Broadband Policy Points
In June, President Obama established a Broadband Deployment on Federal Property Working Group to accelerate broadband infrastructure deployment. http://wp.me/p3if7-1KU The intention seems to be to streamline the process of deploying broadband across the country with efforts such as Senator Klobuchar’s Dig Once policy. http://wp.me/p3if7-1KL

This should be good news to the Minnesota Broadband Task Force, which met in June. Much of their last meeting focused on policies related to infrastructure, especially policies that coincided with plans from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. http://wp.me/p3if7-1Kw

600 Million Sold
According to a report from Point Topic there are more than 600 million worldwide broadband subscribers today. http://wp.me/p3if7-1Lg They report that fiber is taking market share from DSL and cable; satellite and mobile options are increasing access in unserved markets. The report is published in time for a scheduled meeting of the International Telecommunications Union’s Broadband Commission for Digital Development, which looks at the impact of broadband on global citizens. http://wp.me/p3if7-1KX in 2010.

Impact of Broadband on Generations
A report from Pew Internet and American Life highlights impact of wired life on millenials. http://wp.me/p3if7-1L3 The report details a list of skills found to be beneficial in the new era of broadband. On the flip side, the Benton Foundation and Connected Living recently hosted a conference on the impact of broadband on seniors. http://wp.me/p3if7-1L0 The conference report presents strategies to help seniors make the most of networked world. And somewhere in the middle and more locally reported, Connect Minnesota reports that one in five employed Minnesotans enjoys the benefits of telework. http://wp.me/p3if7-1KQ

Local News

Anoka
Connect Anoka County hosts a series of presentations on Last Mile options. The presentations are available online. http://wp.me/p3if7-1Ls

Deer River
Superintendent Matt Grose talks about the keys for success in planning an iPad program in the schools. http://wp.me/p3if7-1LA

Duluth
Floods in Duluth demonstrate the need for better infrastructure redundancy in the area as many suffer telecommunications outages. http://wp.me/p3if7-1L8

Lac qui Parle
The Minneapolis Star Tribune features Lac qui Parle County and their broadband infrastructure as a means to lure 30-49 year olds looking to relocate to their area. http://wp.me/p3if7-1Kk

Lake County
Lake County continues to have issues with their fiber project as incumbent providers make allegations about the financial aspects of the project and Lake County leaders refute allegations. http://wp.me/p3if7-1KE

Minneapolis
MIRC partners, PCs for People are featured in the Minneapolis Star Tribune for their work getting computers into the hands of low-come families and households. http://wp.me/p3if7-1Lp

Monticello
In May, Hiawatha Broadband decided to leave the Monticello FiberNet project. In June, Monticello elected to move forward with Gigabit Squared as a managing partner. http://wp.me/p3if7-1Kr

Northeast Minnesota
The Northeast Service Cooperative (NESC) provides an update on their ARRA-funded project to deliver Ethernet services at speeds up to 10Gbps to critical service institutions. http://wp.me/p3if7-1K9

Rochester
Mayo Clinic will share $60 million from the U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to fund efforts (many broadband-based) to improve health care. The resulting savings for taxpayers is expected to be $172.8 million. http://wp.me/p3if7-1Ln

Sibley-Renville Counties
Sibley and Renville Counties talk to Chris Mitchell about their efforts to move forward with a locally supported fiber optic network. The article highlights many of the successful marketing strategies. http://wp.me/p3if7-1Lk

Southeast Minnesota
Hiawatha Broadband (HBC) becomes a partner in US Ignite, a federal effort to bring broadband applications to 25 cities across the United States. http://wp.me/p3if7-1KH The effort will bring program coordination and unique opportunities to the area. http://wp.me/p3if7-1Lc

Southwest Minnesota
Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services is featured in Broadband Properties highlighting progress on their local fiber network. http://wp.me/p3if7-1LI

Upper Minnesota Valley
Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Center’s (UMVRDC) highlights benefits and lessons learned from the broadband adoption programs begun as part of their participation in the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) initiative. http://wp.me/p3if7-1Lv

Stirring the Pot

Broadband Gardening

As I watered my recently planted gardens this morning, already sweating with the 90 degrees – 90 percent humidity combo, I thought about our MIRC partners – statewide and demo communities. I realized that both my plants and our partners are at the same stage.  The soil is well prepared, healthy plants well-selected and transplanted.  I have been doing a lot of watering and a bit of weeding.

Some of my plants are thriving; all of them are doing at least OK.  Yet I wonder about the future of our MIRC initiatives.  I wonder if we have planted perennials or annuals.  I wonder which efforts will continue to produce fruit from long term commitment and maintenance.  Based on initial closeout meetings in three of our demonstration communities, I am betting that our MIRC efforts will live on as perennial activities.  Our communities have teams in place that have worked well together.  We have heard of many successful programs and projects with many great outcomes.  We do have a few weedy projects that have not produced, but those communities have learned about the hazards of selecting vendors and agreeing on expectations.

With the new Blandin Community Broadband Program, our existing partners and a new crop of partners will have the opportunity to plant a whole new garden.  We want to develop mechanisms for continued sharing of information across our communities and with our statewide partners.  It is great to see the MIRC garden growing and producing in greater Minnesota.  Enjoy the harvest!!