Blandin on Broadband

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Blandin on Broadband

Doug Dawson from CCG Consulting looks at the FCC definition of broadband

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Doug Dawson from CCG Consulting looks at the FCC definition of broadband…

The FCC definition of broadband of 100/25 Mbps was adopted in March 2024. However, Commissioner Rosenworcel had been pushing for the increase to 100/20 Mbps for several years before that. It had been clear to everybody but the Ajit Pai FCC that the 25/3 Mbps definition of broadband was obsolete when the FCC’s mapping in 2022 showed that 90% of homes already had access to 100 Mbps download speed.

All of this leads me to ask if the 100/20 Mbps definition is already obsolete. Recent data from OpenVault says that 43% of U.S. households now subscribe to speeds faster than 500 Mbps download and 70% of homes subscribe to speeds of 200 Mbps or faster. It’s hard to look at these statistics and think that 100/20 Mbps should be the standard.

Unfortunately, the definition of broadband has political and financial overtones. A higher definition of broadband would declare that certain technologies are not really acceptable broadband. If we buy the arguments from NTCA and NRECA, then satellite broadband and FWA cellular would no longer be considered broadband. A huge percentage of cable company networks still have upload speeds far below 100 Mbps, even though there are numerous technology fixes for them to upgrade to faster, and even symmetrical speeds.

In a perfect world, the definition of broadband would be increased regularly to reflect that reality of the marketplace. But that’s not going to happen with this FCC, and in fact, in 2025, Commission Carr asked if the 100/20 Mbps definition is too high.

What is the right definition of broadband?. The easiest starting point for looking at download speeds is to look at the historical evolution of the definition of broadband from 4/1 Mbps, to 25/3 Mbps, to 100/20 Mbps. I’ve shown the following chart before that just trends forward that historic growth trend. If the definition of download speed continues on the same growth curve as from 1996 to 2022 (when the definition should have been 100 Mbps), the following definition of broadband is projected.

This suggests the minimum definition of download broadband for 2027 would be 250 Mbps. That doesn’t seem at all out of line considering the OpenVault numbers that say that 70% of U.S. homes already subscribe to speeds faster than 200 Mbps.

Here’s the Minnesota broadband speed goals…

237.012 BROADBAND GOALS.

Subdivision 1.Universal access and high-speed goal.

It is a state goal that:

(1) no later than 2022, all Minnesota businesses and homes have access to high-speed broadband that provides minimum download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second and minimum upload speeds of at least three megabits per second; and

(2) no later than 2026, all Minnesota businesses and homes have access to at least one provider of broadband with download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 20 megabits per second.

It’s worth nothing that in Minnesota, that “unserved locations” are defined as

households or businesses lack access to wire-line broadband service at speeds of at least 100 megabits per second download and at least 20 megabits per second upload.

That

EVENT Aug 20: Northfield Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on data center regulations

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KYMN reports…

The Northfield Planning Commission will hold a public hearing tonight on a proposed zoning amendment that would dramatically reduce the required setback for data processing facilities, commonly known as data centers, from 3,950 feet to 200 feet from existing or planned parks, trails and recreational features.

The proposal has drawn attention as data centers have become a controversial issue nationwide, with critics raising concerns about energy consumption, water use and, in some communities, development agreements negotiated behind closed doors.

City officials, however, say the amendment is not connected to any pending data center project.

“This is really part of the city’s regular review and housekeeping of our zoning ordinance,” City Administrator Ben Martig said during a recent interview.

According to Martig, the city adopted extensive standards for data processing facilities several years ago after a public review process. Those regulations addressed issues such as noise, energy use, visual impacts and compatibility with surrounding properties. Staff later concluded that the nearly 4,000-foot setback requirement from parks and trails appeared to be a drafting error and lacked any engineering, environmental or operational basis.

Under the proposed amendment, the setback would be reduced to 200 feet, matching the distance already required from residential properties.

Martig said the existing standard effectively makes development difficult because trails and recreational features are often located near industrial areas. The amendment is one of several zoning “housekeeping” changes currently under review, including revisions to industrial block length requirements.

Minnesota Schools are looking at AI policies. Examples from Morrison, Stearns and Ramsey Counties

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Last week, I wrote about one Minnesota student’s role in helping to craft a national artificial intelligence policy for schools. This week, I see that a few schools have been busy, as KSTP reports on a few. In Royalton (Morrison County)…

On Monday, the Royalton school board approved a new AI policy for its students and staff.

“There’s probably three themes,” LePard said. “One is safety for staff and students, and how they use things with AI, student academics and staff instruction.”

He said teachers will be posting the guidelines in middle and high school classrooms.

He said they primarily fall into four quadrants.

“Anywhere from the continuum of no AI use to full AI use,” he explained. “And then somewhere in between there, whether it might be just brainstorming or it might be using it as a resource or a source in their schoolwork.”

Next week, he said, the district’s teachers and staff will begin reviewing the new policy.

Designed for students in middle and high school, Royalton’s new policy puts an emphasis on responsibility and transparency.

In St Cloud (Stearns County)…

“Our amazing superintendent was actually one of the first in Minnesota to … bring up an AI policy and to implement one in our school. So we kind of were the leaders of the line,” said Acho.

In St Paul (Ramsey County)…

Some schools, like the St. Paul district, are still working out their AI policy. St. Paul Public Schools told KSTP, “the Board of Education has created a goal for the district to adopt one by spring 2028. Here is the language of that goal:
“By the end of the 2027–2028 school year, the Board will adopt an Artificial Intelligence Governance Policy that addresses the safe, ethical, human-centered, equitable, environmentally responsible, and instructionally meaningful use of AI across teaching, learning, critical thinking, workforce readiness, accessibility, data privacy, academic integrity, staff support, and district operations. The policy will include expectations for public reporting on how SPPS is preparing students and staff to use, question, evaluate, and create with AI.”

In the meantime, SPPS says it has robust resources around responsible staff and student use of AI, available on its website.

Help for other districts…

Click here for the Minnesota Department of Education’s guiding principles for AI in the classroom.

Is it AI or is it art? And how do we differentiate? The Walker is looking into it

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MPR News covers a story about art gallery patrons accusing art of being “AI slop” and The Walker figuring out what to do with that. It’s a teachable moment for everyone involved – with teachers and learners writing the curriculum in real time…

The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis is adding new explanatory language to an exhibition after visitors mistook an artist’s digitally rendered work for generative AI.

Joe Dobrow recently took his two children to the Walker. They wandered from exhibition to exhibition, eventually settling in front of a screen in a dark hallway.

The screen was looping the 2026 video “Field Recordings” by artist Olalekan Jeyifous. It is the first solo museum exhibition for the New York-based artist who is known for his immersive speculative world-building artworks. The video features realistically animated people in leafy riverine settings, sometimes in groups, sometimes with deer, sometimes tinkering with what seem like remnants of analog technology.

“My kids were fairly intrigued with it,” Dobrow said, but “it seemed to me to be almost entirely AI slop.”

Part of the solution…

The Walker, along with the rest of the museum world, is grappling with how to develop policy about the display and disclosure of AI-generated or AI-assisted art. “We are in the process of developing one,” she said.

Jasper and Huldisch said the new explanatory language for the exhibition will be installed this week.

“I recognize that AI usage raises very real ethical questions, and I understand why people want transparency around it,” Jeyifous said. “The difficulty right now is that we don’t have much nuance in the language to describe it. Saying that AI was utilized somewhere in a process can very quickly become perceived as ‘this artwork was entirely AI-generated,’ even when those are fundamentally different things. Disclosure can provide useful context, but it can also unintentionally become the lens through which the entire work is understood, regardless of how marginal that tool was to its production.”

RESEARCH: To what extent does community-level broadband connectivity reduce the time individuals spend waiting for goods and services?

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There is an interesting scholarly article (Time poverty, waiting, and broadband adoption: Evidence from the US by gender and income) on the impact of broadband access on people’s discretionary time. In a nod to time-saving, I tried to think of the most efficient way to share the information and focus on broadband access while flagging other related topics in the article.

Here’s the promise of the research, in bullet points…

  • Time poverty, or the lack of time to invest in discretionary activities aimed at maintaining one’s physical or mental well-being, has long been a human concern (Kalenkoski & Hamrick, 2013; Vickery, 1977).
  • We examine waiting time because, differently from time devoted to other activities, which may reflect personal preferences, waiting time is almost universally disliked and has no intrinsic benefit (Holt & Vinopal, 2023; Schwartz, 1974).
  • Through this lens, high-speed broadband connections constitute a critical first step in efforts to expand communities’ access to goods and services, minimize waiting, and free up time for more fulfilling activities (Turner & Grieco, 2000).
  • Our analysis finds a significant association between living in counties with higher broadband adoption levels and reduced time spent waiting for goods and services. The effect is particularly pronounced among women, who are disproportionately responsible for time-intensive, unpaid household labor (Brenan, 2020). Yet, we also suggest that complementary policy interventions may be necessary to mitigate time disparities across socio-economic lines.

And a look at ROI (when return in time) from a government/citizen perspective…

Addressing waiting-based inefficiencies calls for targeted solutions, and broadband and digital technologies offer one. To this extent, tax return–free filing programs that integrate administrative data could save Americans an estimated 225 million hours annually, while online voter registration cuts administrative burdens and boosts turnout by reducing long heavy processes (Goolsbee, 2006; Herd & Moynihan, 2018). Similarly, remote work saves the average person 72 min of commuting each day, allowing individuals to reallocate time to leisure and caregiving (Aksoy et al., 2023).

Yet, these time-saving gains hinge on both the provision of digital services online and citizens being able to take advantage of those through reliable internet connections (Mossberger et al., 2022). Consequently, broadband operates as the foundational infrastructure enabling both the delivery and use of digital services. In other words, lacking broadband, citizens, businesses, and governments cannot effectively use online services while digital service provision becomes impractical.

Recognizing this, federal and state policymakers in the United States have invested significantly in digital infrastructure – most notably through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the American Rescue Plan Act – to extend broadband to every household. These place-based strategies reflect a growing understanding that broadband is not just a technological solution, but a foundational element of equitable service delivery and local development. As such, we argue that, similarly to other place-based characteristics, broadband adoption can shape individual outcomes through institutions, resources, and community dynamics (Chyn & Katz, 2021)

And their hypotheses:

  • As broadband subscriptions increase within a county, the amount of time residents spend waiting for goods and services decreases.
  • The negative relationship between county-level broadband adoption and waiting times is stronger among women than among men.
  • The negative relationship between county-level broadband adoption and waiting times is stronger among low-income individuals than among higher-income individuals.
  • The negative relationship between county-level broadband adoption and waiting times is strongest among low-income women.

Will the workforce be ready for building data centers and rural networks when BEAD projects hit the streets?

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RCR Wireless News reports…

The US has two infrastructure priorities converging on one scarce resource: people who know how to build networks. AI data centers are sucking skilled workers into a construction boom, just as the long-delayed BEAD initiative finally starts moving into deployment. And actually, it is not just about the fiber technicians; the same labor pool includes electricians, HVAC specialists, surveyors, trenchers, engineers, and other trades needed to build broadband networks. The numbers are already uncomfortable. The industry was estimated in 2024 to be short around 58,000 workers to meet BEAD’s goals. AT&T plans to add 3,000 technicians this year. Meta has its own fiber-training programme. Meanwhile, the US telco workforce has fallen from 1.4 million in 2001 to fewer than 598,000 in 2025.

There is a stark economic imbalance here, of course. A hyperscaler or major carrier building AI infrastructure can afford recruitment, training, and wages that smaller community-based broadband operators cannot. Every worker pulled toward a lucrative data-center project is potentially one less available for a rural fiber build. And this is before the AI construction boom really peaks. Economist Anirban Basu expects labor pressure to worsen in 2027 as AI infrastructure spending expands. So the irony is clear: America’s AI infrastructure boom could make it harder, slower, and more expensive to deliver the connectivity needed by Americans still waiting for broadband.

Congressional candidate Jake Johnson (CD1) talks about data centers at New Ulm Town Hall meeting (Brown County)

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The [New Ulm] Journal reports…

Democratic nominee for Minnesota’s first congressional district, Jake Johnson, visited New Ulm for a town hall meeting on Monday.

He was asked about data centers…

Johnson fielded multiple questions about artificial intelligence (AI) technology, including the uses of the technology and the data centers needed to sustain it.

Johnson said he believed there is a way for AI technology to be helpful for moving society forward, but the reality is there is justifiable fear of what AI could do if misused.

“We need a Congress that recognize to make sure the benefits of AI are economic benefits to southern Minnesota while protecting against the potential harm,” he said. “We also have to make sure the gains are not just realized by tech billionaires.”

Johnson said the question of AI data centers and their impact on natural resources had come up at each of his town halls.

He supports a moratorium on data centers in the country until four metrics are achieved. First, eliminating non-disclosure agreements for elected officials. He said there needed to be an open public conversation about data centers. Second, assurances of protection for natural resources and increased electrical costs are not pushed on to local citizens. Third, if the data centers are built it, it needs to be done by local union workers. Fourth, any profits gained from the data center must stay in the state.

“Anything short of those four metrics being achieved represents an extraction and exploitation of our way of life,” he said.

Freeborn County extends data center moratorium for another year

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KAAL TV reports…

Freeborn County is putting off data center development for another year as officials work on rules for how those projects could be regulated.

The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners approved an extension of its data center moratorium following a public hearing on August 18.

The original moratorium was approved on August 19, 2025, and stopped the county from accepting, processing or approving permits for data centers in the unincorporated parts of Freeborn County.

The new resolution extends that moratorium through August 19, 2027.

The county says its current regulations aren’t enough to address the specific impacts of data centers and that allowing the moratorium to expire could threaten public safety and the orderly development of the county.

The McLeod County Chronicle Editor raises questions about plans for Revolve Labs data center in Glencoe

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The McLeod County Chronicle reports…

Plans for a new Revolve Labs data center in Glencoe are moving forward, but questions surrounding noise, water use, the project’s location, and its long-term impact on the community continue to follow the development.
Those concerns have surfaced as Revolve Labs prepares for a new data center technology campus that will include up to approximately 80,000 square feet of building space and represent an initial investment of at least $459.9 million.
The Glencoe City Council approved a development agreement with Revolve Labs July 20. The agreement describes the project as an opportunity to expand the city’s tax base, create employment and business opportunities, and bring infrastructure improvements to the community.
But as the city and Revolve Labs move forward with an investment approaching half a billion dollars, uncertainty remains over some of the most basic information surrounding the company’s presence in Glencoe.
Questions about Revolve Labs’ familiarity with the community have emerged over details that would seem almost impossible for a company already operating in the city not to know: Where is its existing facility, and where will its new one be located? Yet Revolve Labs has provided conflicting information about both.

On a high level those questions focus on:

  • Info the company
  • Noise
  • Water use
  • What Glencoe gains

Rep. Kelly Morrison asks AI questions in a House Small Business Committee Hearing before the Congressional recess

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Forbes posts a video clip of Rep Kelly Morrison asking questions about how AI companies can gain public trust…

In a House Small Business Committee Hearing before the Congressional recess, Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-MN) asked Chike Aguh, Head of Innovation & Strategy, Kapor Center, what steps small business owners should take to improve both their employees’ and the public’s trust in using AI.

EVENT Aug 19: Google to host celebration for Pine Island data center project (Goodhue & Olmstead Counties)

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KTTC reports…

Google will host a community celebration Wednesday for its proposed data center project in Pine Island.

Google is expected to announce the project’s “Panther Program” and other initiatives benefiting the Pine Island School District with a projected amount of $24 million.

The proposed data center has sparked debate in Pine Island as residents raise concerns over energy consumption and environmental impacts.

The event will feature live music, food and family activities from 4 to 8 p.m. at Trailhead Park.

Find stories like this and more, in our apps.

MPR speaks to Minnesota Design Center and their work leading discussion about data centers in Minneapolis (Hennepin County)

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I mentioned the data center meetings in Minneapolis’ North Loop earlier, today MPR talks more about the meetings led by the Minnesota Design Center. They heard about how the first meeting went last night (Aug 18)…

MARY BINKLEY: It was a really nice exercise that Dr. Burga and his colleagues from the U had US go through. There were giant maps of the North Loop at several tables, and they asked us to plot where in the North Loop, where are the things that we love about the North Loop, what do we think is missing, and what are the concerns about data centers.

And as I was looking at what people put on their Post-It notes, I learned that people really, really value the green space that we have in the North Loop along the Mississippi River as well as our small business community. This is a community that has everybody’s favorite restaurants and coffee shops and gyms and retailers, and that definitely came out in the feedback on the maps that we saw last night. It was a good exercise.

And a little bit on the agenda for the next meeting (Aug 20)…

FERNANDO BURGA: Certainly. Because we have to understand what is important for the community to be able to guide the work. So we start by understanding exactly how the community sees itself. What are the values, locations, histories that define the community.

From there, we move into a more systematic way to understanding impacts, which is what we’re going to be doing today. Today we’re going to be focusing on the question of data center impacts. And similarly to the maps, we have a series of tools that have been developed by our researchers here at the Minnesota Design Center to continue the process of collecting information and understanding the hopes, the dreams, the stories that define essentially how people see themselves, how they see their community impacted, and how they see the region impacted.

These tools are going to be geared around issues related to water, energy, economy, society, family, neighborhood, and also neighborhoods, people that live in other places that may enjoy coming to the North Loop. So we’re aiming to develop essentially an archive, also a system of information that we can then look at, and then on Thursday, we’re going to be considering alternatives. What are the ways that we can think about moving forward? Based on tomorrow’s presentation, we’re going to be able to develop that workshop, and then on Saturday we’re going to have a final share out with the community about next steps.

They also talk about the difference between rural and urban conversations about data centers…

FERNANDO BURGA: So the main similarity is that there’s deep concern and confusion about data centers coming to people’s communities. There is a lack of information, transparency. There is misinformation. People do not know what they don’t know. People feel paralyzed.

In many ways, each community is different and unique. We’re finding that specific communities across rural Minnesota are developing alternatives that include thinking about the design and the placement of buildings, for example. Some of them are in complete opposition, and this is a very divisive topic, one which is really affecting people emotionally and mentally also.

Through our work in empowering small Minnesota communities’ partnership with University of Minnesota Extension, we are considering these questions, and we are developing essentially a set of engagement, models, kits, tools but also developing the research and the questions that allow us then to move forward proactively and work with a community like the North Loop Neighbors Association in the North Loop that is open and available to be able to have this type of conversation with the public.

OPPORTUNITY: The 2027 MTA Annual Convention (Mar 15-17) is looking for presenters

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The Minnesota Telecom Alliance is planning their annual convention, which is always a good place to learn and network. They are looking for presenters…

The 2027 MTA Annual Convention & Trade Show is already taking shape, and we’re looking for knowledgeable, engaging speakers to help make this year’s educational program one of our best yet!

Monday, March 15, 2027 – Wednesday, March 17, 2027

Mystic Lake Conference Center

2400 Mystic Lake Blvd. NW

Prior Lake, MN 55372

We invite industry professionals, thought leaders, and subject-matter experts to submit presentation proposals that will provide attendees with practical insights, fresh perspectives, and valuable information they can take back to their organizations.

 

Breakout Session Information

Breakout sessions will be held on Tuesday, March 16, and Wednesday, March 17, 2027, and will be 50 minutes in length.

We’re seeking approximately 15 educational sessions that will:

  • Provide practical, real-world solutions attendees can implement.
  • Explore emerging technologies and industry trends.
  • Share innovative ideas, successful case studies, and lessons learned.
  • Introduce new tools, strategies, and best practices.
  • Challenge conventional thinking and inspire new approaches.

The MTA Event Planning Committee is seeking fresh ideas and practical expertise. While proposals are welcome on any topic relevant to our industry, members have identified the following areas as topics of particular interest. We encourage sessions that are educational, interactive, and focused on real-world applications.

Help us create an engaging program that keeps attendees Connected to What’s Next.

Hermantown data center discussion takes some turns that result in proposed greater transparency (St Louis County)

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The Duluth News Tribune reports on incidents and issues that arose in Hermantown…

City officials apologized Monday night for disparaging comments about opponents of a proposed Google data center.

But that did little to alleviate the anger of community members, who turned out to condemn the leaked audio remarks and again take a stand against the 1.66-million-square-foot project in the southwest corner of the city.

Some results…

Mayor Wayne Boucher, Police Chief Jim Crace and City Administrator John Mulder all addressed the public at the start of the meeting.

A Google representative also announced the company was mutually agreeing to terminate all nondisclosure agreements with city officials “in the spirit of openness and partnership.”

The Duluth Monitor last week reported on recordings of an internal staff meeting from June in which leaders were heard talking about community members who addressed the council.

And an update on the data center in question…

Tyler Huebner, a Google representative, provided a brief update with updated designs. He said the facility’s footprint has been reduced slightly and will include three data center buildings, three mechanical buildings, a two-story office building and a fire-suppression building.

Minnetrista City Council approves a one-year moratorium on data centers (Hennepin County)

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The Laker Pioneer reports…

The Minnetrista City Council approved several new ordinances at its Aug. 3 meeting, including one that authorizes a study of and a one-year moratorium on data centers.

David Abel, community development director, explained that the city has not received any data center applications but wants to get ahead of the issue as new projects emerge elsewhere in the metro area. Mayor Lisa Whalen said the moratorium will give the city time to establish rules and regulations for data centers, as Minnetrista currently has no ordinances governing them.

Council member Brian Govern took a different view, supporting the study but opposing the moratorium. He said data centers could present an opportunity for Minnetrista and a moratorium could take the city out of the running. Govern also said data centers do not pose unique risks compared with other heavy industrial uses and noted that, because Minnetrista has few industrial-zoned areas, a proposed data center would likely require rezoning, giving the council an opportunity to review it.

The council approved the moratorium 3-1, with council member Cathleen Reffkin absent.