Laserfiche WebLink
Summary <br />The South Washington County Telecommunications Commission adopted the <br />first broadband franchise in Minnesota. A broadband franchise is vastly <br />superior to mere permitting. A broadband franchise, unlike a permit, <br />addresses multiple issues that benefit residents and consumers, such as <br />buildout standards, customer service standards, senior and disabled person <br />discounts, system performance standards, consideration for use of public <br />property, and many other public benefits. <br />The South Washington County Telecommunications Commission (SWCTC) has <br />adopted the first local broadband franchise agreement in Minnesota. The <br />agreement with Intrepid Fiber Networks was approved at the SWCTC meeting <br />on September 25, 2025. This is the future of franchising and communications. <br />It secures future-proof digital infrastructure for the City of Woodbury area. <br />The franchise grants Intrepid the privilege to construct an open access Fiber-to- <br />the-Home (FTTH) cable communications system in the City of Woodbury. This <br />franchise marks a new era in franchising for local governments in Minnesota. <br />SWCTC showed how local governments can protect the public rights-of-way, <br />while securing important protections for its residents. <br />I. Franchising Superior to Permitting <br />Franchising is fundamentally different from standard right-of-way permitting. <br />While permitting generally dictates how a construction project is executed (e.g., <br />pavement repair, traffic control), franchising provides a formal, binding <br />contract that guarantees specific public benefits in exchange for the use of <br />public real estate. <br />Minneapolis/St. Paul <br />(651) 379-0900 <br />Chicago <br />(847) 510-5999 <br />Attorneys Practice Areas Contact Blog <br />Sep 29, 2025 —by Michael Bradley in Broadband, Municipal <br />First Broadband Franchise <br />Ushers in a New Era in <br />Franchising