I’ve written a few times about the growing murmur for rural broadband from the connected (politically, not necessarily technically) masses. Earlier today I added a DEED report to the voice for the need for broadband, not necessarily a voice for spending. The Minneapolis Star Tribune draws a direct correlation between the political interest in making rural Minnesota feel the love and access to $200 million for rural broadband…

Can House Republicans buy love in Greater Minnesota on the cheap? And will they try, after learning Thursday that expected state revenues now exceed expected spending by a cool $1 billion through June 2017?

These are questions on the minds of folks at the Greater Minnesota Partnership. It’s an 18-month-old collection of nearly 80 business, higher ed, nonprofit and local economic development groups that proved its mettle in the DFL-dominated 2014 session, winning $20 million for the public share of public-private efforts to improve broadband Internet service where it’s lacking — which is outstate.

For the 2015 Legislature, the Greater Minnesota Partnership has set its sights on 10 times that much for broadband. And that $200 million is just for starters.