According to the Sebeka Menahga Review Messenger, Independence Party candidate Tom Horner attended numerous community events in Wadena, Hubbard, Otter Tail and Cass counties. He specifically mentioned broadband access in rural areas. (My goal is to highlight every time I see broadband mentioned in a Minnesota context – so whenever I see a candidate, any candidate, mention broadband I’ll highlight it. If your favorite candidate mentions it and I miss it, please send the mention my way.)
Here’s the mention…
He spoke of a new model for home-centered health care currently being developed by health care professionals. It is a model heavily dependent on the use of telemonitoring in the home to prevent an illness from reaching the point that hospitalization is required.
“We have to get ultra speed broadband access around the state. We need high speed internet access. Most rural areas are still dial-up, and this kind of medical service cannot be provided through dial up.”
He also sees technology playing a role in improving the public school system, with online interactivity that has a student designing his learning program under the guidance of the teacher.
On a semi-related note, Senator Al Franken also mentioned broadband this week…
Senator Franken then moved onto the subject of creating jobs by improving the US infrastructure such as roads and bridges. He also spoke on improving national broadband, noting that America had slipped behind other countries in broadband roll out and upgrades.
As a followup, Tom Horner also included a broadband build-out as part of his proposals for community revitalization around the state. (Excerpt below). The Star Tribune commended Horner in a broadband editorial today: (http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/98785749.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:Ug8P:Pc:UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr)
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[From Horner proposal…]
The state must support public infrastructures that include both broadband and transportation assets.
a. High Speed Broadband Build Out: Expand the state broadband backbone to ensure that each Minnesota community, business and citizen has access to the next generation’s super highway. The plan recommends, in partnership with the private sector, using state bonding authority to reach the access goal. It is particularly important that community schools have high speed access to Minnesota’s university systems.
Matt,
Thanks for the heads up on the article and the excerpt. I do hope that this is the start of a fruitful discussion!!
Ann