From its quaintest rural communities to its most densely populated cities, Anoka County wants to improve high-speed broadband services. But before applying for federal stimulus funding to do so, the county plans to get the word out, by phone and at meetings, face to face.

"We know people in the northern part of the county are frustrated with the lack of service, and we've heard from businesses that have had trouble finding service," Cindy Kevern, the county's director of informational services, said Thursday. "But do people want to spend money for high-speed access? We're hoping for a good turnout at our meetings to find out."

In addition to a questionnaire being sent to hundreds of businesses and a phone survey of 900 residents, the county has scheduled three meetings, beginning Tuesday at Spring Lake Park High School, to determine how eager residents are for high-speed access.

While $7.2 billion in federal stimulus funding is being made available for broadband initiatives nationwide, Anoka County's competition figures to be steep. The Blandin Foundation reports nearly 80 applications from Minnesota or with Minnesota connections -- from counties, cities, tribes, cooperatives and businesses. Other metro counties that expressed interest are Ramsey and Carver.

Two counties along Lake Superior have also applied for grants. Cook County is seeking nearly $33.7 million and Lake County is requesting an $11 million grant and a $22.4 million loan. Those counties, whose combined population of 16,200 is just a sliver of Anoka County's 327,000, are among the state's largest geographically, far more expansive than Anoka County.

"There's no way to compare our costs to theirs," said Jim Kordiak, the Anoka County commissioner who chairs the board's informational committee. "One estimate has this costing $10,000 per mile. But as far as what Anoka County's needs are, we don't know. And we don't know the cost.

"Do you run a fiber down Central Avenue? Do you run it home to home? The cost of that, from what I've heard, doesn't seem practical. We want to hear what the people of the county want."

Wants business partner

In addition to county services and residents, the high-speed broadband is meant for schools, colleges, businesses and community organizations.

The county, which is seeking a private partner if it is to offer the high-speed service, can provide up to $99,000 for research for the Connect Anoka County project, said County Administrator Terry Johnson.

"Anoka County has no intention of being the Internet provider," said Commissioner Robyn West, appointed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty to the Minnesota Ultra High Speed Broadband Task Force. "We've interviewed a few companies -- not to hire them, but to figure out what the needs are.

"When I got on the High Speed Task Force, my attitude was: 'You want high-speed broadband, you move where they have it.' But this generation that we have raised, they're already doing a majority of their business on the Internet. They buy things, sell things, bank on the Internet, take classes on the Internet.

"If there's a way to pave the way and improve broadband service for the people of Anoka County, we'd like to be on track to prepare the next generation."

Paul Levy • 612-673-4419