Midco Broadband Expansion Near Crowned Ridge Expected to Begin Construction in 2027 After Federal BEAD Delays
- Steve Jurrens
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - Midcontinent Communications says its federally funded broadband expansion — including areas near the Crowned Ridge wind project corridor — is expected to begin construction in 2027, following months of federal delays that slowed the rollout of BEAD awards nationwide.
During the August 11 Public Utilities Commission meeting, Midco regulatory attorney Patrick McCann confirmed the company has now received its official award letter from the state and signed the necessary documents, clearing the way for planning and permitting to begin.
“We recently received our award letter from the state of South Dakota and got that signed,” McCann told commissioners. “I anticipate the build in 2027. We will probably do some permitting in 2026 if we still have time.”
The BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program is designed to bring high‑speed fiber internet to underserved rural areas — including pockets of eastern South Dakota where Crowned Ridge’s transmission infrastructure intersects with communities that have long struggled with reliable broadband access.
Federal Delays Pushed Construction Back
Commissioners noted that Midco’s original BEAD timeline appeared to show construction beginning as early as April 2026. McCann said that date reflected earlier expectations before the federal government slowed the approval process.
“There was this original BEAD process… It went back for this ‘benefit of the bargain’ round,” McCann said. “It’s had some delays at the federal side just to actually get the final awards approved for the state.”
Commissioner Kristie Fiegen said the revised timeline made sense given how quickly South Dakota’s separate Connect program moved compared to BEAD.
“South Dakota Connect probably was a little bit more timely in their responses,” she said. “So that makes sense.”
Commissioners emphasized that the federal holdup was not Midco’s fault.
Commissioner Chris Nelson added:
“I thought once the plan went in, okay, we’re ready to go — and the feds just hung it up and hung it up and hung it up. Finally, apparently we’re over that hurdle.”
Commissioners Praise Midco for Stepping Up
The PUC repeatedly thanked Midcontinent Communications for participating in the BEAD bidding process, noting that rural residents — including those living near Crowned Ridge’s footprint — have been waiting years for a provider willing to build fiber in the region.
Nelson said he has heard from residents who have been asking for service “for years.”
“When’s somebody going to come?” Nelson said. “And you finally answered that question. Thank you.”
Fiegen echoed the sentiment:
“We are very happy… thank you for bidding. We are grateful.”
Build Expected to Be “Relatively Short” Once Underway
McCann told commissioners that the project’s scope is manageable and should move quickly once construction begins.
“No concerns with the size and the scope of the build,” he said. “It’ll be a relatively short one from my understanding.”
While Midco did not provide mileage estimates during the meeting, commissioners referenced earlier filings suggesting the project includes more than 100 miles of buried fiber.
A Significant Upgrade for Rural Reliability
The Crowned Ridge corridor — home to one of South Dakota’s largest wind energy projects — relies heavily on stable communications infrastructure for grid monitoring, emergency response, and rural connectivity. The BEAD‑funded fiber expansion is expected to strengthen broadband reliability for residents, farms, and businesses throughout the region.
