Aaron Brown is a reporter who lives and writes on te Iron Range. I often enjoy his articles and perspective. He wrote a great wake up call to Iron Rangers the other day that I think could – maybe should – be read by other communities too. I’ll just excerpt two paragraphs (which I’ve taken out of order) here…

Maybe Google Fiber is a salvation; maybe it isn’t. Something else caught my eye. When Duluth was presented with the opportunity to pursue Google, it did so wholeheartedly and with a broad coalition that included more than the usual suspects. Duluth is pursuing Google Fiber with creativity, and yet with understanding of itself, both its limitations and potential. From YouTube to Facebook, from the Chamber of Commerce to students playing online video games, Duluth is trying something new.

We sit here waiting for Essar Steel to build a plant in Nashwauk that will not even remotely replace the jobs lost over the past 30 years. Even if the Essar project is wildly successful it won’t completely solve our problems, specifically the problems that face our local schools, cities and businesses. We need more. No one else will give us what we need unless we ask for, then demand, then create our own solutions. New industry, telecommuters and innovative ways to harness natural, renewable resources are the only way out of this anxious wilderness.

I’ve often said that I like the idea of the Google Fiber Community because it gets people talking about broadband. It gets them excited. Google is a long shot (if not lottery odds than at least carnival raffle odds, and I never win those) but once you’ve talked and committed and worked to convince Google that you’re worthy – well wouldn’t you have to believe if yourself and wouldn’t you go on to get it done? It’s a reason to make the first step. My Grandpa used to say – first you got to want to. Once you want to the rest is easy.

Aaron has gone even further with this idea – Google was an opportunity for each community to be creative, think big and make plans for the future. While the Google opportunity may be gone – the opportunity to be creative, think big and make plans for the future – and as the old saying goes, there’s no better time than a present!