Fiber Construction

Federated Broadband is currently in the process of completing several buildout projects within our service territory. Our goal is to provide gig-speed fiber optic internet service to all those within Cottonwood, Jackson, and Martin Counties. Fiber optic is the future-proof internet service option and allows our members and patrons choosing to live the rural lifestyle to have the same opportunity as those living in urban environments.

Similar to the electrification of rural communities, expanding fiber optic services also takes time. Federated is working hard to get fiber optic to all as soon as possible while also keeping construction costs low and rates affordable for those that we serve.

Construction Consent - Printable

Construction Consent - Online

<a href="https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/architecture" title="architecture icons">Architecture icons created by justicon - Flaticon</a>

PREPARATION

Planning, permits, contractor coordination, and material ordering are the first of many important steps involved in fiber construction. Federated's engineering team will design the work area and coordinate with the appropriate local and state entities. Each property within the project will be asked to complete a Construction Consent form if they are interested in having fiber brought to their home or business.

<a href="https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/worker" title="worker icons">Worker icons created by Mayor Icons - Flaticon</a>

MAINLINE CONSTRUCTION

All public underground facilities will be located and marked with various colored flags along the work route. Construction crews with various pieces of equipment and trucks will be seen working on public right-of-way along roadways. Crews will restore areas impacted by construction throughout the project, typically at the end of the work week.

<a href="https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/fuse-box" title="fuse box icons">Fuse box icons created by Freepik - Flaticon</a>

DROP CONSTRUCTION

Once mainline in your area is complete, another construction crew will bury fiber up to requested structures. This is called a drop. A small utility box called a NID (Network Interface Device) will be placed on the exterior of the building where the fiber drop will be buried too. Only those properties that submitted a Construction Consent form will receive this and future steps.

<a href="https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/fuse" title="fuse icons">Fuse icons created by Freepik - Flaticon</a>

FIBER SPLICING

A third crew will follow and splice (fuse fiber cables together) from the pedestal or handhole within the right-of-way to the NID on the building. This connects each property back to Federated's main network for service. Testing will be completed to ensure quality service is available for potential subscribers. This is the final construction step before Federated can connect service.

<a href="https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/real-estate" title="real estate icons">Real estate icons created by Smashicons - Flaticon</a>

HOME INSTALLATION

Once all previous steps are completed, Federated staff will reach out to property contacts by email or phone to inform them the fiber is ready to connect and to schedule an installation with one of our technicians. All equipment required to utilize Federated Broadband services is installed during this appointment and included with the monthly service rate. Additional services and network upgrades are available at an additional cost.

<a href="https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/info" title="info icons">Info icons created by Freepik - Flaticon</a>

QUESTIONS

Federated Broadband is excited to be expanding our gig-speed fiber services to more and more properties. For more information regarding your specific buildout project and to sign up, please see below. If you have additional questions or would like to speak with one of our team members, please call our office at (507) 847-3520 option 2 or email info@federatedbroadband.coop.

2027 Expansion Projects

City of Jeffers | BEAD Grant

Sign Up for a Drop: All addresses within this project are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available. This project will be completed in five phases. Throughout the construction season each phase will follow its own timeline through the construction stages.

Mainline: All public underground facilities will be located and marked with various colored flags along the work route. Crews will bore under roads and driveways temporarily leaving orange conduit duct sticking up out of the ground. Another crew follows behind trenching and running fiber through pre-placed duct staying within public road right-of-way.

This project is funded in whole or in part through the Minnesota Line Extension program.

Grantee: Federated Rural Electric Association dba Federated Broadband
Grant #: CM61-BEAD-MN-66-1260
Grantee Leadership: Troy Rasmussen, 507-847-3520, rasmussen@frea.coop, 77100 US Hwy 71 S, Jackson MN 56143

2026 Expansion Projects

City of Mountain Lake

Splicing: Crews are working to fuse together the glass fiber optic strands from the house to the mainline connection point and then back to the main distribution hut.

Home Installation: Once Federated receives notice of splicing completion home owners will receive an email informing them that their drop is complete and to contact the office to schedule their home installation.

Sign Up for a Drop: All properties within the city limits of Mountain Lake are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available. We also have a subcontractor in town knocking on doors to place NIDS on houses that signed up for a drop already and to touch base with those who haven't.

Line Extension Rd 4

Home Installation: Drops and splicing have been completed. Property owners should have received an email or phone call to contact the office to schedule a home install if interested in utilized Federated Broadband for internet service.

Sign Up for a Drop: All address along these lines are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available.

This project is funded in whole or in part through the Minnesota Line Extension program.

Grantee: Federated Rural Electric Association dba Federated Broadband
Grant #: BCPF-25-0007-K-FY26
Grantee Leadership: Scott Reimer, 507-849-7840, reimer@frea.coop

Lakefield Line Extension 4 fiber distribution area

Home Installation: Drops and splicing have been completed. Property owners should have received an email or phone call to contact the office to schedule a home install if interested in utilized Federated Broadband for internet service.

Sign Up for a Drop: All address along these lines are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available.

This project is funded in whole or in part through the Minnesota Line Extension program.

Grantee: Federated Rural Electric Association dba Federated Broadband
Grant #: BCPF-25-0007-K-FY26
Grantee Leadership: Scott Reimer, 507-849-7840, reimer@frea.coop

Clear Lake Line Extension 4 fiber distribution

Home Installation: Drops and splicing have been completed. Property owners should have received an email or phone call to contact the office to schedule a home install if interested in utilized Federated Broadband for internet service.

Sign Up for a Drop: All address along these lines are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available.

This project is funded in whole or in part through the Minnesota Line Extension program.

Grantee: Federated Rural Electric Association dba Federated Broadband
Grant #: BCPF-25-0007-K-FY26
Grantee Leadership: Scott Reimer, 507-849-7840, reimer@frea.coop

Line Extension Rd 5

Mainline: All public underground facilities will be located and marked with various colored flags along the work route. Crews will bore under roads and driveways temporarily leaving orange conduit duct sticking up out of the ground. Another crew follows behind trenching and running fiber through pre-placed duct staying within public road right-of-way.

Drop Construction: Properties that submitted a construction consent form will have white flags place showing the proposed route and 811 will be contacted, by Federated, to locate public utilities along that route. Crews will bury the fiber optic, typically by trenching, up to the building. Crews will restore landscaping to as close to its original appearance as possible, including reseeding grass were necessary.

This project is funded in whole or in part through the Minnesota Line Extension program.

Grantee: Federated Rural Electric Association dba Federated Broadband
Grant #: BCPF-26-0024-K-FY26
Grantee Leadership: Scott Reimer, 507-849-7840, reimer@frea.coop

google earth view of Federated Broadband Line Extension Rd 5 Lakefield project

Sign Up for a Drop: All addresses within this project are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available. This project will be completed in five phases. Throughout the construction season each phase will follow its own timeline through the construction stages.

This project is funded in whole or in part through the Minnesota Line Extension program.

Grantee: Federated Rural Electric Association dba Federated Broadband
Grant #: BCPF-26-0024-K-FY26
Grantee Leadership: Scott Reimer, 507-849-7840, reimer@frea.coop

google earth view of Federated Broadband Line Extension Rd 5 Truman project

Sign Up for a Drop: All addresses within this project are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available. This project will be completed in five phases. Throughout the construction season each phase will follow its own timeline through the construction stages.

This project is funded in whole or in part through the Minnesota Line Extension program.

Grantee: Federated Rural Electric Association dba Federated Broadband
Grant #: BCPF-26-0024-K-FY26
Grantee Leadership: Scott Reimer, 507-849-7840, reimer@frea.coop

google earth view of Federated Broadband Line Extension Rd 5 Dunnell project

Sign Up for a Drop: All addresses within this project are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available. This project will be completed in five phases. Throughout the construction season each phase will follow its own timeline through the construction stages.

This project is funded in whole or in part through the Minnesota Line Extension program.

Grantee: Federated Rural Electric Association dba Federated Broadband
Grant #: BCPF-26-0024-K-FY26
Grantee Leadership: Scott Reimer, 507-849-7840, reimer@frea.coop

google earth view of Federated Broadband Line Extension Rd 5 Westbrook project

Sign Up for a Drop: All addresses within this project are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available. This project will be completed in five phases. Throughout the construction season each phase will follow its own timeline through the construction stages.

This project is funded in whole or in part through the Minnesota Line Extension program.

Grantee: Federated Rural Electric Association dba Federated Broadband
Grant #: BCPF-26-0024-K-FY26
Grantee Leadership: Scott Reimer, 507-849-7840, reimer@frea.coop

Martin County Ring

Sign Up for a Drop: All addresses within this project are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available. This project will be completed in five phases. Throughout the construction season each phase will follow its own timeline through the construction stages.

Mainline: All public underground facilities will be located and marked with various colored flags along the work route. Crews will bore under roads and driveways temporarily leaving orange conduit duct sticking up out of the ground. Another crew follows behind trenching and running fiber through pre-placed duct staying within public road right-of-way.

Drop Construction: Properties that submitted a construction consent form will have white flags place showing the proposed route and 811 will be contacted, by Federated, to locate public utilities along that route. Crews will bury the fiber optic, typically by trenching, up to the building. Crews will restore landscaping to as close to its original appearance as possible, including reseeding grass were necessary.

Phase 1 (Blue - Fairmont, Silver Lake, East Chain): Mainline & Drop Construction
Phase 2 (Orange - Fairmont, Pleasant Prairie, Rutland): Mainline Construction
Phase 3 (Yellow - Rutland, Fraser, Waverly): Preparation
Phase 4 (Green - Waverly, Galena, Cedar): Preparation
Phase 5 (Purple - Elm, Jay, Lake Fremont): Preparation

Butterfield

Sign Up for a Drop: All addresses within this project are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available. This project will be completed in five phases. Throughout the construction season each phase will follow its own timeline through the construction stages.

Mainline: All public underground facilities will be located and marked with various colored flags along the work route. Crews will bore under roads and driveways temporarily leaving orange conduit duct sticking up out of the ground. Another crew follows behind trenching and running fiber through pre-placed duct staying within public road right-of-way.

MAP

COMING

SOON

Sign Up for a Drop: All addresses within this project are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available. This project will be completed in five phases. Throughout the construction season each phase will follow its own timeline through the construction stages.

2025 Expansion Projects

Border-2-Border North Martin County

Home Installation: Most drops and splicing have been completed. Property owners should have received an email or phone call to contact the office to schedule a home install if interested in utilizing Federated Broadband for internet service.

Some drops are still needing to be completed for those that submitted Construction Consent forms after October 2025.

Sign Up for a Drop: All properties within this project map are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available.

Border-2-Border South Martin County

Splicing: Crews are working to fuse together the glass fiber optic strands from the house to the mainline connection point and then back to the main distribution hut.

Home Installation: Once Federated receives notice of splicing completion home owners will receive an email informing them that their drop is complete and to contact the office to schedule their home installation.

Sign Up for a Drop: All properties within this project map are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form to have a fiber drop brought up to their home or business. During this construction phase there is NO COST to property owners to have the drop placed and there is no commitment to utilizing the service once available.

Cottonwood Ring

Green Line Phase - Home Installation: Most drops and splicing along this route have been completed. Property owners should have received an email or phone call to contact the office to schedule a home install if interested in utilizing Federated Broadband for internet service.

Orange Line Phase - Home Installation: Most drops and splicing along this route have been completed. Property owners should have received an email or phone call to contact the office to schedule a home install if interested in utilizing Federated Broadband for internet service.

Sign Up for a Drop: Properties that did not receive a drop during construction but would like to sign up for one now are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form. As crews have moved out of the area there may be a waiting period and aid-to-construction cost going forward.

City of Storden

Home Installation: Most drops and splicing have been completed. Property owners should have received an email or phone call to contact the office to schedule a home install if interested in utilizing Federated Broadband for internet service.

Sign Up for a Drop: Properties that did not receive a drop during construction but would like to sign up for one now are encouraged to submit a Construction Consent form. As crews have moved out of the area there may be a waiting period and aid-to-construction cost going forward.