Monthly Archives: May 2011

Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee meets today on municipal telecommunications auhtority

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Thanks to Ann Higgins for the heads up. I will try to attend this meeting. I’m passing on what I know as early as I can in case others want to attend. Here is the agenda:

WEDNESDAY, May 11, 2011
2:30 PM
Meeting Time Note: The committee will meet until 4:30 p.m.
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joe Hoppe

Agenda: HFXXXX (Hoppe) Telecom Access Reform
HF1637 and HF343 will be acted upon but not passed out of committee. HF610 is an informational hearing.
HF1637 (Daudt) Transaction agents required to disclose information on lenders for residential mortgage loans, and additional data required in foreclosure notices.
HF343 (Atkins) Identity theft and related fraudulent activity enforcement capabilities enhanced.
HF997 (Westrom) State agency civil penalty imposition regulated, and fees and expenses awarded to prevailing parties in actions involving state agencies.
HF610 (Hilty) Transportation funding provided through new regulations governing checkbook money created by state-chartered banks, and penalty provided.

Here’s a bit on the first item, which I think it of greatest interest to readers…

The first bill on the agenda is HFXXXX (Hoppe), a bill not yet introduced, that contemplates comprehensive changes to Chapter 237, including repeal of Minn. Stat. 237.19 relating to municipal telecommunications authority.  Provisions also exist in Section 16 of Article 1 that propose how and under what terms and conditions municipalities would be authorized to own and operate telecommunications networks and services, including provisions requiring local voter approval (by majority vote when no other local exchange service provider is available or a two-thirds vote to approve entry when an incumbent local exchange service provider operates within the city.

Provisions on municipal telecom entry and service are found in Sections 11 – 12 and related sections  of Article 1 starting on page 16, line 19.

Telehealth brings the doctor’s couch to you

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MPR’s Ground Level ran a nice story this week on remote mental health services. As the article points out, mental health support is particularly ripe for remote applications since it doesn’t’ require a physical examination. They also point out that sometimes there is a stigma attached to parking your car outside a therapists office so whether you are able to connect from home or through computers at the local clinic there are advantages to a little anonymity too.

MPR reports…

Often, when a patient sits before that camera for a session, the doctor they’re talking to is Jane Hovland, a nurse, licensed psychologist, and associate professor at the U of M Duluth. Rural people, says Hovland, who was raised in northern Minnesota, “are such a self reliant bunch.” When it comes to mental health, “We expect people to figure it out on their own.”

But the fact is, some can’t. The most common diagnosis Hovland makes is of major depression, followed by anxiety disorders.

Hovland notes that Minnesota has more psychologists than the national average. But they tend to practice in the city. “There are 13 counties without a single licensed psychologist,” she says. “It’s a matter of distribution.” That’s why doctors with the U’s telemental health program have seen 2,300 patients over the past five years.

Minnesota Senators asking tough telecommunications questions

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Last week Senator Franken spoke about broadband and telecommunications; this week it’s Senator Klobuchar and Senator Franken is asking about smartphones and privacy. They are keeping the topics in the playing field!

Senator Klobuchar is speaking out on the AT&T merger. As The Hill reports…

Days ahead of a Senate Judiciary hearing on the AT&T merger, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is pushing the company to make commitments on how it will operate if the deal with T-Mobile is approved by federal regulators.

A fierce advocate for consumer-friendly wireless policies, Klobuchar wrote to the chief executives of AT&T and T-Mobile on Friday with 10 questions on the consequences of the merger.

The Benton Foundation provides a succinct list of those ten questions:

  1. How will you ensure that the proposed transaction will not lead to higher prices for consumers?
  2. What impact will decreased competition in the wireless industry have on practices that impact consumers such as cell phone exclusivity, early termination fees, and bill shock?
  3. Will AT&T commit to continuing to sell T-Mobile’s lower-priced plans after the merger to all T-Mobile and AT&T customers?
  4. Will the acquisition of T-Mobile enable AT&T to reach rural parts of the country that AT&T could not reach if it simply entered into data roaming agreements with T-Mobile or other wireless carriers?
  5. Will AT&T support device interoperability and ensure that devices built to work on AT&T’s future Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks are usable on the LTE networks of other carriers?
  6. AT&T and Verizon will control 75 percent of the wireless market. Given this concentration, can the wireless market be competitive? If yes, can you articulate any specific level of concentration that would render the wireless market no longer competitive?
  7. Will AT&T allow existing T-Mobile customers to switch providers without penalty if they do not want service from AT&T?
  8. Will AT&T offer smaller carriers data roaming agreements at reasonable rates?
  9. Will AT&T commit to forgo any handset exclusivity agreements with cell phone manufacturers?
  10. What impact would a potential merger have on T-Mobile employees and will the combined company commit to maintain current employment levels?

According to Politico,

Sen. Al Franken is planning to take a hard look Tuesday [May 10] at the way iPhones, Androids and BlackBerrys — and the apps that run on them — collect and use personal information about their owners, including their locations.

…

The hearing itself is Capitol Hill’s first explicit foray into the burgeoning industry debate over iPhones, Androids and BlackBerrys, and the amount of information those popular devices collect and store about their owners.

To Franken, it isn’t just the devices themselves that pose key challenges to consumers — but also third-party applications, like games and other downloadable content, which most consumers aren’t aware are collecting their personal details.

I’m personally interested to see how these meetings go. I’m amazed at the types of information some apps will request before you can install. Often I opt out based on the seeming unrelated info they want, but there are some applications where usefulness tips the balance enough for me – but I wish there was a better way to share less just to gain the ability for one-click dinner reservations.

FCC seeks nominations for membership on the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (deadline soon!)

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OK I’m sort of late in seeing this – but hopefully not too late. It would be great to see some Minnesota names on this list! There is an opportunity for state, local, and tribal stakeholders to share their telecommunications needs and thoughts with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The former Local and State Government Advisory Committee has been constituted into the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. FCC is seeking nominations for 15 positions.

Get more info online here.

A personal view on Windom’s broadband progress

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Windom is one of the MIRC (Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities) Demonstration Communities, which means they received ARRA-funding through the project that the Blandin Foundation Administrates to improve broadband adoption.

I’ve written about at least one of their projects – but sometimes it’s fun to get a first person glimpse at a community and the local broadband plan. MIRC Community Coach Karl Samp gave me the heads up on a blogger in Windom who is tracking what’s happening in Windom – including what’s happening with their broadband plans.

She seems to be pretty involved. I thought some readers might be able to borrow from the ideas she shares and that others might simply enjoy hearing what it’s like on the frontlines.

Kanabec County residents look at Broadband

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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.

Andover Officially Joins the Anoka County Fiber Plan

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It’s been fun to watch the Anoka County Fiber plan roll along. Last week, I learned from the Connect Anoka County Newsletter last week of a of the latest cities and anchor institutions that had signed on:

Member organizations that have approved the Connectivity Services Agreement:

Cities
Andover, Anoka, Bethel, Blaine, Centerville, Circle Pines, Columbia Heights, Columbus, Coon Rapids, East Bethel, Fridley, Ham Lake, Hilltop, Lexington, Lino Lakes, Linwood Township, Nowthen, Oak Grove, Ramsey, St. Francis

Other Organizations
PACT Charter School, Columbia Heights School District, Ramsey County, Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds view Fire Department, Centennial Fire Department, North Metro Cable Commission, St. Francis School District.

This week the Coon Rapids Herald gave a little glimpse as what it takes to get each entity to sign on. (The quick reminder is that Anoka County and Zayo Bandwidth received ARRA-funding to construct an approximately 286 mile fiber network throughout Anoka County linking 145 governmental institutions.) The Herald reports that the Andover City Council recently approved the service agreement. They are planning to connect the city hall and the three fire stations. The monthly fee would be $75 per site or $300 total per month, according to the agreement.

This isn’t the first time Andover has thought about fiber…

[Andover City Administrator Jim] Dickinson said this is a bargain compared with what the city could have paid had it worked with the Anoka-Hennepin School District seven years ago.

The district in 2004 was planning to connect all its school buildings and the district office with fiber optic cable. Dickinson said it would have cost about $375,000 to extend the district’s fiber optic cable to city hall. Due to the high cost and the city’s study of a citywide wireless Internet plan, the council chose to decline the partnership with the district.

And not everyone is overwhelmingly positive. Councilmember Don Jacobson is concerned with potential loss of cable franchising fees, although Zayo is not providing video services. And some seemed unsold on the idea of public support for broadband…

Councilmember Sheri Bukkila said she has not been endeared to this project from the beginning because she does not feel enough time was spent deliberating this start-up program.

“We’re in something of a Catch-22 because like all grants, if you don’t accept it, it will go somewhere else,” Bukkila said. “The bottom line is this money is coming from the federal government that doesn’t have any money to begin with and yet we’re looking at expanding services to things that people can’t naturally afford.”

Others looked at it differently…

“To be able to get the benefit and not put that kind of outlay out there is just amazing to me,” Councilmember Julie Trude said, who also liked the fact that this service would be good for economic development….

Trude had a different point of view. She said this project would create jobs during construction, which is a positive. She also thinks it is fair for residents to see some benefit from all the federal taxes they pay.

But despite some reservations, the cities and anchor institutions are forging ahead and the service agreements keep rolling in.

Franken speaks out for Net Neutrality – again

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Senator Al Franken has been passionate with his support for Net Neutrality – calling it the first amendment issue of our time. He spoke up for it again earlier this week as the Huffington Post pointed out…

The House vote was a mistake, Sen. Franken said in an impassioned speech before an empty chamber. He vowed to fight the resolution (H.J. Res. 37) when it’s taken up by fellow senators.

Net Neutrality “is a fundamental design principle” put in place at the inception of the Internet to ensure that everyone had equal access to information online, and that the network would foster innovation and ideas.

“We want to preserve that,” Franken said, adding that Net Neutrality rules ensure “that the Internet that we know and love does not become corrupted and altered by a small number of large corporations controlling the last free and open distribution channel we have in this country.”

While they chamber may have been empty – his cry was heard. Apparently he received 87,000 letters from Free Press activities after his speech.

I know we’ve had comments from folks for and against Net Neutrality, which indicates to me that it’s a topic that folks care about. So I’m a little surprised that this isn’t getting more attention in the mainstream media and from elected officials. Apparently Senator Franken needs 50 more Senators to take up the cause.

Best approach to cyber nagging for Health

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According to iHealthBeat…

About 41% of consumers prefer to receive a reminder to perform a health-related task through text messaging, according to a survey from the Consumer Health Information Corporation.

As a daughter I think that’s great info. As a mom, I have to ask if that means that people take their pill (or run a mile or don’t smoke) when they get a text. Text might be preferred, but is it best in terms of changing behavior. Interestingly, the study cited seemed more interested in SmartPhone use than health impact…

Smartphone apps are increasing in popularity and are being widely used in healthcare as health apps. An online survey was conducted by Consumer Health Information Corporation (CHIC) to gauge consumer interest in health apps and evaluate the likelihood of patient adherence to them.

But adherence seems to be app loyalty, not follow through on medical advice. It would be interesting to see the survey ask about adherence to advice.

How Internet searches impact on regional businesses for UMVRDC

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The librarian in me loves the following story. It hits on so many important aspects of Internet as a great equalizer. The potential is there but in reality, the Internet is a great equalizer (for businesses) when you understand how to use it and when you live in an area where the maps are right. Every business has to worry about brand management – for example in terms of handling a bad review on Yelp – but what do you do when the Google Map is sending people to a location 15 miles away? Google is getting better but a few years ago that could be hours on phone calls and emails – and that assumed you know what to do to correct the problem. (Having made a few of those calls, I can tell you they weren’t always productive.)

Well, an AmeriCorps student at University of Minnesota, Morris is taking on this challenge for Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission (UMVRDC). It sounds like she may make a difference for businesses in that area – but more than that – that she will use the data she collects to make the case to the big search engines/maps (Google, MapQuest, and Bing) that improvements must be made. Here’s the full story…

University of Minnesota, Morris student Tara Greiman ’11 researches Internet searches impact on regional businesses for UMVRDC

Summary: Interning for the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission, Greiman’s work explores the correlation between customers increasingly using Internet searches rather than telephone books for business information and inaccurate or missing business contact information and locations on the Internet.

Morris, Minn., May 5, 201—In fall 2010, a group of University of Minnesota, Morris students attended a statewide Blandin Foundation conference to present their research on broadband usage in rural America. The Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission (UMVRDC) was impressed with their research and contacted the Center for Small Towns (CST), located on the Morris campus, regarding the possibility of offering one of the students an internship through the Students In Service program. Tara Greiman ’11, Dayton, accepted the internship. Her project is to assess the accuracy of Internet business listings in the five counties UMVRDC covers: Swift, Big Stone, Yellow Medicine, Chippewa, and Lac qui Parle.

Why is this important? Increasingly, people are using the Internet to find plumbers, restaurants, furniture stores, and other services and businesses. Many are using smart phones to search, and as people increasingly forgo landline telephones, they no longer receive phonebooks. So, if businesses want to be “found,” their information on the Internet—listings and map location—needs to be accurate. If it isn’t, they will lose customers and business.

Greiman’s process has been to look up business names, addresses, and associated keywords in three main search engines—Google, MapQuest, and Bing—and check for accuracy. Ben Winchester ’95, research fellow at the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality, whose research prompted the project, says that “rural areas have witnessed some difficulties with online mapping services. In some cases, community assets are not present on these maps. In others, they are present, but the locations are wrong. This is especially true for those located along state highways and on rural roads. If towns in rural Minnesota are going to compete, the digital infrastructure needs to be built much in the same way roads and electricity connect our rural areas to the rest of the state.”

Greiman has been exploring 37 different cities throughout the area and has found gaps in identification and location. In the city of Ortonville, for example, 33 percent of businesses are missing from at least one search engine. And the conservative estimate for mistakes is 1.3 per business, with the wrong location and/or wrong business name being the most common errors.

Once all the information has been gathered and assessed, Greiman and UMVRDC members plan to contact the underrepresented businesses to obtain correct information. Greiman says they’re working on stressing to businesses the importance of having an online presence, especially in the context of prospective residents who are looking to move into the area. University of Minnesota Extension, in partnership with UMVRDC, will be offering workshops to local businesses about the importance of a strong and accurate Internet presence.

The final step of the process will be to take all of the information they’ve collected from businesses and send it to the three major search engines. Greiman says that they feel that they’re “more likely to be taken seriously if we send in one big packet than if information trickles in one business at a time.”

UMVRDC’s efforts to correct the business information in their five counties are part of their overall efforts to promote economic development in the region and part of the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities program. The University of Minnesota Extension and UMVRDC are partnering to offer workshops and other business and technology assistance to area businesses in an effort to promote a stronger, more vibrant regional economy.

Students In Service is an AmeriCorps program that encourages college students to enroll as part-time AmeriCorps members. Coordinated by Minnesota Campus Compact, an organization that promotes civic engagement on college campuses in Minnesota, the program allows interested college students to work in a variety of positions to help better their communities. Qualifying activities include academic and co-curricular service learning, internships with nonprofit organizations, certain kinds of practicum hours, federal- or state-funded community service work study, and most kinds of volunteer work. Students commit to 300 hours of service throughout the year.

The Center for Small Towns is a community outreach program housed at the University of Minnesota, Morris and serves as a point-of-entry to the resources of the University. Small towns, local units of government, K–12 schools, nonprofit organizations, and other University units are able to utilize the Center’s resources as they work on rural issues or make contributions to rural society. Their mission is to focus the University’s attention and marshal its resources toward assisting Minnesota’s small towns with locally identified issues by creating applied learning opportunities for faculty and students.

Through personal and academic discovery, the University of Minnesota, Morris provides opportunities for students to grow intellectually, engage in community, experience environmental stewardship and celebrate diversity. A renewable and sustainable educational experience, Morris prepares graduates for careers, for advanced degrees, for lifelong learning, for work world flexibility in the future, and for global citizenship. Learn more about Morris at morris.umn.edu or call 888-866-3382.

TISP May 4, 2001: Border to border broadband: Full Notes

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Yesterday I attended the TISP Forum at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Here is a description of the event from the from the invitation:

Public private broadband partnerships as a way to expand broadband in Minnesota is often repeated popular language. But what does it mean for building community-wide broadband networks? Hear the up- close and personal stories of how two private companies and two public entities are making their public private partnerships work. Each partnership aims to bring wide-ranging betterment to a whole community through a fiber optic network. But what do they do in actual practice? What lessons can be learned? What problems arise? What might be incentives for private providers in such partnerships? What motivates public participants? Join us to hear from the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company/Lac qui Parle County partnership and from the Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc/FiberNet Monticello partnership.

I tried to take pretty complete notes while I was there. The presenters had some valuable information to share and attendees had good questions. Usually when I take full notes I keep clear from including names because I don’t transcribe, I take notes and I don’t want to misrepresent anyone. There are times below where knowing the speaker helped with context so I did add it.

Moderator – BERNADINE JOSELYN, Director, Public Policy & Engagement Program, Blandin Foundation
OPENING REMARKS:
COMMISSIONER MIKE ROTHMAN, Minnesota Department of Commerce (on the job for 120 days overseeing 20 industry sectors)

The role of government has changed over time. Goals – Broadband access is critical. It’s a high priority with the State Administration. We need to find a way to connect people to broadband. 96% have some access; 70% use broadband. Barriers include age, location. We have broadband goals set out by 2010 Broadband Bill.

It’s important to have border to border access to broadband. But we have budgetary challenges – but we could be a focal point in bringing broadband. Commerce facilitates federal telecommunications. We are here to work with state gov, local gov and private sector.

Kids have access to smart boards in their classrooms. Healthcare is looking at broadband. Rural areas need broadband. We need telephone line, cable, wireless…We need to have a public-private partnership to get where we need to go with broadband. We have to work with private sector and businesses of all sizes, The Admin needs to hear from folks in the field.

The Governor’s top goals:

  1. Job creation
  2. Solution to the budget
  3. Find ways to innovate (do things better) Continue reading →

2011 eLearning and eFolio Summit July 27-29, 2011

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I thought there would be readers with an interest in the following…

2011 eLearning and eFolio Summit – July 27-29, 2011

Several educational agencies in Minnesota are teaming up this summer to offer a powerful user conference on eLearning and ePortfolios. The Minnesota Learning Commons, MnLC ™ (a cooperative between the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Education, and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities) and e-FolioMN/World ™, will hold a Summit on the beautiful campus of Northwestern College.

The conference theme, Connect the Dots serves as a backdrop for our discussions of eLearning within the new realities of 21st century teaching, learning, and administration.

The Summit emphasizes:
• The synergy created by “connecting the dots” between all eLearning services, applications and solutions
• A connected approach to maximizing critical resources within fiduciary constraints
• Opportunities to connect, collaborate and contribute ideas for effectively using instructional technology
• A shared vision for utilizing resource-rich tools that reach 21st century learners
• The importance of developing creative strategies when budgets and personnel are being stretched in order to address the challenges of student learning, assessment, and student retention.

Who will be there?

The eLearning Summit is anticipating a gathering of 400 educators, innovators, and presenters interested in the concepts and opportunities of learning technology applications for P-12 Education, Higher Education, Library and Learning Resource professionals, the Professional Workforce, and Community Groups. This dynamic combination of educators and leaders will give the opportunity to “connect the dots” with eLearning and eFolio technology by sharing discoveries, perspectives, challenges, and ideas.

Check out the Summit site at http://summit2011.project.mnscu.edu

Blandin eNews May 2011

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News from the Blandin on Broadband Blog

MIRC Digital Inclusion Curriculum
It’s been about a year since Blandin Foundation’s Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) began their ARRA-funded broadband adoption initiative. One byproduct of the program has been the development of a wide spectrum of digital inclusion curricula available for Minnesota residents, jobseekers and businesses. http://wp.me/p3if7-1gr

More About MIRC
In 2010, the FCC issued a national broadband plan that stated “Like electricity a century ago, broadband is a foundation for economic growth, job creation, global competitiveness and a better way of life.” While broadband internet access underlies the MIRC project, in reality broadband is only a tool to help create better communities. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fb

Universal Service Funds
The FCC is looking to restructure the Universal Service Funds (USF). IMPACT 20/20 (from NW Minnesota) recently published a background on USF that explains why residents should pay attention to this technical and political topic. http://wp.me/p3if7-1go Earlier this month, the Minnesota Telecommunications Association spoke to the Minnesota PUC about how decisions on the USF at the federal level may relate to the PUC and Minnesota residents. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fT

May 4 – TISP Forum
Wednesday May 4, The Telecommunications and Information Society Policy Forum will discuss Public Private Broadband Partnerships. Attendees will hear personal stories of how two private companies and two public entities are making their public private partnerships work. The panel will be moderated by Blandin Foundation’s Bernadine Joselyn and the event will include opening remarks from Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Mark Rothman. http://wp.me/p3if7-1f8

Local Broadband News

Anoka County
Working on their ARRA-funded fiber network, Anoka County has shared the connectivity service agreement they are using with their communities and anchor institutions. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fy

Benton County
Telehealth programs are going strong with local MIRC partners Benton County as they work with Cybermation to put computers in homes with elderly residents to help them stay remotely connected to loved ones. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fj

Carver County
Carver County leaders meet to discuss broadband deployment and adoption, asking does broadband unite or divide us? http://wp.me/p3if7-1gd

Dakota County
Dakota County hosts a Broadband Forum where attendees focus on regional economic development and hear from local leaders in broadband use – from the healthcare, business and education sectors. http://wp.me/p3if7-1gg

Iron Range
Local journalist Aaron Brown speaks eloquently about the need for broadband adoption and deployment programs in Northern Minnesota. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fv

Lake, Lac qui Parle, Todd, Redwood, Cook, Sibley Counties and Windom
Minnesota Public Radio’s Level Ground profiles seven communities and their broadband efforts. http://wp.me/p3if7-1ga

Lake County
A study by Navigant Economics prices out the cost per household of bringing fiber to Lake County. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fX

Mountain Iron
Northeast Service Cooperative breaks ground on their ARRA-funded fiber project. http://wp.me/p3if7-1g8

Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota is hiring broadband apprentices to work on their ARRA-funded broadband adoption program. http://wp.me/p3if7-1gy

The Twin Cities is slated to get super-fast wireless service through new provider LightSquared, if LIghtSquared can get necessary approval for their technology. http://wp.me/p3if7-1gl

Voyagers National Park
AT&T’s request to build a 350-foot cellphone tower near Voyageurs National Park has been rejected. http://wp.me/p3if7-1gA

Winona
With MIRC funding, Project FINE has been able to offer broadband adoption and computer literacy programs to the new residents in their area, many of whom are learning English. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fn

Worthington
Senator Klobuchar praised the efforts of ARRA-funded Southwest Minnesota Broadband Group and their efforts to bring fiber to the area. http://wp.me/p3if7-1eN

The Worthington School District is going wireless, even opening up the network for student devices. It could open new doors for teaching. http://wp.me/p3if7-1eQ

(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.)

Events

May 4 – TISP Forum http://tinyurl.com/44b7uy9

June 7 – Minneapolis CIO Executive Summit – http://tinyurl.com/6zycaoj

July 19-20 – Minnesota Cable Communications Association Annual Meeting http://tinyurl.com/5ta73y3

Looking for more events? Check out TechDotMN’s calendar http://tech.mn/events/. Many events are based in the Twin Cities but it is a comprehensive list. (If you have an upcoming event, consider submitting it.)

Coleman’s Corner

The Connect Minnesota maps and reports http://connectmn.org/ are opening the eyes of many across the state, especially those at the bottom of the connectivity lists. Some of those counties may be on the way to solving their problems through stimulus funds – Cook, Lac qui Parle and Lake. Others are just beginning the task to ensure countywide compliance with the 10-20 Mb state broadband goal. (A side note: for a while, I was defaulting to the lower speed, but now I am promoting 15 Mb by 2015 as the goal).

Sibley County has completed a countywide fiber to the premise feasibility study. I am working on initial assessments and discussions with Redwood and Kanabec Counties. Todd County is also in on the pursuit of quality broadband, in their case, reportedly at the urging of the county cattleman’s association. Even cows want fiber, I guess!

Just as the recent MN Rural Partners report http://wp.me/p3if7-1dk indicates that the metro has significant interdependence with greater Minnesota, rural community leaders are recognizing that it is not enough for county seat cities to be well-connected. Last week at a community meeting in Mora, county seat of Kanabec County, the banker, the hospital and the schools all indicated the need to connect to consumers in the outlying areas. The hospital representative told of the need for quality broadband in rural areas so that prospective physicians can enjoy a full range of housing choices when comparing Mora to other rural locations, all of which are trying to attract new doctors.

We have had great representation from area telecommunications companies, large and small, in both Redwood and Kanabec County meetings. There is a shared understanding by all that strictly private market forces cannot finance new rural telecommunications networks. High costs, low revenues and short investment horizons combine as a triple whammy. Absent new federal broadband stimulus funds, it will be up to these rural counties to identify and implement models that work!

Bill Coleman helps communities make the connection between telecommunications and economic development. As principal in Community Technology Advisors http://tinyurl.com/3f4dx7g for ten years, he assists community, foundation and corporate clients develop and implement programs of broadband infrastructure investment and technology promotion and training. Bill is working with the Blandin Foundation on the MIRC Initiative http://tinyurl.com/2c6mhh4, Community Broadband Resource Program http://tinyurl.com/cseu7e and other broadband projects.

Interested in getting this monthly email? Please sign up here.

Creating curriculum to help Minnesotans get online

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The Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) project brings together Rural Development Commissions, 11 local demonstration communities and statewide partners in an effort to help Minnesota residents, businesses and schools to make good use of broadband. The project is about to celebrate a first birthday.

We are using a comprehensive framework based on the Intelligent Community Forum strategy that focuses on: broadband, digital inclusion, knowledge workers, marketing/advocacy and innovation. Within this framework each community is funding local projects to meet the local needs while statewide partners have been creating tools, such as digital inclusion curriculum, to support the local efforts. Collectively we’ve created tools to meet residents wherever they are on the digital literacy spectrum.

Digital Inclusion

Statewide project partners, PCs for People have been busy refurbishing recycled computers for folks who have never had a computer in their home. Last quarter they gave out a record-breaking 809 computers to proud owners across the state. (About 300 of those computers went to homes in MIRC communities.) Some new computer owners have taken to the computers easily, some have kids to help guide them, but for folks who need a little hand holding, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has created computer classes.

DEED began by using standards developed by the Digital Literacy Center to help determine what digital literacy skills they should strive to teach; they have developed online courses that start at the beginning (see video). They have a series of scenario-based learner-driven training modules that follows our hero Olivia as she strives to gain computer skills required to get a job and conquer other life challenges as they arise. These courses will soon be available through area Workforce Centers, community colleges, libraries and other locations. (As you watch the video you may notice the slow pacing to accommodate low English and literacy levels.)

Knowledge Workers

The Minnesota Learning Commons picks up the baton from DEED with their Knowledge Workers curriculum, which includes training in career planning, entrepreneurship, research, networking, problem solving, critical thinking and innovation. The courses are computer-based but will be presented in a classroom setting so that students have a supportive environment to build skills to take future online courses. The goal is to develop a workforce that has modern technology skills required to support the 21st century company so that Minnesota communities can compete with global counterparts for attracting businesses to the area. The courses are available through the local community colleges.

Marketing/Advocacy

Along with training residents, MIRC also supports local businesses with ecommerce and ebusiness training. The University of Minnesota Extension offers a range of classes from Doing Business Online to Using Social Media in Business. (Some classes are offered with Spanish interpreters.) In four months, they have conducted 66 workshops in 18 communities, contacting 597 businesses and more than 1,000 individuals. As local reporter, Dave Peters points out, “This is the flip side of the federal stimulus money.” Much of the stimulus funding has gone to infrastructure. The MIRC project focuses on usage and adoption. In this context, teaching local businesses how to use broadband to grow.

The Minnesota Renewable Energy Marketplace (MNREM) has also been working this local businesses – especially renewable energy businesses and businesses, such as manufacturers, who support renewable businesses. MNREM has hosted several webinars on ebusiness topics providing high level instruction to decision makers and business owners. MNREM will be working in local communities to get local ebusiness specialists to work with businesses to help them make better use of broadband.

We’re proud of the lessons we’re teaching and learning. Our hope and expectation is that the skills that beneficiaries gain through the training will outlive the project itself and that even the curriculum will live on to teach folks throughout Minnesota and beyond how to use a computer to learn, work and live. In some ways much of our work is done – then next phase is developing relationships to help spread the word and use of the tools we have created.

Northern MN says no to AT&T Towers

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The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports…

AT&T’s request to build a 350-foot cellphone tower near Voyageurs National Park has been rejected in the second clash this month over its efforts to erect a cell tower on the edge of a major natural area in northern Minnesota.

You can imagine the argument. Some folks want better wireless coverage; some folks want to maintain the vista. It’s a tough call. The cell towers can be pretty ugly. And it’s hard to camouflage a tower to fit in with Minnesota ‘s changing seasons. (Although this year it feels like winter white might be a good bet.) On the other hand, few businesses (or residents for that matter) want to relocate to an area without wireless coverage.

It sounds like both AT&T and the Koochiching County and parks are willing to go back to the drawing board to find a solution that strikes a balance.