News from the Blandin on Broadband Blog
Minnesota voices talk about broadband in DC
Blandin Foundation’s Bernadine Joselyn spoke to the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet on Broadband Adoption: The Next Mile. She spoke about the MIRC project and the importance of broadband adoption as well as deployment. http://wp.me/p3if7-2qL The opportunity spurred further comment from the Blandin Foundation’s Kathy Annette http://wp.me/p3if7-2qU and Senator Amy Klobuchar. http://wp.me/p3if7-2qL
Broadband Conversations across MN Mid-November
To help move Minnesota forward to reach its broadband goal, the Blandin Foundation is helping to organize series of conversations on broadband in Minnesota with Senator Matt Schmit of Red Wing. The public is invited to help set this legislative agenda by joining in on the broadband discussion at one of several scheduled meetings with Senator Schmit. The public is also urged to contact their own legislators to attend the local meetings and become more informed on this important rural Minnesota issue.http://wp.me/p3if7-2r8 Here are draft dates and details for upcoming meetings…
Details updated 8/11 5 pm
- Bemidji – November 11
- 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- Northwest MN Foundation
- 201 3rd Street NW
- Grand Rapids – November 12
- 2:00 – 4:00 pm
- Itasca County Courthouse
- Staples – November 13
- 8:00 – 10:00 am
- National Joint Powers Association
- 202 12th St. NE
- Mora – November 13
- 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- Life Enrichment Center
- 160 Valhalla Circle
- Willmar – November 14
- 8:30 – 10:30 am
- MinnWest Technology Campus, Commons Meeting Room
- 1707 Technology Drive NE
- Winthrop – November 14
- 2:00 – 4:00 pm
- Berdan Center, UFC Cooperative
- 705 East 4th Street
- Austin – November 15
- 10:00 am – noon
- Hormel Institute
- 801 16th Avenue NE
$38 billion in online business in Minnesota
Connect Minnesota released their latest business report based on surveys of 801 businesses in Minnesota, indicating that Minnesota businesses earn $38 billion from online sales. Almost 40 percent of MN businesses earn money from online sales. http://wp.me/p3if7-2qN
Community Technology and Entrepreneurship Networking
Blandin Foundation hosted a webinar discussion Community Technology and Entrepreneurship Networking. A panel of Minnesota practitioners discussed a range of community tech promotion activities: Social Media Breakfasts, Hackfests, Co-Working Spaces and Tech or Broadband Advisory Councils. http://wp.me/p3if7-2pu
Minnesota Broadband Task Force October Meeting
The Task Force met in Windom last month, which was a good opportunity to hear from ARRA recipients Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services, the Northeast Service Cooperative (NESC) on broadband deployment and from the Blandin Foundation on the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) broadband adoption program. It was interesting to hear members discuss recommendations and priorities for the upcoming Task Force report. The recommendations were heavy on adoption strategies, tax exemptions for providers and streamlining deployment regulations for providers. http://wp.me/p3if7-2pd
Cyber Security Conference
Cyber security experts from around Minnesota gathered to discussion trends in the industry. Risk prioritization, President Obama’s security executive order, the need for (and against) regulation and encouraging greater attention on security were hot topics. Security was also discussed as a potential industry cluster for Minnesota. http://wp.me/p3if7-2qA
Minnesota Telecom Alliance Conference
Local independent telecom companies met last month to discuss policies and trends in the industry. State mapping was a hot topic. Attendees had questions about the new Office of Broadband Development and other state policies. They celebrated Minnesota being home to two National Smart Rural Communities, awarded by NTCA- the Rural Broadband Association. http://wp.me/p3if7-2pZ
FTTH Conference in Tampa
Attendees from across the US gathered in Tampa last month to discuss a range of practical topics related to fiber to the home (or premise). Topics included financing fiber networks, deploying FTTH and case studies from successful FTTH communities. http://wp.me/p3if7-2pg
Broadband News Around Minnesota
Bemidji
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation and the Blandin Foundation are hosting a conversation about broadband with Senator Matt Schmit of Red Wing on November 11. The public is invited.http://wp.me/p3if7-2r0 This is on the tails of a conversation about broadband posted in the Bemidji Pioneer based on editorials submitted by the Greater Minnesota Partnership, Paul Bunyan http://wp.me/p3if7-2qg and Gary Evans. http://wp.me/p3if7-2qs
Cloquet Valley
The Cloquet Valley Internet Initiative highlights the need for better broadband in their area. Businesses are not able to complete online tasks required to get their jobs done – tasks that are not significant in areas with adequate broadband. http://wp.me/p3if7-2qm
Hackensack & Backus
TDS announces that part of its ARRA-funded broadband project in Cass County, around Hackensack and Backus is now accessible to some residents and businesses.http://wp.me/p3if7-2q5
Itasca County
Blandin Broadband Community Itasca County hosts a Social Media Breakfast for local business owners to learn from each other about social media best practices. http://wp.me/p3if7-2qW
Lac qui Parle County
Rural Solutions in LqP County talks about the impact fiber has had on their community and their business. http://wp.me/p3if7-2pW
Lac qui Parle Valley
Blandin Broadband Community, LqPV High School demonstrates their technology acumen and broadband capacity with student-run online programming and livestreaming of school events.http://wp.me/p3if7-2pn
Mille Lacs County
People from across Mille Lacs County, representing all sectors of the community met in late October to help set the community’s path forward on broadband. Mille Lacs County is a Blandin Broadband Community. http://wp.me/p3if7-2qE
Reville & Sibley Counties
RS Fiber talks about the need for broadband in their area; for 30 months those communities and townships have been working hard to finance a 650 square mile fiber to the home and farm network that will bring the benefit of fiber optics to cities, farms, schools, businesses, hospitals and governments. http://wp.me/p3if7-2qm
Rochester
Charter Communications is expanding in Rochester; they employ 800 people in the Rochester area and are moving into a larger office space in January 2014. http://wp.me/p3if7-2q7
Twin Cities
Twin Cities-based Exosite is expanding in the business-to-business market for “Internet of Things” technology. http://wp.me/p3if7-2qp
Comcast supports CoCo’s entrepreneurial community by providing CoCo with its 1Gbps fiber service. http://wp.me/p3if7-2pB
Events:
Nov 5-7: Economic Development and Broadband Conference (Chicago) http://wp.me/p3if7-2kX
Nov 11-15: A Broadband Conversation with Senator Matt Schmit held in various locations through the week http://wp.me/p3if7-2r8
Nov 12: Minnesota Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting (Twin Cities, MN)http://mn.gov/commerce/topics/Broadband/Governors-Broadband-Task-Force.jsp
Dec 3: Minnesota Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting (Twin Cities, MN)http://mn.gov/commerce/topics/Broadband/Governors-Broadband-Task-Force.jsp
Dec 10-12: Minnesota Government IT Symposium http://mngts.org/itsym/
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.)
Stirring the Pot
In the community broadband world, I enjoy my work with the broadband evangelists who work very hard to promote access and use of technology in their communities and regions. Over the years, I have seen the great results that these champions have brought to their communities.
On occasion, however, I hear the tone of frustration in their voices and emails. “No one listens!” “I can’t get people to participate!” “No one is showing up!”
My advice for these champions is to take a step back and change the conversation with the following approach…
- Instead of inviting people to your meetings, ask them if you can attend their meetings.
- Instead of promoting your technology ideas, ask them for their technology plan.
- Instead of asking them for help with your project, offer assistance on theirs.
- Move your project and team members from the center of universe and start orbiting the other universes in your community and region.
- Rather than start something new, support and influence existing organizations and initiatives.
With this approach, the path may not always seem so straight-forward, but it will be forward and in the right direction. And it may turn out better than you had ever imagined!