Stimulus Award

South Dakota’s largest broadband stimulus effort is halfway through its construction timeline and well on its way to meeting federal timelines in spite of a soggy construction season.

SDN Communications received the $20.6 million grant in December 2009, which was among the first awards in the nation. Environmental regulations kept SDN from starting construction until August of last year, yet it has still achieved milestones, including:

  • Deploying 126 miles of fiber;
  • Touching 105 sites;
  • And expending almost $10 million.

The project stretches across 70 South Dakota communities, bringing high-speed, fiber optic broadband services to anchor institutions – hospitals, schools, libraries, public safety and government offices. The increased bandwidth will help those anchor institutions offer better services to customers, including telemedicine, on-line classes and government services.

 

For more information on the BTOP program, click here.

 

 

 

 

Looking for a Career? Telecom: Two Jobs for Every Grad

Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 in General Blog Posts, BTOP/Stimulus, News, Miscellaneous

Imagine having the luxury of multiple job offers. That’s the case for Mitchell Technical Institute’s Telecommunications program graduates. In fact, there are 33 jobs open for just 17 students.


SDN Communications is actively helping recruit future students to MTI’s program because it’s the future of our workforce. Yesterday, KELOLAND TV featured our partnership on the 10pm news. Almost $800,000 of the $20 million federal stimulus grant awarded to SDN is going to pay for lab equipment at MTI so students can get relevant, hands-on experience, which will lead them into good jobs – a goal of the stimulus effort.


Twenty percent of SDN’s workforce graduated from MTI. We anticipate more coming from there. In fact, KELO’s Ben Dunsmoor interviewed student Travis Williamson. He’s coming to work at SDN next month.


Click here to see the story

http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=130518

SDN Part of Economic Development for the Region—with 229 Locations Completed so far for BTOP

Posted on Friday, February 03, 2012 in BTOP/Stimulus, Internet

Read the full story here, in Prairie Business Magazine. Mark Shlanta was interviewed about the Broadband Stimulus progress so far and is quoted saying, "SDN’s new fiber will provide connectivity to more than 300 anchor institutions – schools, rural hospitals and clinics, government office buildings, and local, county, state and federal office buildings – across the state. The communications company is approximately three-quarters complete and has built 250-350 miles of fiber and touched more than 200 anchor institutes. The remainder of the $25.7 million project is expected to be completed by the end of the year."

SDN’s Broadband Boost to Hwy 14 Hits Close to Home

Posted on Monday, January 09, 2012 in General Blog Posts, BTOP/Stimulus, News, Internet, Connectivity, Miscellaneous

It’s easy to get lost in the technology in delivering broadband services, but it’s the human element that makes it a worthwhile, rewarding career. That’s been reinforced with me recently.

Just before Christmas, SDN turned up high-speed broadband services to the schools along Highway 14 between Huron and Brookings. Students and staff in Iroquois, De Smet, Lake Preston, Arlington and Volga have long been starved for faster service. They’ve been receiving their services via old, copper phone lines. SDN’s fiber delivers the service up to five times faster – 10 Megabits per second.