Broadband Service: A Tangle of Options

“Broadband” is the industry-standard umbrella term that covers high-speed internet connections, including cable, fiber-optic, DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite.”

The long-awaited broadband has come to town. In its wake is a tangle of questions, confusing options and contracts. Who has what service, at what cost, when and for how long? Three fiber companies are installing infrastructure in Shorewood. Note: subcontractors who are not identified with the specific fiber company are doing Installation.

• Metronet has city approval for fiber placement. Construction was publicly announced in 2024 with partial installation through summer 2025. Metronet is now part of the T-Mobile Fiber Family. New pickup trucks with “T-Fiber” wrap were spotted in Chanhassen, stating “T-Mobile Fiber home internet is here.” Customer service calls for Metronet now go directly to T-Mobile.

“T-Mobile has completed a joint venture with KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, an investment company) to acquire Metronet, expanding its fiber internet services to over 2.6 million homes and businesses across 17 states. This merger aims to enhance T-Mobile’s broadband offerings and meet growing consumer demand for high-speed internet.”

Metronet does not have a service map for Shorewood, but does invite customers to join a waitlist, input their address and receive a quote.

• MIDCO, also permitted by Shorewood, claims to have built-out partially during summer 2025. A large billboard on County Road 19 between Excelsior and Shorewood, the MIDCO website says:“We’re on our way! MIDCO services are coming to your area, but completing an order online isn’t available yet. Contact our sales team to preorder or sign up to get updated when services launch.”
  

• Xtream (Mediacom) has had a broad cable TV presence throughout the city. Service for Xtream is available to all Shorewood residents who have access to Mediacom cable. Packages vary depending on services bundled. Rates are negotiable for at least the first year.

“Mediacom is upgrading its infrastructure to include fiber technology, aiming to offer multi-gigabit and symmetrical broadband speeds to one million homes by the end of 2026. This upgrade will enhance their existing cable network and improve service reliability and speed.”

In September, Shorewood City Administrator Marc Nevinski was asked for clarity about installation and business practices for MIDCO and Metronet. His response:

“The deployment of fiber by these companies is planned throughout the City, although these are not City projects…The City’s [Shorewood’s] role with these projects is limited to permitting the placement of fiber within right-of way (ROW) and public easements, which telecom companies have a legal right to use. The companies are deploying throughout the city. There are no territories. City Public Works permits the work in the ROW and knows who the contractors are. Hope that helps clarifies things.”

At the Nov. 25, 2025 Council meeting, Nevinski reported that Metronet and Midco had ended their work for the season. He said that questions should be directed to the providers. Their contact info is at city hall.

A Shorewood resident reported to SCA that installers ran afoul of CenterPoint Energy even though lines were marked, necessitating the gas company have staff on site while the trenches were hand-dug in several places to actually locate the lines. The contractor damaged the boulevard in the ROW, did not restore it and in fact left one mailbox post loose.

Performance and customer satisfaction vary wildly. People on Nextdoor have reported ongoing questions, comments and aggravations. Criticism can be found for all providers including the possibility of “hidden expenses” in the new subscriber pricing packages as residents switch and try to receive the service and convenience they may have enjoyed with their previous provider. Time will tell as these providers build out and others, such as Mediacom and Quantum, complete their upgrades. As of now, the projects suggest weak communication, confusion and generally no oversight.

Eleven broadband providers indicate they have local service, in some capacity.

Read more about the T-Mobile/Starlink Partnership PC Magazine
The privacy implications of connecting with Starlink, The Realist Juggernaut
T-Mobile Acquires Metronet, T-Mobile.com
Metronet acquired by KKR, Metronet.com
Midco Fiber Projects, Newsletter, Long Lake, MN
Fiber-Optic-Buildout, Shore Report, Shorewood, MN