Tim Penny from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) supports broadband funding – as posted in the Mankato Free Press…

Broadband funding: There is a proposal to increase funding to Minnesota’s Office of Broadband Development to lay more fiber networks across rural Minnesota. Historically, $10 million has been allocated in recent years ($20 million in 2014). This year’s proposal is $100 million.

Our partner Blandin Foundation has been instrumental in moving this issue forward on behalf of Greater Minnesota, and we support their goal of ensuring all Minnesotan’s have access to convenient, affordable world-class broadband networks.

Blandin’s CEO Kathleen Annette cited that nearly a quarter of Minnesota households don’t have sufficient Internet speeds for things like homework, online business operations, and more, and that Minnesota ranks 23rd in broadband access.

“This stark urban-rural divide hurts all Minnesotans,” Annette said. I agree.

SMIF is one of many organizations that have endorsed the Minnesota Broadband Vision…

Everyone in Minnesota will be able to use convenient, affordable world-class broadband networks that enable us to survive and thrive in our communities and across the globe.