Last week I attended the Blandin Foundation Broadband Strategy Board meeting. There was talk about changes in the legislature – and how broadband is really going to need a champion(s) if it’s going to get any attention, especially with so many new folks taking positions. We heard from Diane Wells on the Minnesota Broadband Advisory Task Force. And we got a demonstration on the latest interactive maps from Connect Minnesota.

I think I have mentioned earlier that the latest maps are really a leap beyond the last iteration. They have updated information since the earlier drafts, they have added valuable layers (such as presence of community institutions such as schools and population density statistics) and they have made it work more like Google maps. It’s easier to pinpoint geographic areas; it’s easier to focus on un-/underserved areas only.

The maps are generated primarily from data provided by the providers – but the data is double checked by Connected Nation staff and there are plenty of ways to provide feedback to the mapmakers if you think something is askew. The speed test is still available on the Connect Minnesota site. I encourage you to check it out and test your speed if you haven’t lately.

The video below describes the process of flagging any areas on the map that you think need a second look. They’ve made it easy to circle your area of suspicion on the map and easily email it to them for further investigation through their feedback mechanism.

Check out more of the demonstration video.