Monthly Recap of News from the Blandin on Broadband Blog
Is Broadband a Utility?
Earlier this year, the FCC declared that they would treat broadband as a utility. But what does that mean? The FCC was focused on how broadband would be delivered (Net Neutrality) rather than where (increasing broadband deployment).
Want broadband in your community? Be prepared and be vocal.
The Minnesota State Bar Association held their Annual Communication Forum to discuss the ins and outs of broadband policy. Legislators advise communities to be prepared and be vocal. To do their research, understand their options and explain their needs to their legislators. The sentiment was echoed at a recent Summit on Rural America where the message was – people matter, leadership matters.
Reactions to Legislative Funding for Broadband
During the special session, the Legislature included funding for the Border to Border Infrastructure grant program in the amount of $10,588,000. This compares with $20 million last year. Rural communities reacted. Some newspapers noted any funding as a win; others noted the decline in investment as a rural loss. It is worth noting that broadband was named specifically, which means it is an issue that people watch.
Klobuchar Calls for Broadband Action
Senator Klobuchar asks Feds to make a broadband plan and look at issues such as call completion, which have an impact on rural residents.
Introducing New Minnesota Task Force Members
The Governor’s Office released the list of the latest iteration of the Minnesota Broadband Task Force. The list includes some new folks as well as many returns, including Chair Margaret Anderson Kelliher. The Task Force met and mentioned an interest in addressing affordability and updates to the Minnesota State speed goals.
A Minnesota Perspective on Broadband and the Arts
Mary Minnick-Daniels, Executive Director of the East Central Regional Arts Council gives a frontlines view on the impact of broadband on the arts in rural Minnesota. Doors are open for those with connectivity.
Minnesota Advice for the Broadband Opportunity Council
The Broadband Opportunity Council asked for advice and response to better promote and support broadband expansion. Minnesota voices chimed in:
- Senator Klobuchar’s recommendations include promoting and strengthening existing federal programs, improving coordination with states, advancing public-private partnerships, and modernizing infrastructure.
- Blandin Foundation recommends policies that enable, encourage and engage collaboration for both broadband adoption and deployment.
Broadband News Around Minnesota
Annandale
Before the Gubernatorial vetoes of legislative broadband funds, Annandale was in line for $2 million for broadband. Those funds were not restated in special session.
Bemidji
Bemidji-based (but farther reaching), Paul Bunyan Communications wins Most Innovative Gigabit Broadband Service for its GigaZone service. They continue to announce new service upgrades on a regular basis.
Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Sibley, Waseca and Watonwan Counties
Frontier Communications accepted $28 million in Connect American Funds from the FCC to extend broadband Internet access in parts of Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Sibley, Waseca and Watonwan Counties.
Burnsville
Burnsville leases dark fiber to Sprint.
Dakota County
Northern Dakota County is looking at cable franchising now; they have shared documents that may be helpful to other communities.
Duluth, Monticello and Windom
Duluth, Monticello and Windom join Winthrop has Minnesota members of Next Generation Cities.
Eagan
Comcast is the current cable franchise holder in Eagan – CenturyLink is looking to have a franchise as well.
Itasca County
Itasca County is creating broadband markets that help the local area become a better business case for a provider to provider better broadband service than is currently available.
Lake County
Last month, Lake County was hustling to finish their fiber network and use up $66 million in ARRA loans and grants before the June 30 construction deadline.
Olmsted County
Olmsted County broadband coverage is less than 60 percent, unless you include wireless access, then it leaps to more than 98 percent.
Otter Tail County
Otter Tail has 65 percent broadband coverage but there are plans to improve that through a project supported by MN Broadband Fund
Pennington County
Pennington County has 92% coverage despite $15.33 per Megabit to connect to the Internet backbone
Pine County
Less than 25 percent of Pine County has access to broadband.
Events & Opportunities:
- June 18: Webinar Archive Available now from June 18: Free Blandin Webinar: National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
- July 9: Free Blandin Webinar Creative Places, Creative Spaces. 3-4 pm
- July 15: Minnesota Broadband Task Force Meeting (Brainerd)
- August 4: Minnesota Broadband Task Force Meeting (Farmfest)
- September 18-20: Willmar Hackfest
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
I sit here on deadline trying to write something interesting! Waiting, waiting, waiting…
Some months, ideas just pop and the words emerge. Today, not so much! In fact, I cannot even decide on a topic! I have no answers, only questions.
I don’t know whether to write about the tough choices that the Blandin grant review team has in comparing the value created by grant applications for fiber feasibility studies to projects that deliver wireless devices to needy school kids, or comparing local or regional economic development branding campaigns to a wi-fi hot spot at a local park. How do you compare projects that deliver immediate, short-term results to those that may produce systemic, positive community change over the long term
I don’t know what to think about the upcoming Connect America Fund decisions by providers. Is it a positive for larger carriers to provide broadband almost everywhere, but only required to meet a 10 Mb down, 1 Mb up standard sometime in the next five years? How will that meet tomorrow’s needs if it does not even meet Minnesota’s standard of today? Or should one wish for their incumbent to turn down the funds in hopes that some partnership might deliver FTTH using some combination of funds, like CAF, DEED, USDA or other source?
I don’t even know how to process the idea put forth last week by some of our state elected officials, that the call for broadband at the legislature was not loud enough. Or that wireless is good enough for families, business, education and health care. I have never seen more communities knowledgable, organized and calling for state partnership. I wish the Office of Broadband staff good luck in making their future grant decisions with more and better prepared demand with less money available. Communities can’t win if they don’t enter, but the partnership development process, much less the OBD application process, is not easy.
Luckily for me and my writer’s block, I just remembered an important dinner party lesson… when you don’t have anything to say, just ask a question!
So I have a question for you! What broadband topics would you like to learn more about at the November broadband conference? What great speakers can you recommend? Maybe nominate yourself and a topic! Tell me and our planning team how we can make it an easy decision for you to attend this event. Send any suggestions to broadband@blandinfoundation.org .