Last week I was part of a webinar with Broadband US TV: Spurring Adoption and Use of Broadband with Jim Baller and Marty Stern. You can access the archived video online, although you will need to register to access the archive. (Registration is free.) At the end of the first part (starting around minute 63), you can see a video made by the Blandin Foundation that highlights Lac qui Parle County, Grand Marais/Cook County/Gunflint Trail and Deer River Schools in Itasca County. They all did a great job of describing how broadband can make a break a community. Vignettes included

• Grand Marias’ story of trouble accepting credit cards and online reservations being a real detriment to business
• LqP’s excitement in improving online in-take of cattle with simple broadband that will streamline operations
• Deer River School District’s ability to offer amazing and unique classes to students through their broadband connection

I spoke about the Minnesota Internet Rural Communities (MIRC) project in the second part of the session (near minute 6). I stressed the importance of local leadership and the power of a collaboration to support those leaders. At Blandin we’ve learn that the best support we can offer is to help local leaders through convening, education and technical assistance. The MIRC project exemplifies that approach where each demonstration community has the freedom to create a and select their own projects, yet collaboration is happening between the project partners and with their partners in implementing their portions of the project. Our end goal is that the MIRC project creates more permanent alignment amongst our partners around the broadband access and use issue.