowa, and fillmore, freeborn, and mower counties in minnesota. All counties within the project's service area are rural according to USDA population standards and have median household incomes that are less than the national average of $64,994. Furthermore, all counties served by the tsfdp have low population densities. The applicant provided US census household income data for nine counties in the proposed service area and a substantial number are at or below 150 percent of the poverty line. The installation of opgw will directly support secure and reliable communications for mission-critical operations of the nation's bulk power system. The installation will help advance smart grid capabilities and communication to distributed energy resources throughout DPC's service territory.