Zayo Bandwidth has received $13.4 million in federal stimulus funding to build broadband infrastructure for communities in Minnesota.
The project, called Connect Anoka County Community Broadband Network, will add 286 miles of fiber to the area and is a partnership between Louisville-based Zayo and Anoka County, Minn. The partnership will make a $5.7 million match to the project, which will provide high-speed broadband services to government, businesses, community institutions and local Internet service providers.
“It’s going to connect all of our government buildings in Anoka County,” said Robyn West, an Anoka County commissioner. “We’re engaging cities, libraries, schools and colleges. I just think it’s going to be a gateway for global economy for Anoka County.”
Zayo Group, parent of Zayo Bandwidth, was started in November 2006 by former executives of ICG Communications and Level 3 Communications. The privately held company has about 360 employees and completed a $250 million debt offering in March.
The grant is the second Zayo has received under the federal Recovery Act Broadband Opportunity Program. In February, Zayo received a $25 million award to extend its infrastructure to 80 rural communities by way of 21 higher-education institutions in Indiana, adding 600 miles of fiber-based network. The project is expected to be completed in a year.
Zayo Bandwidth owns and operates 20,000 fiber-route miles and offers services in 141 markets in 23 states. Over the past three years, it has acquired 15 companies and doubled the number of customers that came with those businesses.
“We have networks in and around various locations in rural America,” said John Scarano, chief operating officer of Zayo Group. “We’re leveraging what the government has requested and what our partners need and are able to extend Zayo’s network.”
Staff writer Aldo Svaldi contributed to this report.
Margaret Jackson: 303-954-1473 or mjackson@denverpost.com
