NORTHROP FIBER PROJECT Faster internet speeds are coming to residents in the city of Northrop, MN. Our Board of Directors are committed to providing our membership with reliable GIG-speed fiber internet and encourages all of our members to take a look at what we have to offer. What do GIG-speeds provide? GIG - speed internet is incredibly fast and allows you to work remotely, take remote classes for high school or college, do telemedicine doctor appointments and stream television that’s 4K quality. GIG speed internet can help retain and attract young people to the rural lifestyle with the access to high-speed internet. These speeds are comparable to Twin Cities internet options with competitive pricing too. Drop your landline with voiceover internet (VoIP) or use WIFI calling for improved cell phone reception. Even if you do not presently use the internet, this fiber connection adds to your home’s resale value. City of Northorp – Federated Broadband Projected Timeline: Early Sept. 2022 Federated Rural Electric committed to move forward on the project. End Sept. 2023 Equipment for construction and installation for Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) will be ordered. Early Oct. 2023 Have a meet and greet night for residence of Northrop to come and ask questions and sign up for construction to bring fiber to their homes and businesses. Fall 2023 Federated will be able to install their first customer. Winter 2023 Conclude the installs and hooking up customers throughout the City of Northrop. What equipment is installed for a fiber optic connection? 1. In the event an underground fiber drop is used; our contractor will plow or drill the fiber line to your property. This means very little yard disturbance. Most services in Northrop have overhead electric and I these cases; an overhead fiber drop will be used. 2. Where underground plant is used; a pedestal will be installed that will serve several homes. Where overhead plant is used, the drop will come directly from the pole. 3. This 9" x 12" gray box (Network Interface Device or NID) would be installed on the side of your house. Federated Broadband Fiber Packages Managed WIFI required with fiber connection. This saves you the hassle of buying a router & allows us to do trouble- shooting with you over the phone, saving you a service call fee. How do I sign up to receive a Federated Broadband fiber drop? A construction consent form will need to be completed and returned to Federated Broadband prior to any construction starting. You can find the form by visiting here. You can complete a paper version and mail it to our office at PO Box 69, Jackson, MN 56143, or you can email it to info@federatedbroadband.coop. You can also drop it off in the payment drop-off box outside our Jackson location. What’s available for Northrop businesses? Northrop businesses are also encouraged to sign up for Federated Broadband fiber internet. Higher speed packages are available upon request. Consumers trust local Cooperatives A national poll recently showed that electric cooperative’s values give consumers faith that a local co-op would do a better job of providing reliable, affordable broadband services than big telecommunications companies. This is due to the local ownership, community infrastructure and reliability. Federated Rural Electric has served our member since 1935 providing safe, reliable and affordable electric services and in January 2022, Federated Rural Electric added Federated Broadband, formerly Back 40 Wireless, to our service offerings; the cooperative also is applying for grants to bring GIG-speed internet to all of its rural member-owners in Jackson and Martin Counties. Federated Broadband packages are listed with the basic fiber internet package starting at $70.00/month.