Anchors

For anchors that have signed a Network Service Agreement, there are next steps to get your site connected. The anchors are responsible for inside wiring and equipment. We have information on our Website related to specifications for those at www.nesc.k12.mn.us/anchors/next steps.

Executive Director blogs on project

Executive Director Paul Brinkman of Northeast Service Cooperative has provided a interesting and informative blog on the project. If you have an opportunity, view his blog at: http://paulbrinkman.blogspot.com/2012/02/northeast-middle-mile-fiber-project-on.html.

Was your city constructed to in 2011?

With more than 415 miles of construction complete for the Northeast Minnesota Middle Mile Fiber Project it raises the question: "Is my city a broadband community?"

In 2011, the Northeast Service Cooperative constructed the fiber optic backbone in three of the eight counties it will serve including Lake, Cook and St. Louis County. Crews placed drops to more than 80 sites. As your entity signs a Network Service Agreement, we will get your site connected.

We placed fiber in the following communities:  Aurora, Carlton, Cloquet, Cromwell, Duluth, Ely, Esko, Floodwood, Hermantown, Hibbing, Moose Lake, Mountain Iron, Proctor, Silver Bay, Soudan, Two Harbors, Virginia, Willow River, Wrenshall, Gilbert, Eveleth, Tower, Barnum.

In 2012, we will continue construction for the project expanding into the additional counties. We will also continue connecting sites in the communities that have fiber currently.

So how does your site get connected? We will be working with your sites to get them connected to the project. We have entities signed on board for the project.

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Cox at 218-748-7609 or mcox@nesc.k12.mn.us

OTN Facilities Delivered; waiting for equipment

The remaining Optical Transport Network (OTN) equipment shelters were delivered this week to Barnum and Floodwood. Equipment for the remodels is still in the process of being ordered or has been ordered. It has been estimated by contractors that it will take 4 to 6 weeks to get all the equipment for the remodel sites. An agreement will need to be approved for the Citon building, which should occur early next week.
The OTN shelters will need to be complete with equipment prior for the network to be operational.

Getting Critcial Service Sites Connected

It was excellent season of construction for the Northeast Minnesota Middle Mile Fiber Project in 2011 with more than 415 miles of fiber optic completed in St. Louis, Lake and Carlton counties.
The broadband infrastructure project spans across eight counties in Northeast Minnesota including St. Louis, Carlton, Aitkin, Cook, Lake, Koochiching, Pine and Itasca.The project will create a fiber optic backbone of 915 miles and connect critical service sites across the region.
Currently, the Optical Transport Network (OTN) Equipment Shelters are being delivered across the region in Ely, Silver Bay, Barnum, Tower, Hermantown and Floodwood. The OTN remodels are occurring at Hibbing Community College, the University of Minnesota-Duluth, City of Cloquet, Citon, Northeast Service Cooperative (NESC). Equipment for the shelters will be arriving in the next several weeks. This means the network is getting closer to being "lit" with each accomplishment!