Broadband expansion in holding pattern for permits, agreements

The ongoing broadband expansion project in Taylor County is in a waiting pattern for new sections to go live pending agreements between service providers and regulatory approvals.

County broadband manager Grant Bub explained that Bug Tussel and WanRack are in negotiations for a fiber swap or other deal to complete the connection to fiber in place in western Taylor County. Once this line is activated, service will be available throughout much of the northwestern corner of the county. In addition, Bug Tussel equipment is already installed at Spieles Lane and Whittlesey and is just waiting on connectivity which is dependent on the business negotiations.

“They keep assuring us that talks are ‘close,’” Bub said, noting “They have been ‘close’ for the past three months.”

Other areas of the broadband expansion, in the Richter Lake Addition (North of Hwy 64 up to Perkinstown Ave. within CTH Q, Castle Rd., and Sunset Dr.) are awaiting permit approval. Bub explained that Bug Tussel has been waiting on wetland permitting for the area with the hold up being with the Army Corps of Engineers.

“Bug Tussel has received approvals from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), but still needs sign off from Army Corp,” Bub said. He said they are hoping this will be signed off within 2-3 weeks. Once permitting is done final engineering will occur they are hopeful for a quick build out and connecting residents.

Bub noted the contract for this work has it set to be completed by the end of 2025 and he is hopeful that the regulatory approval and business negotiations will allow the project to meet that goal.

In addition to the work the county and Bug Tussel are doing, Charter and TDS Telecom have also been busy installing fiber in areas around the county. He noted that the funding deadlines for those private companies is 2027.

“TDS is specifically doing quite a bit of work to get people connected,” Bub said.

The change in administrations at the federal level has also impacted local broadband efforts with the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program grant program. Bub explained that the goal of the program was to get internet for everyone. However, despite the massive investment at the federal level, there is not enough money in the program to get fiber optic connectivity to each residence. Bub said there has been a switch to looking at the cheapest and best option. In rural areas this may mean additional presence of services like Starlink and with fixed base wireless providers from towers such as those built by Bug Tussel.

“We are unsure how everything will pan out but are still excited and hopeful that the county will see multiple options for broadband all around the county,” Bub said. He said that they hope to have a better idea of what changes are being passed down by the federal government in the third or fourth quarter of 2025.

In addition to delaying connections to homes, the ongoing talks between Bug Tussel and Wanrack are delaying the activation of expanded cellular communication in the county.

According to Bub, seven of the towers built by Bug Tussel will have cellular equipment on them. He said companies including AT&T, Verizon, and T-mobile are among those who are working with Bug Tussel. The timing of when these towers going live for cellular is dependent on them being activated for fiber optic service.

Bub noted that community meetings are being planned for the fall at locations in Rib Lake, Gilman, Jump River and Medford. The meetings will go over the broadband updates and provide information to residents in each area about what is available to them.

Bub also reminded everyone that will be attending the Taylor County Fair this weekend that there is free public WiFi available from the county at the fairgrounds to allow them to stay connected while riding rides, seeing animals, and eating food.