Monthly Archives: August 2013

Economic Development and Broadband Conference in Chicago Nov 5-7

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Thanks for Chris Mitchell for the heads up on the upcoming Community Fiber Networks conference in Chicago November 5-7. It’s hosted by Broadband Communities; there are at least two big reason to go. First the focus on broadband as an economic development tool or hook. Making the connection is essential in turning the cost of the network into an investment. Second, there is a big push to get students to attend, which means a great way to get your local youth involved and/or an opportunity to attract youth to your community. (The student rate is very affordable.)

Here’s more info from the conference website:

Topics and Themes Include

DEVELOPING broadband strategies for the knowledge economy
WORKING with economic development agencies
DEVISING innovative financing methods
DEPLOYING broadband to help foster vibrant communities
OBTAINING government incentives and support
BUILDING advanced broadband systems
SHAPING regional strategies and solutions
DIFFERENTIATING your community with advanced broadband
COMPETING and cooperating in a high-bandwidth world
CREATING jobs and attracting businesses with broadband networks

I’m pleased to report that I’m planning to attend and will take notes – the sessions look great. Also pleased to report that Bernadine Jocelyn is confirmed to present as part of the panel: Making Broadband Projects Sustainable – Fostering Economic Growth is Key to Building Robust Revenue Streams.

 

Minnesota Computer Commuter Wows Kansas City

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Last week the Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund debuted with an event that featured Minnesota’s own Lac qui Parle Computer Commuter – the mobility van tricked out with computers and broadband that can be seen cruising LqP County bringing access and hands on support to new computer users in Western Minnesota.

Here’s a little bit more about the event from the Kansas City Star…

Enter the Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund, a new idea to help bridge that digital divide, a chasm that will widen as more of the metro area embraces Google Fiber and other super-fast Internet connections.

Launched Wednesday, the fund — started with $1 million in corporate and foundation gifts —will allow area nonprofit organizations to apply for grants to teach residents how to use digital devices or provide Internet access through computer labs or classes.

And their take on the Computer Commuter…

Planners shared sample grant projects from around the country.

In the rural Minnesota county of Lac qui Parle, a mobile computer lab travels to six communities each week to provide hands-on training and Internet access to residents. Pam Lehmann, executive director of the county’s economic development authority, said it cost about $30,000 to buy and retrofit a used hotel shuttle bus and about $60,000 a year to operate the service.

Pam was on site to talk with the folks in Kansas City. (Her presentation is below.) I work with LqP EDA so it was fun to see the opportunity unfold. Hopefully the folks in Kansas City got some good ideas and hopefully LqP Computer Commuter will get the funding they need to continue on with the effort.

Funny but LqP’s opportunity reminded me of the most recent viral video Ashton Kutcher at some teen awards show when he notes that opportunity looks a lot like hard work. It took a lot of hard work to get the Computer Commuter on the road and a lot of work just to get ready for the Google conference to promote the Computer Commuter. Just a reminder for other communities – it takes hard work but if you spin it as opportunity, it may be easier to take on or sell to a committee!

MIRC partner in Winona get award

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I was thrilled to see one of the MIRC partners receive the 2013 Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service and $10,000 for her efforts. The award recognizes Minnesotans who, with  “little thought of public recognition or financial reward,” serve, empower and unite the poor and disadvantaged to help themselves.

According to MinnPost, Fatima Said from Project Fine  was one of six recipients. Here is a reminder from a post written earlier by Bill Coleman on the technology side of Project Fine…

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to meet with Project FINE in Winona. They are a nonprofit organization that helps newcomers integrate into the community. They provide foreign language interpreters and translators as well as opportunities for education, information, referral, and empowerment for immigrants and refugees. With funding through MIRC (Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities), they have also started with broadband adoption and computer literacy programs.

They have received donated computers and money from community partners. They have computer science majors who are tutoring FINE clients. Currently they offer training in the classes, but they have plans to expand training to people’s homes. The response has been terrific; people come early to the classes and want more.

Fun Community Facebook Idea: Free Art Fridays

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comoYesterday my daughter and I found a free art treasure. It’s a lovely drawing of a unicorn – my daughter is a huge unicorn fan. We found out about the opportunity through the Free Art Friday Twin Cities Facebook Group.

It’s a community sponsored project. It’s a closed Facebook group; although all we needed to join was to make the request. There are currently more than 1600 members in the group. The idea is simple. Artists hide art projects on Friday and post notes on the whereabouts on Facebook. Treasure seekers hunt for the art and report on their successes and/or misses in the Facebook Group. You can read more about Free Art Friday efforts around the world.

It’s a simple idea. It just takes a couple of community-minded folks willing to do some art to make it happen. The art in our area has included drawings, tiny sculpture, CDs of music – simple things created by artistic people.

It’s a fairly easy way to get a community to start thinking about how technology fits into the real world and can be used as a tool to generate community in the real world. It’s a simple way to reach out to non-adopters. It’s a project you can start in your own community – whether you’re a recognized community leader yet or not.

MIRC community results show higher than average rural broadband adoption

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Bernadine JoselynThis week the Daily Yonder’s series on broadband focuses on adoption in rural areas. They point out the rural adoption rates are not catching up with urban cohorts…

Rates of residential broadband adoption have grown considerably between 2003 and 2010.  Overall adoption rates have more than tripled from around 20% in 2003 to over 65% in 2010.  Interestingly, the overall “digital divide” between rural and urban households (technically designated as metro vs. nonmetro below) has remained consistent over this period at around 13 percentage points.

This is disheartening and diving into their statistics paints and even gloomier picture because the numbers confirm that households that could possibly benefit the most from broadband are least likely to have it. Older folks, folks with lower incomes and folks with less education are the least likely to have adopted broadband.

The good news is that the Blandin Foundation has had success working with communities in rural area to increase broadband adoption with the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) project. Over 18 months, the we worked with 11 Demonstration Communities (DCs) to increase broadband adoption. The MIRC final report outlines the adoption improvements…

Over the 18 months under comparison, all of the DCs grew their rate of broadband adoption at an average rate of 12%, compared with a rural Minnesota statewide average of 10.3% for the same period. In both 2010 and 2012, all of the DCs scored well in broadband compared with national rates of adoption in comparable rural areas. Average penetration in the DCs in 2012 was 67.1%, however, which was still 5% below the rural statewide average of 70.6%.

A more recent report by Robert Bell notes that broadband adoption is just one area where MIRC communities saw improvement…

Over the 18‐month period, the Demonstration Communities posted a 9.4% average improvement in their scores, ranging from a high of 16% to a low of 4% positive change.

Robert Bell worked with the communities to measure their “Intelligence” based on the Intelligent Community Forum criteria. The scores refer to above and are based on rating in the following categories. It takes adoption a step further and move communities up a later to greater vitality overall.

average change

Regular readers will recognize the MIRC story but I thought it might be helpful to borrow from the final report to outline some of the lessons the MIRC communities learned in the process in the hope that it might help close the rural-urban gap…

Communities know best.

Involve citizens directly in articulating their community’s broadband adoption and utilization goals to catalyze the long-term engagement needed to increase adoption.

Local leadership matters.

Help local broadband champions get and use skills to frame issues, build and sustain relationships, and mobilize people to build a community’s capacity to achieve its broadband goals. Train community leaders to use participatory facilitation skills. Effective meeting facilitation can make a big difference in keeping folks coming back to the planning and implementation table.

Broadband is not an end in itself.

Broadband is a means to the bigger picture of increased economic vitality and improved quality of life.

Outreach works.

Change follows relationship lines. Effective recruitment strategies for technologically-challenged small businesses and for historically marginalized populations are intra-community, hyper-local, high-touch, and personalized.

Peers make great teachers.

Peer-based learning formats that encourage local businesses to share practices, questions, and experiments are a popular, low-cost, and easily sustainable tool to build a community’s technological savvy.

Cross-community communication is key.

Signage, local media support, and online social media are effective, low-cost ways to spur and sustain energy and excitement for community projects.

Engage tomorrow’s leaders today.

Recognize and authentically engage the talents of young people. This next generation of leaders brings energy and sustainability to any community initiative. Youth can serve as co-trainers, technology mentors, and partners in computer refurbishment projects. They can also use their video and other social media skills to promote their communities.

Connect the economic dots.

Framing broadband use as a necessary ingredient in the whole-picture approach to community vitality can help communities see and leverage the connection between technology and benefits to community life. This framework can also help community leaders see how workforce, infrastructure, inclusivity, innovation, and marketing/advocacy are mutually interdependent aspects of community vitality.

Have patience.

The work takes time. Look for and celebrate early and easy wins along the way, but think about the long term and build capacity and energy for the long haul. Money and other resources follow vision and commitment.

Interested in joining the E-Government Advisory Council?

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A couple of people have passed this on to me. It’s very intriguing. I thought others might be interested too. I’m sure they could use some folks who are interested in the technology and transport of information as well as the information itself…

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – Notice of Vacancies in Multi-Member Agencies

SAINT PAUL-The Secretary of State’s Office today released the monthly notice of vacancies that have occurred in multi-member state agencies, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 15.0597, subdivision 4.

E-GOVERNMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
658 CEDAR ST
ST PAUL, MN 55155
651-556-8010
LAWS 2013, CH 142, SEC 25

Appointing: Governor, Speaker, Senate Subcommittee
Compensation: None
Vacancies: Eight (8)-
– Three Public Members
– Five Representatives of a state executive branch agency that is actively involved with private businesses, the private business community or the public.

The E-Government Advisory Council is established for the purpose of improving online government information services to citizens and businesses. The Council will recommend to MN.IT Services the priority of North Star (the MN.gov platform; the State of Minnesota web portal) projects and online government information services to be developed and supported by receipts from online convenience fees. These online services would include both free online services as well as fee-based services. The Council will recommend approval or disapproval of convenience fees on particular types of transactions, the fee amount, any changes in the fee amount, as well as provide oversight on those convenience fees. Membership includes: 1) the state chief information officer or the chief information officer’s designee; 2) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house; 3) one public member appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Rules and Administration Committee; 4) five members appointed by the governor representing state executive branch agencies that are actively involved with private businesses, the private business community, or the public; and 5) one member appointed by the governor who is knowledgeable in public access to government data. At the time of publication, the meeting schedule had not yet been determined. Meetings will be held at the Centennial Office Building, 658 Cedar Street, St. Paul, MN.

“Public Member” means a person who is not, or never was, a member of the profession or occupation being licensed or regulated or the spouse of any such person, or a person who does not have or has never had, a material financial interest in either the providing of the professional service being licensed or regulated or an activity directly related to the profession or occupation being licensed or regulated. MN Statute 214.02.

Application forms may be found at: Application Page or may be obtained from the Office of the Secretary of State, Open Appointments, 180 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155-1299, or in person at Room 180 of the State Office Building.

In accordance with the Minnesota Open Appointments Law, the Secretary of State acts as an administrator in publishing vacancies, receiving applications, and recording appointments. Applications will be reviewed and appointments made by the appointing authorities for these various agencies; questions about specific vacancies and appointments should be directed to the appointing authority. Applications submitted by September 3, 2013 are assured of full consideration by the appointing authority. Appointing authorities for these agencies may choose to review applications received by the Secretary of State after that date. Applications are kept on file for a one year period. Agency information for this press release was supplied by the various agencies.

Submit An Application
Please include the following documents:
– Open Appointments Application Form – completed, signed & dated
– Letter of Interest
– Resume or Biography

Submit by e-mail to: open.appointments@state.mn.us
Submit online at:  Application Page

Submit By Mail or in Person:
Open Appointments
Secretary of State’s Office
180 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155

The 2012 Open Appointments Annual Report is available at: Annual Report. This publication includes a complete listing of state boards and councils that follow the Open Appointments process, descriptions of these agencies and their memberships, and statistical information about appointments and vacancies during the 2012 fiscal year. Paper copies of the 2012 Open Appointments Annual Report are available at the Minnesota Bookstore, 651-297-3000 or 1-800-657-3757.

NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS AND OTHER RECIPIENTS You may join our e-mail list-serve by submitting your e-mail address to: open.appointments@state.mn.us, or call us at (651) 297-5845. We would be happy to add you to our list-serve. It’s fast, it’s easy, and you will automatically receive a notice by e-mail each month!

Minnesota Broadband Task Force Meeting & Ignite Open House – Aug 13

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Today I attended the August Minnesota Broadband Task Force meeting. One hot topic was the repealed telecommunications equipment sales tax exemption from the last Legislative session. The Task Force are working on a letter recommending that the Governor rethink the change during his Special Session in September, when he will be looking at sales tax exemption for farm equipment.

Following the meeting was an Open House at Red Wing Ignite, a program designed to promote and encourage Gigabit access. The speech from Governor Dayton comes from the Open House…

Get more notes from the Task Force meeting… Continue reading →

Engaging Youth in Community Technology Initiatives: Webinar Archive

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Last week, the Blandin Foundation sponsored a webinar on engaging you in community technology projects. Here is the archive:

Speakers include

“Computers for our Community” – a partnership of schools and workforce development to address digital inclusion in Thief River Falls. Betty Halvorson, Inter County Community Council

“Tech Savvy Seniors” – an initiative of the Dawson Boyd School District to spur technology skills of high school seniors and to benefit the community. Lori Sieg, Dawson Boyd High School Teacher

“Thomson Reuters Youth Technology Initiatives” – an effort to increase the interest and skills of middle school students in computers and technology with two courses: Computer programming led Alice Gilbert and Girls and Technology led by Kirat Sekhon

Rural Minnesota Social Media Rockstar Conference – September 19

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rockstarI wanted to share information on the following event.  The Social Media Breakfast groups in Redwood Area and Willmar are joining forces to host a regional social media conference.. Folks in the area might want to consider attending; folks in other areas might want to consider replicating the event in their own region.

Redwood Area and Willmar Area Social Media Breakfasts have joined forces to offer rural Minnesota the big city social media experts right in our backyard. The Social Media Rockstar Conference will be held September 19th, 2103 at Jackpot Junction in Morton, MN. Check out our website for more information on the conference: http://socialmediarockstarevent.com/

We’re looking for a few awesome businesses to support the conference through sponsorship and make some great connections in the process.

This first time social media event in rural Minnesota is a unique opportunity for you to connect with awesome potential customers and even employees.  Check out the sponsorship packages available here and let me know if you might be interested!

Would Carnegie build broadband for all?

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Salon ran an interesting article this week about encouraging the opt 1 percent to spend on social good and infrastructure as the wealthy in previous generations have done – based on the life and writings of Andrew Carnegie. It’s a thoughtful piece, there was one paragraph that caught my attention…

One of the reasons why he believed the wealthy should spend their riches during their own lives was because he believed the wealthy were the best equipped to spend their own funds most wisely. We hear echoes of Carnegie’s confidence in contemporary Valley rhetoric every day. But there’s a difference. Silicon Valley’s best and brightest appear to believe that their wealth-generating “innovations” will do all the hard work of changing society for the better; that competition, unfettered by regulation, is the engine of prosperity. Carnegie would not have disagreed that society in general benefited from such market competition, but he also understood that the class stratification that results from “disruptive” redistributions of wealth also needed to be addressed. There are things that the market doesn’t fix. A contemporary version of Carnegie wouldn’t be waiting for venture-capital-funded MOOCs to provide wider access to education or free market competition to give everyone broadband access. After making his billions, Carnegie would cut straight to the chase. Free Wi-Fi for everyone! (The man built over 3,000 libraries, after all.)

I have joked in the past that it might be easier to raise funds if you could auction off naming rights for the network. Maybe just appealed to the legacy of Carnegie would be enough. Carnegie is also a great example of public-private partnership. He may have built the libraries, but it takes public support to keep them open!

Twin Cities Hack Day Video

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I wrote about the Civic Hack Day event in Minneapolis back in June when it happened. I just found this great video from the event and wanted to share it. My motivation is to encourage more communities in Minnesota to participate in Civic Hack Day next or other Civic Hack events in the future!

Heartwarming story of Internet connecting neighbors

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E-Democracy hosts online discussion for communities – sometimes communities of interest, mostly neighbors. They connect via email and web forums. I’ve mentioned them in the past; I’ve been a volunteer for 15+ years.

Email doesn’t require broadband – but an email list may be the killer app to get some non-adopters online. It’s a good way to keep up on what’s happening in the neighborhood and connect with neighbors, even in the winter months. I thought the following story of how a neighborhood connected through the list was worth sharing.

Just before Christmas, a family in the Corcoran neighborhood of Minneapolis was burglarized. Unfortunately, this was also just a few days before their daughter’s seventh birthday. Martha, a Corcoran Neighbors Forum member heard about the robbery in her neighborhood and turned to the forum for help. Within three days, the neighborhood worked together, buying gifts for both Christmas and the daughter’s birthday. Afterwards, Martha shared this post on the forum:

“Thank you everyone who responded to our Corcoran neighbor that experienced a robbery. I was able to deliver 4 bags of gifts for mom, dad and daughter that people donated; as well as some for daughter’s birthday. Gifts came in all shapes and sizes: gift cards for Target, Cub and Riverview Theater, free entrance to Mall of America attractions and rides, 2-3 hour face painting gig for a kid’s party sometime in the future, books and many more things. Because I’ve known them over time we were able to talk in depth about the decision of where to “keep” money. We had cash donations of $130 and dad and I drove to the bank and deposited the money so the money would not be in the house. They were incredibly appreciative and thankful. They said when their daughter saw all the presents she said Santa had come and it was magic! I love this neighborhood and you all as my neighbors. Thank you for your generosity.” —Martha Bird, Corcoran Neighbors Forum

This story is a great example of what can happen when neighbors are connected to one another. They look out for each other, come together to solve problems, and reach out when someone is in need.

Social Media Use: Grandma is Tweeting!

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The Pew Internet group has recently released their latest report on US use of social media sites – it’s growing…

Today, 72% of online adults use social networking sites. Although younger adults continue to be the most likely social media users, one of the more striking stories about the social networking population has been the growth among older internet users in recent years. Those ages 65 and older have roughly tripled their presence on social networking sites in the last four years—from 13% in the spring of 2009 to 43% now.

It looks like Twitter is still lagging behind social media sites with about 18 percent of adults using it.

It’s interesting to take a look at who is using social media sites. There’s a slight difference in rural (69 percent) versus urban (74 percent) use. Age is still a differentiator – 89 percent of young adults (18-29) are users while only 43 percent of seniors (65+) are users. Although that 43 percent reflects a big leap since the last report.

PEW social media use

Metro, Mico and Noncore (rural) broadband availability rates for Minnesota

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The Daily Yonder has just started an article series on rural broadband. This week they are taking a look at the National Broadband Map and what it means in terms of comparing rural and metro broadband availability rates…metro-micro

We can also look at general levels of broadband availability across the three types of counties:  metro (which typically have a city of 50,000 or more), micro (which typically have a city of 10,000 or more), and non-core (no cities of 10,000 or more). The figure to the right demonstrates that the more rural areas are significantly worse off in terms of the availability of wired broadband infrastructure.  In fact, nearly 30% of all noncore counties have more than 40% of their population lacking access to wired broadband infrastructure.  Alternatively, we can look at where broadband availability is best — where less than 2% of the county population lacks access.  Only 5% of non-core counties meet this highest category of availability, compared to nearly 40% of metro counties.

Here are  Percentages of Population with no Wired Broadband Access Availability in Minnesota (2010)

  • Metro – 4 percent
  • Micro – 12.5 percent
  • Noncore – 26.6 percent
  • Metro – Micro Gap – 8.5 percent
  • Metro – Noncore Gap – 22.6 percent

So how do we rank?

  • Minnesota is 34th in terms of Metro access
  • Minnesota is 27th in terms of Micro access (3 states don’t have counties with micro characteristics)
  • Minnesota is 27th in terms of Noncore access (5 states don’t have counties with micro characteristics)
  • Minnesota is 24th in terms of Metro – Micro Gap
  • Minnesota is 28th in terms of Metro – Noncore Gap

Internet company looks at Shapokee – could mean 300+ jobs

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KSTP News reports…

Shutterfly wants to build its newest office in Shakopee.

The Internet-based photo and publishing company is meeting Wednesday night with the Shakopee City Council to discuss plans to build a 217,000-square-foot office by 2014.

Shutterfly, which is based in Redwood City, Calif., says the expansion would generate an estimated 329 jobs over the next two to five years – with 201 employees hired by next year, according to the city. The average annual wage for workers would be $18.78 per hour.

Seasonal employees would add 204 more full-time equivalent positions.

I mention it because only a community with adequate broadband is going to be in the running for an opportunity like this. According to the Connect Minnesota interactive map, there are 13 broadband providers in Shakopee. (That list includes satellite and wireless providers that I suspect would not meet the needs of a business of this size – but there are 13.)

Looking at the Connect Minnesota County Profile Map, service in Shakopee (Northern top of Scott County) does meet the State definition of broadband (pink means served) – however the southern portion of the county does not (orange is underserved). It’s easy to see the places you might select to open your business based on this information. And access to broadband is one thing site selectors are using to make decisions. Something to think about if you are involved with economic development in your area.

shakopee

(For folks interested in the specifics of the deal: Part of the plans includes the company is asking the city and the county to approve a nine-year property tax abatement, meaning Shutterfly wouldn’t pay those taxes during that time. There is a public heading in Shakopee about the abatement tonight (Aug 7) at 7 pm.)

Added Aug 9: Shakopee & Shutterfly move forward: http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/218929571.html