I’ve been trying to collect stories of broadband success in Minnesota. But sometimes a story of frustration can be just as illuminating. I want to thank my friend Denise for taking the time to share her experience. Denise Cumming spends half her time in Minneapolis, half in Southern Minnesota caring for her mother. Her online job allows her such flexibility – but her lack-luster broadband is getting in her way. In the video, Denise talks about what you can do on a practical basis with differing low bandwidth connections and/or better connections in public spaces. It’s a great glimpse of what folks on the far end of the digital divide experience.
Blandin on Broadband
News and information on broadband use, policy, and trends
In a lot of rural areas the public library will be a place where there is free wi-fi for those with computers, and usually they are able to make computers with good access available for those who do not have their own computers or Internet access. While libraries are used widely for job searching, unemployment filing, resume building, etc, libraries do not exist in every community and in smaller communities may have limited hours. Where they do exist, however, libraries are a great place for public access computing with fairly good bandwidth in most cases. Still have to go to the local coffee shop for the coffee in most cases!
Libraries are a great solution and Denise and I spoke a bit about that option offline. Horus were an issue with libraries too. As more transactions are moved online – especially government transactions – I hope that policymakers will recognize the wisdom of keeping the libraries open longer.
Libraries are great but where I live even those are a long way from home. I live 30 miles from the closest one. I am trying to go to school on line and find the speed very frustrating. I too wait for a long time to get any type of video. Uploading from home is very hard. Skypeing with my grandaughters is also very frustrating. Most frustrating of all is not getting money to help me with college through the dislocated worker program because they do not fund any classes taken on line. I am two and a half hours from the nearest four year college and they want me to drive there for classes in order to fund them. This seems to defy all common sense and is just wrong. If Minnesota is to lead the way with Broadband we need to start with our State programs believing that they are worth funding. The only way for me to get internet is through Wild Blue or Huges Net and they are both $55.00 a month or more. I am waiting for something better!!
Jill,
I think you make a very good point. In November 2008, Pawlenty said our goal was to have 25% of all credit earned at MnSCU to be online. http://tinyurl.com/4eq35vd Part of helping us reach that goal is to incent students to go online. At the bare minimum that means offering the same consideration as for on-site courses.