Broadband coming to rural Minnesota, thanks to Farm Bill

A federal loan will pay for 1,524 miles of fiber optic cable in north central Minnesota over the next five years, state congressional leaders said. The USDA Rural Development loan, authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, will bring broadband Internet service to 7,160 homes and 795 businesses in Todd, Cass, Crow Wing, and Morrison counties. Consolidated Telecommunications Company of Brainerd will install the cable.