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Several organizations in the community realized the need for expanded broadband options in this rural setting. Bringing together six local partners, the Decorah MetroNet established a 28e alliance that formed a vision for a fiber optic infrastructure backbone ring through the community that would create basis for expanded connectivity.
The anchor members include; the City of Decorah, Decorah Community Schools, Luther College, Winneshiek County, Winneshiek Medical Center and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission. Each anchor member contributed $75,000 over three years to the program and the remaining project funds came from a $520,000 Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant from the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA).
The fiber build out allows for each anchor member to realize benefits of the network for disaster recovery, off-site storage and backup of data and centralized inter-connectivity of infrastructure for sharing of services and equipment. The project addresses needs in the community for expanded Internet options, disaster recovery opportunities and network sharing between six key service leaders in the community. |
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