Wireless internet company keeps the most rural residents connected in southwest Minnesota

While millions of dollars in federal and state grants are helping bring fiber optic cable for broadband service to ever more rural locations, a wireless internet provider serving them remains confident of its future. MVTV Wireless Internet continues to serve and add customers in some rural areas where new fiber optic cable has been installed for broadband services. Costs remain an important factor for customers deciding to link to fiber optic. MVTV serves rural customers dispersed among 27 counties in southwestern Minnesota as well as in bordering areas of South Dakota and Iowa. It is the dominant rural provider in this area, with 25 to 30% of the rural households. The company is looking to continue to increase the available capacity on the system for subscribers. It is looking at options for next-generation services and waiting for decisions by the Federal Communications Commission on licensing for the frequencies needed. The company takes a hybrid approach to broadband, as fiber optic cable provides the backbone of the system, linking the towers that provide wireless service to customers.