According to the Hibbing Daily Tribune…

Lt. Gov. Tina Smith hosted a roundtable discussion Tuesday at Delta Airlines in Chisholm as part of a statewide tour to discuss the importance of high-speed broadband access.

She was not alone…

Joining Smith at the roundtable were Executive Director of the State Office of Broadband Development Dana Mackenzie; Executive Director of Development for Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) Steve Peterson; Regional Vice President of Mediacom Bill Jensen; Vice President of Operations for Century Link Tyler Middleton; Chief Technology Officer for Northeast Service Cooperative Lyle MacVey; Director of Customer Engagement for Delta Airlines Bobbie van Schoohoven; Director of Customer Care for Delta Dental Theresa Nystrom; and Owner of Voyagaire Lodge and Houseboats Jim Janssen.

In part they were there to discuss the recent Minnesota Broadband Funds, which includes $2.33 million in grants awarded to benefit broadband Internet projects on the Iron Range. Here is a reminder on that project…

Mediacom, Pintar Road. Awarded $137,848 to provide broadband services to 122 unserved homes and businesses on the southwest edge of the city limits of Hibbing. The full cost of this project is $275,697; the remaining $137,849 in matching funds (50 percent) will be provided by a private investment made by Mediacom.

The project is expeted to be complete by the end of the year.