A recent editorial in the Mankato Free Press applauds the Ultra High-Speed Task Force recommendations for more public and private partnerships to deploy broadband. In fact, according to the article, Mankato has been on the ball for implementing public-private partnerships…

Fortunately, some public/private collaboration has already happened in the Mankato region.

In February of this year, HickoryTech and the South Central Service Cooperative agreed to expand and develop an Internet, data and video conferencing service to 69 schools and libraries in a 12-county region of south central Minnesota.

The goal, as you might assume, is elearning.

The Mankato editorial was less optimistic at some of the other Task Force recommendations. They were skeptical of the broadband advisory committee when there will be little funding for such a venture in the Legislature although they seemed to agree that such a concerted statewide initiative is necessary.