Thanks to The Bemidji Pioneer Press for keeping me up to the minute this week on the progress of the broadband study bill. I’m going to paste their info below. I wasn’t able to find much on the Legislative web site yet, but it can take a while. I have been following the story in earlier blog posts.

I think the Bemidji paper did a great job of capturing the range of legislative opinions on the bill.

Study controversial

Rural lawmakers were divided Monday over a House-approved plan creating a task force to study a statewide high-speed broadband Internet plan.

Some rural representatives said high-speed Internet options are limited in their areas. Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba, DFL-Long Prairie, said there are service “holes” all over her district. “I can’t get broadband, but my neighbor can,” she said.

Ultra-high speed Internet connections will be important to the state’s future, said bill author Rep. Sandra Masin, DFL-Eagan. The bill, which passed 98-33, asks the task force to look at how both public and private entities could be involved in a statewide broadband plan.

Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, wanted the study just to look at the Twin Cities area, where interest originated. Howes said high-speed Internet options are available in his area of northern Minnesota.

“This is nothing more than a business plan for the state of Minnesota to develop Internet connections throughout the state,” added Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Wabasha. “Our private sector is taking care of this need; we need to let them do it.”