The Crookston Times sat down with Tim Flaherty from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities to talk about the legislative season. This is what he had to say about broadband…

Broadband improvements: The CGMC is seeking $100 million, at least. The Senate includes $100 million, and the House started at $50 million and has since upped broadband investments to $130 million. Dayton has $30 million in his budget proposal.

Flaherty said the numbers don’t lie: 40 percent of homes in Greater Minnesota don’t meet minimum standards for broadband service. In the metro area, that percentage shrinks to 6.

“We’re not saying the state broadband programs don’t work, we’re just saying there are huge, huge gaps that must be filled if our cities are going to have any chance at growth,” Flaherty said.