The Austin Daily Herald recently posted higlights from a debate between the candidates for Minnesota House District 27A: the incumbent Shannon Savick, a Democrat from Wells and challenger Peggy Bennett, a Republican from Albert Lea. Broadband came up…

Both candidates agreed that high-speed broadband infrastructure is important for Greater Minnesota but disagreed how the state should bring it to areas outside the Twin Cities.

“Let’s find a way to fund broadband … but not with taxes,” Bennett said. Internet infrastructure is just as important as roads and bridges, she said, adding that greater Minnesota needs it to be more competitive.

Savick also supports funding for a broadband program, saying it adds value to areas with too little population to attract Internet services. “It’s not competition we need, it’s customers,” she said.

On the question of funding the state Business Development Public Infrastructure grant program, Bennett said, “If we see it as a need, how do we pay for it?” The community needs to raise up its economy so it can pay for that infrastructure itself.

Savick said she saw the program work in Blooming Prairie, where the community received a 50 percent matching grant from the state to provide water, sewer and road services to a new plant for Minimizer, a company that produces plastic parts for the heavy truck industry. Grants are part of how communities build up their economies, she said.

Bennett responded by saying she supports the state enticing businesses to Minnesota, but the state needs to find a way to pay for that without increasing taxes.

Great to see both candidates recognize the value of broadband. There is an ideological difference in funding – but I think that spans outside of the realm of broadband. I do find it interesting that one candidates says it’s an important as roads and bridges but also suggests that funding should not come from taxes.