In honor of township day (Mar 8), MPR ran an article on what is important to townships. Broadband made the short list…

What are some of the biggest issues for townships in Minnesota?

Transportation and broadband access top the list. That’s what the township association will prioritize this legislative session, Pedersen said.

Minnesota has over 50,000 miles of township roads, many with bridges. Those are the most expensive to maintain — and it’s crucial they remain safe — so most transportation funding goes to bridges, Pedersen said.

High-speed broadband access is spotty in many of the rural areas, which is where townships tend to be located. Pederson’s group will ask the state for help expanding broadband to the areas that don’t have fast, reliable internet access. Pedersen said it’s especially important for students — and for online health care.