We just got word on a broadband meeting in Minneapolis one week from today. I’m hoping to attend and promise to take notes.
Senator Klobuchar has scheduled a Rural Broadband Roundtable for December 29th at 10:00 a.m. at the Minneapolis Central Library [Note on Dec 22 - please note that the location has changed to the State Capitol Room 125]
Roundtable participants will discuss the need for rural communities to have greater investment in and access to high speed broadband internet. Attendees will provide real world examples of the challenges rural communities face as well as success stories. Senator Klobuchar will discuss her priorities around “Information Infrastructure” and the Obama administrations emphasis on funding this effort.
Senator Klobuchar held a similar broadband roundtable in Park Rapids a few weeks ago.

[...] Klobuchar Broadband Roundtable Notes Dec 29 Here are notes from the Broadband Roundtable meeting. Here’s the stated purpose of the meeting: Roundtable participants will discuss the need [...]
By: Senator Klobuchar Broadband Roundtable Notes Dec 29 « Blandin on Broadband on December 29, 2008
at 6:51 pm
Senator Klobuchar,
I will not be able to attend the roundtable but am very interested in broadband for my City. If there is any inforation on the subject that you could forward to me, I would be very appreciative.
Sincerely,
Donald A. Van Vorst
Mayor, City of Chickamaw Beach, Minnesota
By: Donald A. Van Vorst on December 30, 2008
at 11:09 pm
Interesting people and projects!
Suggest at least establishing every library as a fiber node soonest will push overall bb infrastructure deployment. Creating this open access point that demonstrates and tests higher speed applications and equipment should increase demand.
But no matter, what keep meeting and learning and planning. It’s your telecom infrastructure!
Best,
Don Means
Director
Fiber to the Library initiative
By: Don Means on December 31, 2008
at 12:29 am
Mayor Van Vorst,
I’d like to hear more about what is making you think about broadband for your community? Do you have business asking for better connectivity? Does the school, library or local hospital need a better connection? Or an overall clamoring from residents?
That being said, I unfortunately don’t have a connection directly to Senator Klobuchar. I’d love to know if she or her staff read this blog – but the safest approach might be to contact her directly here: http://klobuchar.senate.gov/contactamy.cfm
Thanks! Ann
By: Ann Treacy on December 31, 2008
at 1:01 am
Don,
As a former librarian I love the notion of fiber to the lbirary by 2010. In the mid-90s there was a big push here to get libraries and schools connected with T1 and 56K connections, which seemed fast at the time. I hitnk libraries connected make sense so long as they can serve as an anchor tennant to a provider who will also be able to serve local homes, businesses, schools and hospitals.
Thanks! Ann
By: Ann Treacy on December 31, 2008
at 3:01 am