OK the mentions aren’t big but here they are:
From Al Franken: Improving broadband Internet service to small towns also could help keep young people from leaving for larger cities, he said. – from the Bemidji Pioneer.
From the incumbent Representative John Ward, DFL-Brainerd: Ward, however, named five additional items he believes will grow jobs in Minnesota: Investment in education, the Capital Investment Bill, building roads and bridges with transportation funds, renewable energy and building in broadband infrastructure that will bring high-speed Internet services to all areas of Minnesota. – from the Pequot Lakes Echo & Pine River Journal
On a related note – I ran into a blog article from the Rochester (MN) librarian about how legislators don’t get the need for broadband in rural areas. Those librarians are so smart. (I was a librarian, but feel that doesn’t bias me – much.) Here’s what she had to say:
There is still a divide, however. This divide is in the availability of broadband access to the internet. What’s interesting is that many people – and most disturbingly, the people who are the decision-makers – don’t understand that this is happening.
So maybe that’s one reason we’re not hearing much – despite the fact that we continue to slip behind our global counterparts in broadband use and applications – it’s a non-issue. I remember reading early this year a study that found that voters weren’t interested in broadband access. Taking those things into consideration, I am heartened to see any mention of broadband. And if folks don’t think it’s an issue – I’m glad that it’s at least emerging as a solution to other problems.
Actually maybe that’s a very good sign. I think technology in schools seemed to take off when they stopped confining it to “computer class” and started integrating technology into all classes. Maybe we need to quit look at the broadband problem or issue and just keep touting broadband as the answer to every other policy issue.