Here’s the news from our latest newsletter. It’s mostly a compilation of Minnesota-related stories from the blog in the last month – but sometimes it’s nice to have it compiled.

MIRC Launches in Grand Rapids
The Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities launched in May when project partners met in Grand Rapids. The meeting was intense, yet energizing as partners worked together to develop common goals and build relationships that will promote strong collaboration throughout the project and beyond. http://tinyurl.com/36bzaea With an opportunity to present at the May TISP Forum, MIRC team members have been able to expand the reach of the project with conversations with other potential community partners. http://tinyurl.com/327eyfe

New Minnesota Broadband Maps
Connect Minnesota unveils new mapping tools that highlight broadband infrastructure at a more granular level than previous maps. The tools are easier to use even on lower bandwidth Internet connections. http://tinyurl.com/2vn2eyf

ARRA New Funds and Round Two Update
The RUS has announced more broadband funds available only to Indian Tribes and/or organizations that were funded in the first and second rounds of ARRA funding; unfortunately most Round Two applicants will not know about their eligibility before the application deadline, however they are welcome to apply in hopes that they will receive funding in Round Two. http://tinyurl.com/37yc6tu

The NTIA and RUS are currently processing Round Two ARRA broadband applications. They started by asking individual states to assess local applications. Those recommendations have been posted online. http://tinyurl.com/3ysxmhy In Minnesota many of those who were not funded in Round One decided not to reapply. http://tinyurl.com/33wamqo

Restore Online Shopper Confidence Act
Senator Klobuchar joins four other senators in introducing a bill that would help put an end to the deceptive online sales tactics uncovered by the Commerce Committee’s e-commerce investigation. http://tinyurl.com/3ycewl5

Report on Community Owned Networks
The Institute for Local Self Reliance publishes a report on the history, benefits and impact of policy on community-owned networks. It includes many case studies from Minnesota. http://tinyurl.com/34pvydb

Local Broadband News

Hutchinson
The Hutchinson Leader recognizes the positive aspect of the Minnesota Broadband Bill but raises questions about a bill that comes with no financial support for improvements. http://tinyurl.com/35qvg6y

Jackson
Jackson explains the elective nature of their planned fiber to the home network. http://tinyurl.com/2wxkd4h

St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Koochiching, Carlton, Pine, Itasca and Aitkin counties
The Northeast Service Cooperative told local officials that they are in the engineering phase to bring fiber to St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Koochiching, Carlton, Pine, Itasca and Aitkin counties. http://tinyurl.com/39sfs23

Marshall
The Marshall Independent runs a series on broadband focusing on infrastructure and use in Southwest Minnesota. http://tinyurl.com/3x4mg38

Southern Minnesota
KeyOn Communications is acquiring Dynamic Broadband Corporation, a wireless internet service provider with operations in Iowa and Minnesota. KeyOn’s business plan includes an upgrade to 4G WiMAX. http://tinyurl.com/3648eun

Southwest Minnesota
The Blandin Foundation-sponsored Lightspeed project at the Minnesota West Community & Technical College and South Central College offers online training and discussion, to local businesses. http://tinyurl.com/39ek2fp

Twin Cities
Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium hires a technology reporter supporting efforts to expand broadband awareness and utilization in communities of color. http://tinyurl.com/3xst6d9

Windom
Ground Level, a Minnesota Public Radio blog, features broadband in rural Minnesota, specifically mentioning a few Minnesota towns, such as Windom. http://tinyurl.com/3ahykx5  

(Many stories are gathered from local online newspaper. Unfortunately each newspaper has a different policy in regards to archive news and therefore we cannot guarantee access to all articles cited.)

Coleman’s Corner

Last week, I was lucky to attend the Intelligent Community Conference in New York City. http://tinyurl.com/2u6bhly  This conference attracted community leaders from Asia, Europe, Canada and the USA. I co-facilitated a session about the challenges facing rural communities in their efforts to revitalize their communities using the Intelligent Community framework. Creating a community, a region and a state that can compete globally is an incredible challenge. It is clear that my new friends around the world are working hard and working smart to align their resources in the best possible ways to create an economic environment with world-class infrastructure, workforce and business support mechanisms. The competition is rocking. We better get going!