OK I have been trying to make time all day to blog about the bill introduced today during the Telecommunications Regulation and Infrastructure Committee meeting. Before they delved into the statewide cable franchising bill, Representative Masin introduced HF 2107, Telecommunications goals provided, and broadband policy director and advisory board established.

The goal of the bill appears to be threefold:

1. Provide 1 gigabit/sec (Gbit) to everyone
2. Provide it by 2015
3. Establish a broadband policy director and advisory board

The meeting is available online and/or you can read on for my notes of this topic from the  meeting.

The goal of this discussion was not to vote on the proposed bill but simply introduce it. Now that it has been introduced it will actually be shelved until next year. However, the committee has invited interested parties to provide comments on the bill between now and next year. Also it was mentioned that this bill is not seeking funding.

Representative Masin began by introducing herself and her qualifications and interest in proceeding with this bill given the high tech nature of her constituency, particularly in Eagan where they have seen a 15% growth in high tech business at a time when the Twin Cities overall has seen a change of -6%. Given that leadership and in an effort to improve economic development for small and large businesses, Rep Masin seeks a bill that would provide 1 Gbit to everyone by 2015 and establish a broadband policy director and advisory board.

Next to Speak was Ruthe Batulis with the Northern Dakota County Chambers of Commerce.

Northern Dakota County is home to many larger business including Thomson, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Northwest Airlines. When asked, these large businesses indicated that they have the bandwidth they need today but the need is increasing. Large businesses run into troubles when employees try to work from home where bandwidth may not be available or may be prohibitively expensive. The ability to provide telecommuting options attracts valuable employees. Small businesses run into the same issues. Broadband is often inadequate or too expensive.

Next Tom Garrison from the City of Eagan spoke.

In 2005, the US gave up a longstanding tradition as a technology leader when we came in 12th in an international survey of tech leaders. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ranked the US at 16 for broadband penetration – and the unofficial prediction for next year is even worse. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) has claimed that US prosperity is at risk. While we are talking about 1 Gbit, they are starting to prepare for 100 Gbit. One major issue with lower speed bandwidth connections (such as DSL and Cable available today) is that it is asynchronous; faster speeds are synchronous (allowing for fast traffic up- and downstream).

Next came Jim Moeller, owner of a small IT consulting company.

Economic development of broadband extends to home-based businesses as well – maybe even more so. Mr. Moeller currently uses cable which is fine to download information but upload speeds of 380K hinder work and impact speed of projects. Rural areas that have invested in broadband have seen a return on investment. One example is Digi-key in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

Next came Dr. John Scanlan from Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS).

Telemedicine is a tool that brings higher quality health care services to a wider audience. Lives can be saved, especially in rural Minnesota where distances are greater and access to specialized health care expertise is lower. Currently in Iraq medics have cameras on their helmets and are able to get assistance from remote health care providers. Variations on this telemedicine application should be available closer to home.

Next Ruthe Batulis spoke.

NWA needs broadband to allow employees to work seamlessly from home and provide greater services to consumers at home. Intertech Training needs higher speeds to provide online curriculum. BCBS needs broadband for video doctor appointments.

Next Tom Garrison spoke.

With no federal or state policy, people and communities are creating their own. It makes more sense to create a policy plan or standards to support these communities. We need three things: 1) 1Gbit service 2) by 2015 and 3) Tech leadership from the state that plans not just for state operations but businesses and communities in the state. Working with inadequate broadband is like drinking a strawberry malt with a straw that is too narrow.

Finally Steve Chavez  from the Eagan Technology Working Group and International lawyer spoke.

This bill is interested in a consumer-driven solution. There is no interest in hindering current vendors – just an interest in starting a conversation.

There was one question from Representative Hoppe about the estimated cost of providing Gbit service just to everyone in Eagan. A wide estimate of $100,000 or more was given but really it was admitted that we don’t know and that maybe a broadband advisory board could start to figure these things out.

So that was it. I think I got it all – but again if anyone else watched and has corrections or additions – please feel free to chime in. Also the session is available in video online.

I think this is very exciting. A couple of weeks ago we wrote a blog on Baller Hebrst and their proposal for a National Broadband strategy – and I thought that was a great idea too.

In 1995 I worked for a nonprofit Internet service provider (Minnesota Regional Network, MRNet). Working for a nonprofit I was free to give consumers advice where the answer wasn’t always – go with us. So, often I would say, we’re not the right choice for you, you should go with company x. With the commercialization of the Internet, that company went for-profit and most ISPs got to (had to) focus on finances. It had to happen but it was a big loss to the consumer – because suddenly there really wasn’t anyone to turn to for information except the commercial vendor – funny how that skews the answers. I think a neutral broadband advisor at the state level would be an opportunity to bring back unbiased expertise that is so valuable in this industry.

I hope that many of the tools that have been created by Blandin would be foremost in the toolkit of such an advisor – especially the Broadband Vision for Minnesota, the Community Guide to Broadband Development, the Get Broadband resources, and more.