Dan Richter (right)

By Byron Higgin
Mascot Publisher

Rural America demands communications to the point where it’s become, “A necessity to have broadband wireless in rural America.”
MVTV Wireless of Granite Falls is, “Building a rural network of Broadband Wireless Internet,” that will address the area’s need for speed, availability and price”, says Dan Richter, president of MVTV Wireless
“We want to stay ahead of the technology,” Richter said.
Currently, MVTV Wireless serves approximately 2,500 subscribers spread out over 10,000 square miles of rural Minnesota. They’ve been serving the area, including Minneota, for 10 years. “Minneota is in the heart of our area,” Richter said.                                      
“We provide a lot of high speed internet and a lot of solutions,” he added. But the demands are increasing so MVTV is making moves to improve service because, “We want people to live here and work here,” said Richter.
“We’re a co-op. What we’re doing is providing service to ourselves,” he explained.
But the time has come when businesses and individuals need more solutions and MVTV is stepping up to the plate.
When MVTV service began in 1999, one speed cost $49.95 for a 256K package. “We increased the speed and decreased the cost,” said Richter.” Now, we have 1.5 mg service for $47.95 — six times the speed for $2 less.”
Depending on need, MVTV has packages running from 128 to 256K to 512K to 1.5 meg in the price ranges from $32.95 per month to $47.95 per month.
They also have commercial service packages of 384K; 768K and 1.5 meg at higher prices than the residential.
“We have built a backbone of 56 sites capable of a lot more than we do now,” said Richter.
Businesses with more than one site in the area need a communication system that’s instant, inexpensive and able to keep them connected.
Individuals want to download home videos such as Net Flicks and some need a system providing one hook-up for home and business.
That’s where MVTV is hoping to help the rural community.
“We’re testing up to three meg at this current time. Higher speed packages will be available,” said Richter.
“We don’t give it away, but we’re competitive,” he said.
“We have quick delivery to sites. Some people want on-line banking, or on-line classes and need a 512 connection.
“Others want higher speed for movies and the big thing now is tele-medicine, which is becoming a big user of high speed internet.
“As we go forward there’s going to be a need for more,” Richter said. And the future is to keep planning for more speed, more access and affordable price.
More and more people want to be hooked up wherever they go. “It’s a necessity to have broad band in rural America.”
According to Richter, “MVTV is currently testing up to three mg and may even be able to go higher.” He added, “The future is now.”

New stimulus project
On Feb. 14, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act providing $7.2 billion in grant and loan funding to expand broadband wireless access to rural, underserved parts of the country.
MVTV submitted a $1.4 million stimulus grant. “If we get this funding, four areas including: Canby area; Glenwood-/Starbuck area; Willmar/Atwater Area and the Windom/Hwy. 14 West to South Dakota Border area will be served by MVTV.”
MVTV Wireless is proposing construction of 34 additional access points in 34 unserved and underserved communities adjacent and contiguous to its current service area.
“These are in excess of 200 communities, public safety and educational facilities that would be served within the proposed project,” said Richter.
Currently 38 percent of Americans living in rural areas subscribe to broadband, compared to 57 percent in urban and 60 percent in suburban areas.
Obama’s plan is to facilitate rural economic development. The stimulus funds are intended to provide incentive for development or rural broadband development of services and products.
MVTV’s application was one of 2,000 received from more than 1,400 applicants. Richter indicated MVTV is waiting to hear if they’ve been approved. However, he added, “If we aren’t, we’re still going to move ahead with our plans.”