Monthly Archives: December 2013

Lake County jumps another hurdle: $5 million lawsuit over

Posted on by
Reply

Northland’s Newscenter reports some good news…

A judge has ruled in favor of Lake County in a $5 million lawsuit involving bond money used in the installation of broadband internet services.

The Reader’s Digest of details…

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by Texas-based investment group ORIX Public Finance, LCC over matching funds in the sale of bonds.

In October 2010, ORIX agreed to purchase the bonds from Lake County. In November 2010, the Department of Agriculture, Rural Utility Service declined to allow ORIX equal security status for the bonds as the RUS had for the loan.

As a result, ORIX required Lake County to pay more financing costs, which would result in Lake County selling ORIX $5.6 million in revenue bonds at a higher interest rate of 15 percent, among other conditions.

The higher interest rates forced the county to match funds themselves, by using money from its own reserves.

And the not-so-great news…

The decision is subject to appeal.

Lake County received $66 million is stimulus funds (loans and grants) to build a fiber network. That also seemed to start an avalanche of obstacles – but Lake County seems to have come out on the winning end of each juncture.

USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii – remote access via Mora MN

Posted on by
Reply

I just wanted to share another story from a Blandin Broadband Community. It’s a great story of how technology is used for education, to commemorate and preserve history…

On the evening of December 10th, 2013, the Mora HRA, KBI and ECMECC joined together to present an interactive video conference (IVC) event at the Eastwood Life Enrichment Center (LEC) in Mora, MN. The LEC is a facility run by the Mora HRA as an event center for the residents of the Eastwood senior living complex as well as for community meetings and events. KBI, through the generous support of the Blandin Foundation, was able to outfit the LEC with modern audio/video equipment including a video conference system and high speed, broadband, Internet access (with support from Midcontinent Communications).

Nearly 60 people assembled at the LEC to view an interactive presentation lead by the National Park Service and broadcast live from the grounds of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The presentation included a short documentary about the attacks of December 7th, 1941, an eyewitness account led by Jimmy Lee who was eleven and living on a farm on the northern part of the harbor (a front row seat to the events of that day) and a question/answer session with Paul Heintz of the park service and Jimmy Lee.

It was an amazing “show” and the audience was glued to the screen. Among the participants in Mora were several veterans including John Kirkhuff of Mora who was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the attacks on December 7, 1941. In the video linked below, John (with help from his daughter Ginny Berg) had just finished providing his own brief account of the events of that day. Take a look and enjoy. Then remember to continually thank our veterans and active forces for their service to our country!

http://goo.gl/aCdE7G

Thank you to the National Park Service, the Blandin Foundation, members of the KBI steering committee, staff at the LEC and ECMECC and all of those who were in attendance for making this a highly successful event that provided a moving experience for many, gratitude to our veterans and generated community interest in the technology that allows for such events to occur. We are already planning the next event which may be a fun (and educational) trip to another warm place later this winter.

Blandin Broadband Communities meet to compare broadband adoption notes

Posted on by
Reply

Earlier this week representatives from the Blandin Broadband Communities (BBCs) met in the Twin Cities to talk about what was happening in their communities (inspirational!) and share tips on programs that have worked to boost broadband adoption (instructional!). I know this is a long post – but I wanted to archive the event and share the notes with everyone because I think there’s info here to inspire and instruct other communities.

On a very high level almost everyone spoke about the power of getting together to tackle an issue such as digital inclusion or lack of technology – both in term of this cross-community event but within their local communities as well. And while each community has gained access to funding through the BBC program, it seems like the reason to convene was at least as valuable as the money itself. Local programs have brought people together and provided an opportunity for more resources to emerge – in a Stone Soup sort of process.

We started the day with updates from each community. There are more videos – I tried to include at least one update from each community…

Mille Lacs County Mille Lacs County Lake County Lake County Kanabec COunty Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe PCs for People Southwest Minnesota Broadband Group Lac qui Parle Valley

Continue reading →

Pay MN taxes on your phone? Maybe there’s an app for that.

Posted on by
Reply

Here’s a fun opportunity made possible – or at least made easier – through technology. It’s a virtual suggestion box of sorts for the Department of Revenue as shared by the MHTA. It’s fun to see the State promoting greater civic engagement through technology.

MHTA – Do you wish the Minnesota Department of Revenue had an app to make your business life easier? If so, department leaders want to hear from you.

“Customers R #1” said Revenue Deputy Commissioner Matt Massman via text. “We want 2 hear UR gr8 ideas – Tweet or FB ur app idea.”

As part of its process to develop a mobile app, hundreds of employees weighed in during a recent online “innovation jam.” More than 400 department employees posted over 60 mobile app ideas and cast nearly 800 votes on their favorites in a freewheeling cloud-based discussion.

Employee mobile app ideas included:

  • Using GPS to help businesses calculate and pay correct the sales tax.
  • Tracking tax refund status.
  • Getting tax debt balances on payment plans.
  • Making a payment using “photo pay.”

Send your ideas or comments by Dec. 13:

“Innovation and customer service are core values here. We know that everyone from business people to tax professionals to busy parents expect to be able to communicate or do business on their smartphone or tablet. We’re in the process of making that possible at the Department of Revenue,” Massman later posted on his Facebook page. The department will consider ideas and feedback as it develops and launches a mobile app in late-2014.

Kanabec County BBC Update: Public private partnerships in the making

Posted on by
Reply

Kanabec County is one of the Blandin broadband Communities. They have been working on broadband adoption through the program for about a year now. Karl Samp has been working with them and was kind enough to send me an update. It’s great to see each community progress – but I also share it because it might spur projects in other communities.

moraI have continued to be impressed by the commitment and perseverance of the KBI [Kanabec Broadband Initiative] steering committee for Kanabec County. There is a consistent core group of members representing a great cross section of the community, both public and private, and regularly attended by providers. This, I feel, has led to progress for a public / private partnership to provide broadband service to the 70% of residents in Kanabec living outside of Mora and Oglivie. At the same time, the group is steadily moving forward on projects that will move their community forward in its use of broadband for community and economic development. At last week’s meeting, we heard about exciting developments for donated space for a tele-work/tele-commuting center, and the first “virtual tour” at the recently funded and equipped Life Enrichment Center. The tour will be a live streamed tour of the USS Arizona in honor of the commemoration of the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Community Wi-Fi, a community portal, and tele-health projects continue to move forward.

Great job, KBI members!

Pinterest for Target

Posted on by
Reply

It’s always fun to share good use of technology and social media by Minnesota businesses. Today CNBC posted info on Target’s use of Pinterest…

Target just launched a beta site, Target Awesome Shop, featuring the top-trending items on Pinterest that also have top reviews on Target.com. …

A new study of Pinterest users by market research firm Lab42 finds that 54 percent spend more time on the site during the holidays and 94 percent say it has changed the way they make their holiday preparations. And people are turning to Pinterest to share ideas—42 percent have a holiday-themed board.

That Pinning activity is translating into revenue for brands. Piquora, which helps retailers run Pinterest campaigns, says revenue driven from the site to retailers’ sites doubled over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. In a recent study Piquora did of 1,000 brands finds an average pin generates 78 cents in sales and drives two visits to company websites.

Apparently social media has been good for them…

Target has seen a 70 percent increase in traffic from Pinterest to Target.com since rolling out Rich Pins earlier this year, according to Target Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Jones.

“This year we’ll rely most heavily on two social platforms: Pinterest and Facebook,” he said. “In both places we’ve found we can really build commerce on the social graph.”

Something to think about for other Minnesota businesses.

Minnesota telecom sales tax –exemption – looking more likely

Posted on by
Reply

The telecom sales tax for a big issue at the Connect Minnesota Broadband Summit last week. In short, the Legislature removed a longstanding sales tax exemption for telecom equipment. The industry, as you can imagine, was not happy. The sales tax exemption had figured into their business case scenarios and planning broadband deployment without it was restrciting expansion. During the State and Federal Policy panel someone asked about the chances of a return of the exemption. Representative Sheldon Johnson said no chance. Senator Matt Schmit said well maybe.

Well is turns out that at least right now, more people are leaning toward Senator Schmit’s option – although at the conference more people seemed to lean with Representative Johnson. The difference was that the day after the conference The State announced a 1.1 billion Minnesota budget surplus.

The Associated Press reported…

Dayton told reporters that if the surplus holds up when the estimate is updated in February, he’ll recommend that more than half go to tax cuts, including the repeal of some new sales taxes adopted just this spring.

The article went on to mention the telecommunications tax specifically…

The tax plan adopted last spring created a new fourth bracket on high incomes and significantly increased the per-pack cigarette tax. Lawmakers also imposed sales taxes on farm equipment repairs, telecommunications supplies and commercial warehousing services.

An article in the Minneapolis Stat Tribune seems to support the optimism for the telecom industry…

Dayton is believed to be most inclined to repeal a storage/warehouse tax; a tax on repairs that will hit hardest small businesses that don’t have their own maintenance staffs, and a telecommunications equipment tax. Dayton didn’t advocate for these taxes, but signed them into law last spring.

But also notes that nothing is set in stone – or will even be formally suggested until 2014…

Dayton’s aides say he may ask the DFL-dominated Legislature to repeal or at least dilute three business-to-business taxes passed last spring. In an interview, Minnesota Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans, a tax lawyer and former small-business CEO, said there will be no specific proposals to legislative leaders until the February budget forecast.

Upcoming Video event at Mora Life Enrichment Center

Posted on by
Reply

A fun story to share from one of the Blandin Broadband Communities via ECMECC …

We wanted to let you all know about an event coming up on Tuesday, December 10th at the Eastwood Life Enrichment Center in Mora. We will be taking a LIVE, interactive video tour of the USS Arizona National Monument at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. (just a few days after “Pearl Harbor Day”) A historian from the National Park Service will lead the virtual tour/presentation and be able to answer questions from the audience.

Anyone is welcome to attend. We will begin with an open house at 5:00pm with light refreshments. The video program will begin at 6:00pm and last about an hour. Attached is a flyer and a press release with more information. We would like those attending to pre-register at:  http://goo.gl/quVCZO  if possible (the event is FREE)

Please pass this on to anyone else who you think might be interested and please plan to attend yourself if you are able.

This event is made possible through a Broadband Communities grant from the Blandin Foundation in cooperation with the Kanabec Broadband Initiative, the Mora HRA and ECMECC.

 

Vodafone Grants for Wireless Technology Innovations Addressing Social Issues

Posted on by
Reply

Good luck!

Vodafone Americas Foundation: Wireless Innovation Project
The Vodafone Americas Foundation’s Wireless Innovation Project supports exemplary wireless-related technology innovations that address critical social issues around the world. Funded projects should present a solution to a clearly defined social problem within the areas of education, health, access to communication, environment, or economic development. Applicants must be part of an established multi-disciplinary team that provides the expertise needed for a comprehensive solution to the targeted problem. The Wireless Innovation Project will provide up to $600,000 for projects from universities and nonprofit organizations based in the United States. Winners will be selected for awards of $100,000, $200,000, and $300,000, which will be paid in equal installments over three years. The application deadline is February 3, 2014. Visit the Vodafone Americas Foundation website to take the required Eligibility Questionnaire and submit an online application.

How do businesses in NW Minnesota use Broadband?

Posted on by
Reply

IMPACT 20/20 recently released a report that looks at how businesses in Northwest Minnesota are using broadband. Actually it’s an in-depth look at how businesses are successfully using broadband as the study sought out businesses that were making good use of technology. The report draws some high level conclusions:

There were several findings that emerged from the study.  Chief among them were the following:

  • Social media tools—especially Facebook and YouTube—can be an extremely effective means of growing  the customer base of a business.
  • Businesses who use broadband tools are increasing their customers, increasing the scope of their  market, increasing their efficiency, and increasing their profits.
  • The cost‐benefit ratio of using broadband appears to be very high in terms of the amount of time and  money invested and the perceived return on investment.
  • The importance of broadband to business success will not diminish in the future; if anything, its  importance will increase.

They look at the impact broadband has had on the individual businesses…

IMPACT 2020

The report also drills down to details by showcasing three companies from the area: Weave Got  Maille, Lake of the Woods Outdoorsman and Stittsworth Meats.

  • Weave Got  Maille manufactures  jewelry‐making supplies. Owner Edie Ramstad says her website and Facebook and her more valuable tools. Business began in 2012 and took off almost immediately She keeps her site and Page updated. Exposure through Social Media has led the entertainment business to her cyber doors. The Broadway show Jersey Boys and HBO cult hit Game of Thrones are both customers.
  • Lake of the Woods Outdoorsman owner Jean‐Paul Tessier has become a YouTube video star. He has expanded his services from hunting and fishing guide to promoter of the Lake of the Woods area. He has 800 YouTube subscribers and his videos are viewed 2,000 to 10,000 per week. Such traffic has allowed his to sell sponsorship on his website, which means added revenue. Jean-Paul says his secret to success has been to be real and genuine.
  • Stittsworth Meats has taken Facebook by storm. They have more than 11,000 Facebook friends. Owner, Mikes Sittsworth, credit Facebook with 50 percent of recent growth. Mike’s success has come from thinking like a customer and sharing posts he thinks are interesting – not pushing a sales agenda. One campaign that worked well for them was a competition for $200; the winner was the person who shared the Page with the most friends.

Below is a list of tools mentioned by businesses surveys by Impact 20/20. I thought it might spur entrepreneurs in other parts of Minnesota. The original report includes a nice glossary of terms, including many of the following. I have linked to a website where is makes sense… Continue reading →

Connect Minnesota Broadband Summit: Full Notes

Posted on by
Reply

Yesterday Connect Minnesota hosted a broadband summit. A lot of the discussion centered around public-private partnership. Providers spoke about reducing barriers as a way to make it easier to deploy broadband. Policy makers and watchers spoke about incentive programs such as E-Rate, Connect American Fund, tax exemptions and increased adoption as tools to boost access and use. Communities spoke about homegrown solutions to broadband adoption that started with passion and a vision.

Both Senators Klobuchar and Senator Franken sent inspiring videos. Keynote Thomas Cohen outlined broadband strategy options in business terms that focused on customer needs. JoAnne Johnson was named the Broadband Hero. Continue reading →

Sen Schmit and Sen Hamilton promote better broadband in rural areas

Posted on by
Reply

In a recent editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Senator Matt Schmit and Senator Rod Hamilton detail the disparities between the Twin Cities and rural Minnesota. They point out that while Minnesota economic development is thriving on many counts the focus of economic benefit is metro-based and the disparity between urban and rural climate is widening. Improving infrastructure, notably broadband infrastructure in rural areas is offered as an antidote…

Greater Minnesota’s infrastructure shortcomings vary from roads to sewers, but significant disparities in broadband Internet connectivity are keeping much of Greater Minnesota from truly “connecting.” While basic connectivity for e-mail and online shopping has extended its reach, service with the speeds and reliability needed for important new applications in e-commerce, tele-medicine, education, and agriculture is sorely lacking.

According to Connect Minnesota, 92 percent of metro residents have access to speeds of 25 Mb download / 6 Mb upload; only 32 percent of rural Minnesotans enjoy this access. Nearly one-third of Greater Minnesota lacks access to speeds of 10 Mb download / 6 Mb upload — an inadequate threshold for today’s applications.

Although market forces explain much of this disparity — and, to be sure, our local providers and rural cooperatives are doing an admirable job with scarce resources — broadband connectivity for 21st century applications will have to catch up for Greater Minnesota to remain a great place to live and to work. Unfortunately, what could serve as a great equalizer in economic opportunity is now a limiting factor.

Amid this troubling news, though, there is hope. We know our weaknesses. We can target policy fixes to address them. And despite its shortcomings, Minnesota’s economy is picking up steam. Now imagine the strength of a diversified statewide economy operating on all cylinders — one that fully integrates the creativity, entrepreneurship, and productivity of all it citizens.

MN Broadband Task Force: Debate on hot topics: Full Notes

Posted on by
Reply

Yesterday the Minnesota Broadband Task Force met. The meeting included more debate than I’ve seen in more than a year of previous meetings. Task Force members got to the real topics at hand. Substantive discussion happened. Also the decision was made to hold off on any recommendations to the Legislature until early 2014 so that the conversation can continue.

Some of the hot topics included:

  • Talking about broadband as defined by anything less than 10-20 Mbps down and 5-10 Mbps up. That is the goal set in Minnesota statutes.
  • The telecom sales tax exemption. Some people wondered if reinstating the sales tax exemption would spur broadband deployment in un/underserved areas. Some felt it would.
  • The list of recommendations to the legislators was pared down to focus on the ones that could result in more direct legislative intervention.
  • Affordability was discussed. Can we call a connection available if it is not reasonably affordable? And who defines reasonably affordable?

I took some video and am happy to post if requested – but it was a big room and mostly you can hear how fast I can type. Again – a fun meeting and it felt like the broadband ball was moved down the field.

Some topics will be addressed between meetings (next meeting in early January) – although it was noted that those discussions will need to be announced and hopefully publicized to meet open meeting requirements.

Here is a draft of the report they were discussing. Continue reading →

Blandin eNews December 2013

Posted on by
Reply

News from the Blandin on Broadband Blog

BBC MapMinnesota Broadband Policy 
Danna MacKenzie was named the director of the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development. http://wp.me/p3if7-2ta Previously Danna was the director of IS for Cook County. Danna has been a member of both the Minnesota Broadband Task Force and the Blandin Broadband Strategy Board.

At the monthly meeting, the Broadband Task Force heard from satellite providers and discussed the latest iteration of the report due at the end of the year. The discussion was heated at times. The draft discussed at the meeting is available online. http://wp.me/p3if7-2sj The Task Force meets again on December 3 to work on the report again. http://wp.me/p3if7-2tc

Latest Connect Minnesota Reports 
A recent Connect Minnesota report indicates that 74.5 percent of Minnesota households can access fixed and mobile broadband at speeds of at least 10 Mbps download/6 Mbps upload. That is an improvement of almost five percent since April. Unfortunately when you look at the map of coverage, it is clear that the access is uneven. http://wp.me/p3if7-2sM

Broadband Listening Tour with Senator Schmit
Senator Matt Schmit held a series of listening sessions on broadband throughout the state. He visited Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Staples, Mora, Willmar, Winthrop and Austin. A general consensus was that people are hungry for broadband and ready for action. Some of the attendees in Bemidji were caught on video. http://wp.me/p3if7-2s6

Senators Klobuchar and Franken write to FCC
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken sent a letter to FCC Chair Wheeler on their continued concern about the impact of the FCC’s Transformation Order on Rate of Return carriers and their ability to further invest in their networks. http://wp.me/p3if7-2rq

Broadband Conference Notes
Blandin Broadband Team (staff and consultants) attended several conferences in December. Notes are available on the following: Cooperatives for Broadband http://wp.me/p3if7-2sd, Online Tools for Economic Development http://wp.me/p3if7-2sl and Broadband and Economic Development in Chicago http://wp.me/p3if7-2rU

Local Broadband News

Carlton County
Carlton County wins a Local Government Innovation Award for their TXT4Life Suicide Prevention program. http://wp.me/p3if7-2sJ

Cook County
Arrowhead Electric completes most of the fiber construction in Cook County, however service is not yet available to residents. So many are setting up camp to use wireless made available near the office until their homes are fiber-ready. http://wp.me/p3if7-2sW

Dakota County
Dakota County extends their fiber network to Goodhue and Washington Counties. http://wp.me/p3if7-2s8

Grand Rapids
MacPhail Center for the Arts offers music instruction remotely to classrooms in Grand Rapids. http://wp.me/p3if7-2tp

Kanabec County
PCs for People visit Blandin Broadband Community Kanabec County to give away 52 refurbished computers to homes that would otherwise not have a computer. http://wp.me/p3if7-2rD

Lac qui Parle County
LqP County gets a nice nod from the Star Tribune recognizing the increased economic development opportunities brought to local communities through broadband. http://wp.me/p3if7-2ts

Lake County
Lake County files a complaint with the FCC about Frontier because Lake County has used Frontier poles to string fiber and Frontier is saying that they (Frontier) want to retain the bottom position on all utility poles. That would require Lake County to move their attachments, which would cost more than $240,000. http://wp.me/p3if7-2sU

Lake County, high school students work with seniors to help get them online – with one-on-one tech training and support. http://wp.me/p3if7-2s1

Minneapolis
Minneapolis-based Open Inc creates Safety PAD, a tablet-like device that first responders use to record patient information in real time in the field. A central database then collects the patient information for hospital use. http://wp.me/p3if7-2rW

Morris
Morris wins a Local Government Innovation Award for the Morris Rental Housing Commission website that connects landlords, renters (many of them college students) and information. http://wp.me/p3if7-2sJ

Osakis, Jackson, Mankato, Brainerd, Kiester, Benson, Hancock and Morris
The Star Tribune reports on the Connect Minnesota survey (that indicates 75 percent of Minnesota households have access to broadband) providing vignettes of use, such as precision agriculture in various towns, including Osakis, Jackson, Mankato, Brainerd, Kiester, Benson, Hancock and Morris. http://wp.me/p3if7-2t7

Pipestone
Pipestone hosts its first Social Media Breakfast on November 12 as an opportunity for local businesses to talk about social media. http://wp.me/p3if7-2rG

Twin Cities
E-Democracy and Open Twin Cities host an unconference and hackathon to encourage civic engagement that pair technology solutions to community issues. http://wp.me/p3if7-2sR

Events

DECEMBER 3 
Minnesota Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting (Twin Cities, MN) http://mn.gov/commerce/topics/Broadband/Governors-Broadband-Task-Force.jsp

DECEMBER 4 
Connect Minnesota Summit: The State of Broadband (Roseville, MN) http://wp.me/p3if7-2sv

DECEMBER 9-15
An Hour of Code: an effort to provide an introduction to coding to students (various locations) http://wp.me/s3if7-9489

DECEMBER 10-12
Minnesota Government IT Symposium (Saint Paul, MN) http://mngts.org/itsym/

FEBRUARY 4-5
Border to Border Broadband: A Call to Action (Saint Paul, MN) http://wp.me/p3if7-2tA

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.)

Bill_ColemanStirring the Pot

By Bill Coleman, Community Technology Advisors

Congratulations to Danna MacKenzie, the director of Minnesota’s new Office of Broadband!  I know Danna will be getting lots of advice about the best strategies to move Minnesota forward – tax exemptions, financing programs, new regulations and other ideas. Here is mine!

I would encourage all of us, but especially Danna, to take a look back at a set of sound principles on which to base our way forward.  Danna is well-familiar with the Blandin Foundation Broadband principles – she helped to create them in 2006.  These principles were adopted by a stellar group of Minnesotans, including telecom providers, community representatives and elected officials.  These principles have stood the test of time.  Considered individually, each principle makes sense, but recognizing the interplay of these principles is essential.

  • Ubiquity – Meaning broadband availability for everyone, this is a cornerstone adopted by the first Minnesota Broadband Task Force chaired by Rick King of Thomson Reuters.
  • Symmetry – Both download and upload speeds should support content users and content creators.
  • Affordable – Services that are too expensive are essentially unavailable to many Minnesotans.
  • Competition – Drives innovation, customer service and affordability.
  • World Class – Broadband is the essential infrastructure of our time.
  • Collaboration – Sometimes too focused on public-private partnerships, we also need increased collaboration between private companies and within the public sector.
  • Neutrality – Neutrality does not mean not choosing technologies, it means being open to new technologies and collaborative models.
  • Interoperability – Networks and applications should operate easily across systems of health care, education and government.

From my perspective, I see Ubiquity, Affordable and World-Class as the cornerstones of these principles. Achieving all three of these will be a challenge!  Competition, Collaboration, Neutrality and Interoperability are supporting principles.  To achieve the cornerstone principles, Danna will have to lead the way to an environment where these supporting principles become the norm of our public and private sector entities.

ITU’s Broadband Manifesto: recognizing the vital role of broadband

Posted on by
Reply

It is interesting to see what other countries do with broadband – in terms of how they deploy, adopt and prioritize. So I was very interested in learn what the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) had to say in their recent Broadband Manifesto. The ITU focuses on technology and broadband as a tool for democracy and a tool to bring about equity, especially to emerging nations. They recognize the power of broadband to boost education, healthcare and economic development. But they also highlight broadband as a tool to help raise the voices of the under-heard populations. They value access to technology as power to use technology to tell o story; they value free and open channels for communication.

Access to open communication is something we don’t think about here in the US – but their Manifesto can speak to our needs here too…

We, the members of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development, present this manifesto stating our position and shared belief in the benefits of broadband for sustainable development to world leaders, top policy-makers, industry leaders, users and consumers.

Broadband technologies are fundamentally transforming the way we live. Broadband infrastructure, applications and services offer important opportunities for boosting economic growth, enhancing communications, improving energy efficiency, safeguarding the planet and improving people’s lives.

In building our interlinked information society, it is vital that no one be excluded, and that all voices be heard. Overcoming the digital divide makes sense not only on the basis of principles of fairness and justice; connecting the world makes sound commercial sense.

The improved communication and greater understanding facilitated by access to ICTs can help us overcome the challenges inherent in building the global digital economy. The report of the Broadband Commission, Transformative Solutions for 2015 and Beyond, examines the key role broadband can play in confronting today’s challenges, and building a sound and sustainable future, which following generations can enjoy.

Connectivity is necessary, but not sufficient. In addition to the roll-out and deployment of broadband networks and technologies, it is also essential to develop fully multilingual content and new services to ensure people can express themselves freely and develop a presence online, with full respect for human rights.

We, the undersigned, believe that the vital role of broadband needs to be acknowledged at the core of any post-2015 sustainable development framework, to ensure that all countries – developed and developing countries alike – are empowered to participate in the global digital economy.