Cook County, Arrowhead Electric, Boreal Access, City of Grand Marais, Grand Portage, Cook County Schools (ISD 166), Gunflint Trail Association and the Lutsen Tofte Tourism Association joined forces with the Blandin Foundation to  to explore the feasibility of creating a next generation communications network using fiber optic cables to reach virtually all citizens and businesses in Cook County. The feasibility process led to the submission of a federal ARRA Broadband Stimulus Grant application to seek assistance with paying for the capital costs of building a locally owned and operated network.