Kanabec County is a community that Bill Coleman is assisting with organizing and planning around broadband. Located in east central Minnesota with Mora as the county seat, Kanabec County is similar to many rural Minnesota counties. A combination of cable modems and DSL is provided in Mora, but the rural parts of the county are either unserved or unpredictably served by fixed and cellular wireless.
A crowd of 50 packed the Mora City Council chambers on April 28 to discuss the importance of broadband, the current level of services in the county and the next steps towards improving access countywide. Two county commissioners, the mayor of Mora, many rural residents and others participated in a very active discussion. A high school student, chamber president, hospital marketer, a banker and an educator talked about their use of technology and how the lack of broadband access for rural residents restricted their ability to operate at the highest levels.
The steering committee also had a broadband exhibit at the Chamber’s annual home, business and community expo where volunteers demonstrated broadband applications and conducted a community survey.
Highlights of the community meeting, the survey results and other cool stuff is available online.
“A high school student, chamber president, hospital marketer, a banker and an educator talked about their use of technology and how the lack of broadband access for rural residents restricted their ability to operate at the highest levels.”
Well said. It is as simple as that. Broadband access will strengthen rural communities and provide opportunities so that the best and brightest of the young people can stay there instead of leaving the area to find work.