Here’s the news from our latest newsletter. It’s mostly a compilation of Minnesota-related stories from the blog in the last month – but sometimes it’s nice to have it compiled.
Minnesota State Broadband Advisory Task Force Seeks Members
On July6, the Secretary of State published the list of open appointments, including a call for applications for the Minnesota State Broadband Advisory Task Force. The Task Force will advise and assist the commissioner on progress in achieving state high-speed broadband goals and assist in annual report to legislature regarding same. The task force will have a maximum of 15 members. Applications should be in by July 27, 2010. http://tinyurl.com/2af6cgv
Round Two ARRA First Awards Announced
The first batch of Round Two ARRA broadband awards were announced on July 2. The following Minnesota projects received awards: Zayo Broadband for fiber, Federated Telephone for fiber and Leech Lake Reservation Business Committee for computer centers. Minnesota will also receive services from a nationwide project that will connect more than 30 existing research and educational networks. http://tinyurl.com/2dld7mu Earlier in June, the RUS published a 846-page directory of ARRA Round Two applicants. http://tinyurl.com/28zonan
Round One ARRA Awards Analyzed
The USDA compiled and published the outcomes of the Round One RUS-funded ARRA projects. So far, the more than $1 billion in funding awarded by RUS has been used to fund 68 projects in 31 states; the projects are expected to create 5,000 jobs. http://tinyurl.com/2a9rr3u The report is spurring advice for private investors and telecommunications companies. http://tinyurl.com/2gxd274 The Blandin Foundation has compiled a list of the Minnesota-based Round One BIP and BTOP awards. http://tinyurl.com/23baymr
ARRA-Funded MIRC Update in Minnesota
Blandin Foundation’s ARRA-funded Minnesota Intelligent Rural Community(MIRC) project is off and running. All of the demonstration communities have met at least once. The service provider partners are honing offerings to meet local needs, and the RDC are making sure that opportunities are shared. http://tinyurl.com/2fwquap
National Broadband Policy Plan
In June, two foundations set out to make the National Broadband Plan more accessible to states, communities and individuals. The Benton Foundation created an interactive index to the Plan, highlighting a number of topics and interests that might draw in people who are not inherently interested in broadband policy. http://tinyurl.com/22oa2lf
Pew Internet and American Life published a report that outlines the National Broadband Plan from a state perspective. In it, Minnesota receives praise for forward thinking policy in the form of the Ultra High Speed Broadband Task Force, their report and Minnesota’s resulting broadband bill. http://tinyurl.com/34d2ffw Pew’s John Horrigan brought the Plan to an even more local level when he spoke in Baltimore about the Plan from the municipal perspective. http://tinyurl.com/2bgfuw2
Local Minnesota Broadband News
Adrian
The tele-pharmacy in Adrian is going strong thanks to local broadband and support from a pharmacist in a neighboring town. http://tinyurl.com/2ch5tnk
Lac qui Parle
Lac qui Parle is developing a mobile computer/broadband lab, or Computer Commuter to promote broadband throughout the county. http://tinyurl.com/38e2vn3
Lake County
The Heartland Institute talks about Lake County’s efforts to deploy fiber and their hope for federal funding. http://tinyurl.com/22nyr2j
Mankato
Local providers, such as Mankato-based Hickory Tech, measure up to the broadband goals set out by the Minnesota Broadband Bill. http://tinyurl.com/2df37dn
Marshall
The Marshall Independent completes their broadband series by looking at the future of broadband in the community. http://tinyurl.com/2cmw6gz
Minneapolis
Minneapolis has announced 117 “Wireless Minneapolis” hot spots for residents and visitors to access the Internet for no charge. http://tinyurl.com/2g2z67p
Best Buy helps equip a dedicated space at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, dubbed “the tech precinct,” and dispatches Geek Squad agents to standby to guide and trouble shoot. http://tinyurl.com/25ou7fp
Minnesota
Medica becomes the first major health insurer operating in Minnesota to follow a state requirement that insurers make e-prescribing available to all members. http://tinyurl.com/27r27eh
Minnetonka (and surrounding communities)
Tonkaconnect hosts a workshop on fiber to the home; a video archive is available online. http://tinyurl.com/26pfqt5
Rochester
Rochester City Council decides not to investigate public broadband. http://tinyurl.com/2c2bnec
Sibley County
With financial support from the Blandin Foundation, Sibley County approves a feasibility study for Fiber to the Home (FTTH) project. http://tinyurl.com/28sutjo
(Many stories are gathered from local online newspaper. Unfortunately each newspaper has a different policy in regards to archive news and therefore we cannot guarantee access to all articles cited.)
Coleman’s Corner
Working with the MN Intelligent Rural Communities Project has taken me to all four corners to Minnesota over the past couple weeks. Our conversations with the 11 demonstration community leader teams have been extremely interesting. Each community has a unique set of circumstances – networks, community partners, assets and challenges. The organizing and planning work now underway is off to a great start. Our planning process is designed to involve a broad spectrum of the community and to generate a big number of project ideas. Our community teams are also ready to engage with our statewide partners to maximize the effectiveness of those resources. MIRC is accelerating towards incredible success; I am excited to be a part of it!