Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program

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The project is composed of two elements, added middle mile fiber route miles, and upgrading electronics to support the increased network demand.

The first element, the incorporation of the new fiber route miles, will facilitate additional redundancy, resiliency, and survivability of the network.  In addition, the added fiber routes will reduce latency for anchor institutions providing critical network services. 

The new route design for eastern North Dakota will be comprised of 4 additional network segments.  These segments will be:

• Bismarck, ND to Carrington, ND,
• Jamestown, ND to Carrington, ND,
• Devils Lake, ND to Carrington, ND and
• Fargo, ND to Carrington ND. 

This will create a fully meshed topology within the state. The western portion will also benefit by adding an additional network segment between Alexander, ND and Max, ND. 

The project will add a total of 612.99 leased fiber route miles to DCN’s middle mile backbone infrastructure.  Subrecipient BEK will be adding a total of 28.4 new construction fiber route miles to their middle mile backbone infrastructure. Subrecipient DCT will be adding a total of 233.2 new construction fiber route miles to their middle mile backbone infrastructure. A combined total of 874.59 fiber route miles will be added with the proposed project.

The second element, upgrading electronics to support the increased network demand, will ensure the network has the capacity that is in demand from anchor institutions enabling them to serve critical services to the citizens of North Dakota.