I’m pleased this month to introduce Blandin Broadband Strategy Board member, Steve Downer. Steve is the Associate Executive Director at the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association. He has been there 18 years and enjoys the variety in his job. He works on member services, government relations, publications and more.

The Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) represents the interests of Minnesota’s municipal electric, gas, and water utilities and provides them with the support they need to be able to improve service to their customers and community.

Helping municipal utilities provide broadband services has been a good way to support local economic development. Municipal utilities are well positioned to provide broadband. They have a business structure in place, they have the infrastructure, they have the people and they are invested in viable communities. In deed, utilities have been instrumental in creating communities that are leaders in broadband, such as Windom, Chaska, Alexandria, Buffalo, and Detroit Lakes.

Comparisons have been made to broadband expansion today with the electric utility industry 100 years ago – who better to support that effort than the companies who successfully implemented the electrification? Municipal utilities are in position to help with broadband and more industry providers are willing to work with them.