News from the Blandin on Broadband Blog
MIRC Digital Inclusion Curriculum
It’s been about a year since Blandin Foundation’s Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) began their ARRA-funded broadband adoption initiative. One byproduct of the program has been the development of a wide spectrum of digital inclusion curricula available for Minnesota residents, jobseekers and businesses. http://wp.me/p3if7-1gr
More About MIRC
In 2010, the FCC issued a national broadband plan that stated “Like electricity a century ago, broadband is a foundation for economic growth, job creation, global competitiveness and a better way of life.” While broadband internet access underlies the MIRC project, in reality broadband is only a tool to help create better communities. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fb
Universal Service Funds
The FCC is looking to restructure the Universal Service Funds (USF). IMPACT 20/20 (from NW Minnesota) recently published a background on USF that explains why residents should pay attention to this technical and political topic. http://wp.me/p3if7-1go Earlier this month, the Minnesota Telecommunications Association spoke to the Minnesota PUC about how decisions on the USF at the federal level may relate to the PUC and Minnesota residents. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fT
May 4 – TISP Forum
Wednesday May 4, The Telecommunications and Information Society Policy Forum will discuss Public Private Broadband Partnerships. Attendees will hear personal stories of how two private companies and two public entities are making their public private partnerships work. The panel will be moderated by Blandin Foundation’s Bernadine Joselyn and the event will include opening remarks from Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Mark Rothman. http://wp.me/p3if7-1f8
Local Broadband News
Anoka County
Working on their ARRA-funded fiber network, Anoka County has shared the connectivity service agreement they are using with their communities and anchor institutions. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fy
Benton County
Telehealth programs are going strong with local MIRC partners Benton County as they work with Cybermation to put computers in homes with elderly residents to help them stay remotely connected to loved ones. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fj
Carver County
Carver County leaders meet to discuss broadband deployment and adoption, asking does broadband unite or divide us? http://wp.me/p3if7-1gd
Dakota County
Dakota County hosts a Broadband Forum where attendees focus on regional economic development and hear from local leaders in broadband use – from the healthcare, business and education sectors. http://wp.me/p3if7-1gg
Iron Range
Local journalist Aaron Brown speaks eloquently about the need for broadband adoption and deployment programs in Northern Minnesota. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fv
Lake, Lac qui Parle, Todd, Redwood, Cook, Sibley Counties and Windom
Minnesota Public Radio’s Level Ground profiles seven communities and their broadband efforts. http://wp.me/p3if7-1ga
Lake County
A study by Navigant Economics prices out the cost per household of bringing fiber to Lake County. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fX
Mountain Iron
Northeast Service Cooperative breaks ground on their ARRA-funded fiber project. http://wp.me/p3if7-1g8
Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota is hiring broadband apprentices to work on their ARRA-funded broadband adoption program. http://wp.me/p3if7-1gy
The Twin Cities is slated to get super-fast wireless service through new provider LightSquared, if LIghtSquared can get necessary approval for their technology. http://wp.me/p3if7-1gl
Voyagers National Park
AT&T’s request to build a 350-foot cellphone tower near Voyageurs National Park has been rejected. http://wp.me/p3if7-1gA
Winona
With MIRC funding, Project FINE has been able to offer broadband adoption and computer literacy programs to the new residents in their area, many of whom are learning English. http://wp.me/p3if7-1fn
Worthington
Senator Klobuchar praised the efforts of ARRA-funded Southwest Minnesota Broadband Group and their efforts to bring fiber to the area. http://wp.me/p3if7-1eN
The Worthington School District is going wireless, even opening up the network for student devices. It could open new doors for teaching. http://wp.me/p3if7-1eQ
(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.)
Events
May 4 – TISP Forum http://tinyurl.com/44b7uy9
June 7 – Minneapolis CIO Executive Summit – http://tinyurl.com/6zycaoj
July 19-20 – Minnesota Cable Communications Association Annual Meeting http://tinyurl.com/5ta73y3
Looking for more events? Check out TechDotMN’s calendar http://tech.mn/events/. Many events are based in the Twin Cities but it is a comprehensive list. (If you have an upcoming event, consider submitting it.)
Coleman’s Corner
The Connect Minnesota maps and reports http://connectmn.org/ are opening the eyes of many across the state, especially those at the bottom of the connectivity lists. Some of those counties may be on the way to solving their problems through stimulus funds – Cook, Lac qui Parle and Lake. Others are just beginning the task to ensure countywide compliance with the 10-20 Mb state broadband goal. (A side note: for a while, I was defaulting to the lower speed, but now I am promoting 15 Mb by 2015 as the goal).
Sibley County has completed a countywide fiber to the premise feasibility study. I am working on initial assessments and discussions with Redwood and Kanabec Counties. Todd County is also in on the pursuit of quality broadband, in their case, reportedly at the urging of the county cattleman’s association. Even cows want fiber, I guess!
Just as the recent MN Rural Partners report http://wp.me/p3if7-1dk indicates that the metro has significant interdependence with greater Minnesota, rural community leaders are recognizing that it is not enough for county seat cities to be well-connected. Last week at a community meeting in Mora, county seat of Kanabec County, the banker, the hospital and the schools all indicated the need to connect to consumers in the outlying areas. The hospital representative told of the need for quality broadband in rural areas so that prospective physicians can enjoy a full range of housing choices when comparing Mora to other rural locations, all of which are trying to attract new doctors.
We have had great representation from area telecommunications companies, large and small, in both Redwood and Kanabec County meetings. There is a shared understanding by all that strictly private market forces cannot finance new rural telecommunications networks. High costs, low revenues and short investment horizons combine as a triple whammy. Absent new federal broadband stimulus funds, it will be up to these rural counties to identify and implement models that work!
Bill Coleman helps communities make the connection between telecommunications and economic development. As principal in Community Technology Advisors http://tinyurl.com/3f4dx7g for ten years, he assists community, foundation and corporate clients develop and implement programs of broadband infrastructure investment and technology promotion and training. Bill is working with the Blandin Foundation on the MIRC Initiative http://tinyurl.com/2c6mhh4, Community Broadband Resource Program http://tinyurl.com/cseu7e and other broadband projects.
Interested in getting this monthly email? Please sign up here.