Monthly Archives: March 2016

March 17: MN Task Force and MN House discuss broadband grants and budget

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Tomorrow will be a busy day. Here’s the info on two events…

10:00 a.m. – noon
Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
March 17, 2016
Ramsey County/St. Paul Workforce Center*
540 Fairview Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55104.

12:45 pm
Greater Minnesota Economic and Workforce Development Policy Committee will be taking up HF2381 which includes funding for the Border to Border Broadband Development grant program
Location: Basement Hearing Room (State Office Building)
HF2381: Baker Broadband grant application process amended, report required, and money appropriated.

Governor Dayton announces budget including $100 million for broadband – here’s the local press view

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Governor Dayton’s budget announcement, which includes $100 million for broadband, is all over the news. More than that – it’s all over the headlines! I’m going to try to post a index of articles here. I’ll highlight the parts that I think give insight. I’m including them all because I think it’s important to see how many people are talking and what they are saying. Last year at this time we were talking about how broadband was getting forgotten because advocates lost focus – this year I think the advocates getting talking and are being heard. (The push for the Minnesota Broadband Vision has been a good tool help raise a collective voice.)

Here’s the news from DEED (Department of Employment and Economic Development)…

Broadband Development Grant Program: $100 Million

In May of 2014, Governor Dayton signed the first official Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program funding that went to improving access to high-speed broadband for thousands of households, schools, businesses and community institutions throughout the state.

This Legislative Session, the Governor is proposing an increase of $100 million in state funds for broadband access grants that will bring high-speed Internet to more unserved and underserved corners of the state.

MinnPost includes a helpful chart…

portion of chart from MinnPost

Portion of chart from MinnPost

From the St Paul Pioneer Press..

Gov. Mark Dayton proposed a supplemental budget Tuesday that spends the majority of the state’s $900 million surplus on things Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party members say should be top priorities for the 2016 Legislature.

Focusing on expanding broadband service, tackling racial disparities and providing tax cuts, the $698 million proposal is split between $411 million in one-time spending and $287 million in ongoing funding increases. The proposal also resurrects a gasoline tax hike to fund the state’s transportation needs and leaves about $200 million unspent to protect against future economic downturns.

And

$100 million to expand high-speed Internet access in rural Minnesota. There is bipartisan support for state spending on broadband access, although the cost and goals of the program are in debate. The funding Dayton proposes, which may be allocated over several years, would boost current spending by tenfold but would be administered similarly to the current grant program.

Minneapolis Star Tribune mentioned Dayton’s focus…

Dayton said he would only pay for urgent spending priorities and is determined to beat back ongoing spending proposals that could blow a hole in future budgets.

And potential bipartisan support for broadband…

Knoblach hinted that there could already be some areas of agreement, including more rural broadband Internet funding.

“There are some things that I expect we’ll agree with the governor on,” Knoblach said.

You can hear the story on Minnesota Public Radio – including these broadband highlights…

Dayton declined to recommend use of the entire surplus in his update to the two-year budget adopted last spring. Of the nearly $700 million in new spending suggestions, more than $400 million would pay for things that don’t build in long-term obligations for the state, such as $100 million for broadband expansion grants and $39 million for cybersecurity split between a state technology agency and a data-breach detection initiative housed at the University of Minnesota.

And a flag for a someone possibly interested in a smaller investment in broadband..

House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin raised concerns about the added spending in the governor’s proposal. Pepin said early childhood education, for example, received a significant increase in the current budget. She also thinks the governor’s proposed broadband spending is too high.

“(I’m) a little surprised that there’s so many additional requests for dollars, when really our goal is to provide tax relief,” said Peppin, R-Rogers. “We feel Minnesotans have been taxed enough, and we would really prefer those dollars to go to tax relief.”

InForum also leads with broadband budget…

Giving all Minnesotans equal access to high-speed Internet and promoting racial economic equality are Gov. Mark Dayton’s top requests in seeking a $700 million budget boost.

Each would cost $100 million.

From La Crosse Tribune…

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposed budget released Tuesday would bring new government aid to Winona area cities, boost broadband funding for rural parts of the state, expand tax credits for childcare and education costs, and tackle longstanding racial economic disparities while saving the rest of the surplus.

From the St Cloud Times…

A week into the 2016 legislative session, Dayton released his proposal to use the projected $900 million budget surplus to tackle economic disparities, expand existing tax credits for child care and education costs and expand broadband Internet access in rural Minnesota. The Democratic governor also proposed leaving $200 million unspent in case of an economic slowdown. …

As outlined in his State of the State address last week, the governor is proposing $100 million to expand broadband Internet access in underserved rural areas.

Mankato Free Press…

The budget addresses several topics Dayton cited as top priorities during his State of the State address last week, such as using $100 million to better connect rural Minnesota with broadband Internet. Stressing the importance of aiding middle-class residents, the budget renews his previous calls to expand a child care tax credit to 92,000 families and to offer an estimated 18,000 families extra help for educational expenses. Another tax credit expansion would boost tax refunds to working families making less than $55,000.

Republicans are on board with putting more money into broadband grants — though they quibble on the total amount — but wanted more money to go toward tax relief.

FCC proposes changes to Lifeline program: $9.95 subsidy for broadband

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The FCC is proposing a changes to the Lifeline program, the program that has helped low-income households get access to telephone service since 1985. The proposal was made last week; Multichannel gives a nice synopsis…

FCC chairman Tom Wheeler is circulating his proposal to modernize the FCC’s Lifeline subsidy program to migrate it to broadband. A vote on the proposal is planned for the March 31 meeting.

The chairman is billing it as a “reboot” of the program to bring it into the 21st Century. The Lifeline program is part of the Universal Service Fund and provides subsidies for communications services to low income households.

For the first time, the $9.95 per subsidy–the order does not increase the subsidy–can be used to support stand-alone mobile or fixed broadband service as well as bundled voice and data packages.

The program keeps the 10 Mbps downstream/1 Mbps upstream benchmark for service, and a minimum monthly usage allowance of 150 GB for fixed service and 500 Megabits per month of 3G data for mobile, increasing to 2 MB by the end of 2018.

Support for standalone mobile voice will be wound down to $7.25 per month as of December 2017, $5.25 per month as of December 2018, and nothing after that. But mobile voice will still be supported as part of a mobile broadband bundle.

To help combat waste, fraud and abuse, the order would establish a National Eligibility Verifier and says it will minimize the impact on ratepayers–the subsidies wind up on consumer bills–by setting a budget of $2.25 billion, indexed for inflation.

In a blog post FCC Commissioners outline the three central facets to their plan…

First, it re-orients Lifeline for the broadband era and sets minimum service standards for voice and broadband. That way Lifeline subscribers will be able to take full advantage of the many benefits reliable Internet access can bring – from jobs to education to healthcare, and the hard-working Americans who support the program won’t be paying for second-rate service.

Second, it improves Lifeline’s management and design. We streamline program rules and eliminate outdated or unnecessary regulations to reduce administrative burdens and make it easier for broadband providers to participate. This provides them with a good business case for participation – and provides Lifeline consumers with more competitive options. By increasing competition and bringing market forces to bear on the program, we get at the heart of the historic issues that have undermined the program’s efficiency. In short, we get more bang for our Lifeline buck and ensure low income consumers have access to services comparable to what the rest of us are fortunate to enjoy.

Third, it shuts the door on the program’s final remaining vulnerability. We establish a National Eligibility Verifier as a powerful check against waste, fraud, and abuse. The program we inherited allowed Lifeline providers to verify the eligibility of their subscribers. This is both an administrative burden for providers, and an opportunity for unscrupulous marketers to admit ineligible consumers. The National Eligibility Verifier solves this problem by creating an independent third party to establish an efficient system of eligibility verification, lifting burden and foreclosing fraud. This verifier will use existing trusted programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to determine eligibility. The independent Verifier has the added benefits of increased subscriber portability, which means more consumer choice.  The result is a more dignified process for enrollment that better protects consumer privacy and security.

Public Knowledge (and others) have been supportive of the changes…

Today, Public Knowledge joined a broad cross-section of public interest groups and broadband providers in a letter to support the Federal Communications Commission’s goal of bringing the Lifeline phone subsidy program into the modern era by extending the subsidy to broadband service.

Broadcasting and Cable outline the reactions to the proposed changes.  Industry folks seem to like it…

Comcast senior executive VP David Cohen blogged his applause for and advice to the FCC for its effort to modernize the program to support broadband and to simplify the process for provider participation. But he also said that addressed only one barrier to adoption, and that it must prevent waste, fraud and abuse.

Common Sense Media approved…

We applaud the FCC’s draft Lifeline order because it will take America a critical step closer to eliminating the gaping divide between today’s digital haves and have nots. The FCC’s thoughtfully drafted plan will ensure the program is efficient and accountable and that millions of America’s children and adults can more fully participate in our modern economy and education system.

FCC Commissioner O’Rielly was less enthusiastic…

Republican FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, who echoed a complaint he lodged against the chairman over previewing the item for press before circulating it.

“Hours after the Chairman launched his press campaign and multiple sources reported he had circulated this item, it has just landed in my inbox,” he said. “I haven’t had a chance to review all 150 pages yet, but as usual, the “Fact Sheet” released this morning raises more questions than answers. It’s impossible to tell whether the “budget mechanism” is actually a budget in any real sense of the word. It is unclear what “Commission action” would take place when spending gets close to the amount specified – would the full Commission get a vote? And what is the rationale to justify increasing spending on this Universal Service program – but not others – by $750 million, an increase of 50%?

“These are the answers I will be looking for as I review the Order. But since they are not actually given in the information made public so far, under the current rules I will be barred from discussing them. This fiasco seems to add fuel to my arguments for releasing the document to the public or at minimum to stop censoring Commissioners with rules that aren’t being applied equally.”

Complaints about media preview aside, budget seems to be his concern.

I have heard that some tribal communities are not supportive. I know there were concerns in early February about Tribal Lifeline issues in Oklahoma…

In a February 2, 2016 press release, Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai called the continuation of Tribal Lifeline subsidies in Oklahoma a “legal scandal” and a “bloated tax payer subsidy.” …

At issue is the map used to determine “tribal lands.” Mr. Pai’s objections are based upon the fact that the FCC will, at least for a short period of time, continue to use a map that includes lands that were historically occupied by Native Americans.

Mr. Pai’s knee-jerk statement implies that Tribes are somehow the culpable recipients of undeserved benefits. Mr. Pai’s statements also suggest a misunderstanding of how the Lifeline program actually operates to assist all low-income families on Tribal lands, not just Tribal families.

Providers in Oklahoma are concerned with wireless restrictions…

“Without wireless resellers, the vast majority of Tribal Lifeline wireless subscribers would be left without a wireless option,” the company said. “These statistics plainly show that removing wireless resellers from participation in the Tribal Lifeline program in Oklahoma would decimate the Lifeline program in Oklahoma and dramatically undermine the primary purpose of the enhanced Tribal Lifeline benefit, which is to increase suscribership to communications services on tribal lands.”

I believe that the Tribal Lifeline subsidy will still be added to the “new” subsidy…

The FCC earlier this month gave wireless carriers an extra four months to drop some customers from Tribal Lifeline, the federally funded subsidy for low-income residents on tribal lands in Oklahoma, saying providers need more time to implement the transition smoothly. The $25 per month enhanced Tribal Lifeline subsidy is applied on top of the $9.25 offered to providers for phone service to low-income customers through the federal Lifeline program.

Industry view of HF1066/SF736: allowing competitive landscape within telecom regulation

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I’m pleased to have a guest blog today…

There is a lot of discussion that the telecom industry is trying to deregulate telephone service and this will adversely impact consumers and the deployment of Broadband in Minnesota. HF1066/SF736 is not about deregulation – it is about allowing a competitive landscape within telecom regulation. These bills allow incumbent telecommunication providers to be regulated like our competitors. The regulatory scheme that exists today dates back to the 1980s. Consolidated Telephone Company “CTC” currently serves all of our customers with the same network, yet our incumbent telephone lines are regulated differently than our competitive telephone lines; this just doesn’t make sense today. It is necessary for our governing laws to progress as rapidly as our technology landscape has progressed today. This bill is simple. It allows telecommunications companies to be regulated the same way with the same rules as all landline providers, not just the incumbents.

I continue to hear that price protection would end and incumbent telephone companies would be able to charge and raise prices as they desire. Incumbent carriers are governed by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). In 2011 the FCC’s Transformation Order forced incumbent telephone companies to raise rates to our landline telephone service. This was governance and regulation that increased the national “rate floor.” Likewise, this is the same situation that happened in all states, including Illinois, Texas and California. Deregulation is not the cause of the rate hikes, yet it was the 2011 FCC Transformation Order that implemented increases. For CTC and many other Telcos, another “rate floor” increase is looming. At CTC, we struggle with the idea of forcing a rate increase based on this Order. Each time this occurs, CTC loses landlines and people migrate to their cell phones, which equates to a loss of revenue for a service that we have been fully invested in with intense capital expenditures. Companies like CTC actively sell and market for landline customers. We certainly do not strategize on ways to churn this line of business.

The key points of this Competitive Market Regulation Bill include:

  • All existing consumer protection is maintained. 911 and assistance for communication impaired and low income persons are maintained.
  • Basic and wholesale telecommunication services and obligations remain regulated.
  • The MN PUC (Public Utilities Commission) will continue to resolve disputes, as they do today, with wholesale and resale providers.
  • The bill establishes a process by which an ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier) can petition the MN PUC for reduced regulation, the same as their competitors. This process requires the ILEC to provide data to prove there is competition that justifies lesser regulation.

There is known misperception about how consumer protections would remain intact. First and foremost, it is important to stress that this bill only addresses landline telephone service. This bill does not address Internet or Video regulation. With that, it is clear that the PUC in Minnesota would still govern all of the rules, rates and classifications used by a carrier to conduct its local service (Minn. R 7812.2210, subp. 2). The MNPUC would also receive the complaints and has the right to order a carrier to change a price or pricing practice if the commission determines the following:

  • The price or pricing practice unreasonably restricts resale violation.
  • The price or pricing practice is unreasonably discriminatory.
  • The price or practice is deceptive, misleading, and fraudulent or is otherwise unlawful under state or federal law.
  • The price or pricing practice will impede the development of fair and reasonable competition or reflects the absence of an effectively competitive market.
  • The price or pricing practice has caused or will result in substantial customer harm (Minn. R. 7812.2210, subp. 8).

Additionally, all anti-slamming and anti-cramming regulations remain unchanged (Minn. Stat. 237.661 and 325F.693 and Minn. Stat. 237.665).

CTC has been active in pursuing this bill that has bipartisan support. CTC also has the clear understanding that we would be subject to the same governance from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission as we have been for decades. These bills would simply make it an even playing field for all landline providers while ALL consumer protections are still in place.

Kristi Westbrock
Chief Operating Officer
Consolidated Telephone Company
Brainerd, Minnesota

Dakota County to move forward with Joint Powers agreement

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It’s been fun to watch fiber grow in Dakota County. In the latest chapter, the Eagan is about to address (and presumably approve)a Joint Powers Agreement for an expanded Countywide Broadband System. Here is info from tonight’s City Council agenda (and a link to their draft Joint Powers Agreement)…

Agenda Information Memo
March 15, 2016 Eagan City Council Meeting

CONSENT AGENDA
J. Approve Joint Powers Agreement for an expanded Countywide broadband
system

Action To Be Considered:

Approve Joint Powers Agreement for an expanded Countywide broadband system

Facts:

 Participants are expected to include the Community Development Agency (CDA),
Dakota County, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Hastings, Inver
Grove Heights, Lakeville, Mendota Heights, Rosemount, South St. Paul and West
St. Paul.
 This agreement will enter participants into contracts for professional services
and consultants for the gathering of information necessary to complete the
System Plans and determine the cost of operating the broadband systems. A
portion of the information gathering will consist of fiber inventories and
valuation of all participants fiber infrastructure, designing a backbone
architecture of the system and the costs associated with funding and operating
the system.

The CDA will be the lead agency entering into contracts with Elert and Associates

and Design Nine to develop the Systems Plan.
 The total estimated costs of the Systems Plan are $170,764. The cost sharing
concept will be similar to the previous Dakota County Broadband Study, where
the CDA covers 1/3 of the cost, Dakota County covers 1/3 of the cost and the
participating cities split 1/3 of the costs. Eagan’s contribution to this JPA will be
approximately $9,635.
 Based off of the information gathered from the Systems Plan, each organization
should be able to decide if it makes sense to consolidate and develop a
countywide broadband entity.
Attachments: (1)
CJ-1 JPA Agreement

FTTH Council Regional Conference March 30-31 near Chicago

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Looks like a good conference – a chance to learn about what’s happening in the region. A chance to talk about what we’re doing here in Minnesota to the rest of the region!

Want Fiber? Learn What it Takes to Get It!
March 30-31 | Hyatt Regency O’Hare | Chicago/O’Hare, Illinois

Across America, communities are rewiring for the future with fiber-to-the-home connectivity. Community leaders are working toward a future where their communities are competitive in the global economy, where 21st century education and healthcare are not limited by bandwidth, and where citizens have access to better services.

No community can afford to be left behind in the all-fiber revolution. But how will they be part of it? There is no single answer – incumbent telephone operators, electric cooperatives, new broadband entrants and municipal governments are all engaged in bringing fiber to different communities.

This is a big job, but the FTTH Council Americas can help. Join us this March at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare to hear from experts who have done this before, learn about what resources we have for you to use, and get started bringing better broadband to your community.

Free Blandin Webinar: Broadband-Focused Economic Development Marketing: April 20

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Webinar “Broadband-Focused Economic Development Marketing”
RESCHEDULED: Wed April 20 at 11 am

Register now!

To get the full benefits of new fiber network investments, communities must make targeted audiences aware that this new community and economic development asset is in place. All too often, here in Minnesota and elsewhere, the community efforts to market their fiber networks for business and resident attraction are weak, fragmented and short-term. Finding mention of robust broadband availability cannot be found on community websites. Targeted marketing to attract new firms ignores the competitive advantage that the fiber network provides for data-hungry businesses like manufacturing, data storage, engineering and marketing.

Please join us as we welcome Aaron Brossoit of Golden Shovel Agency as he provides background and strategies on how communities can build targeted marketing initiatives that place robust fiber networks as the centerpiece for community marketing. Aaron Brossoit has over 10 years experience in community development markets. Brossoit has developed cutting-edge interactive work for communities all across the country. Brossoit is a board member for the Mid-America Economic Development Council (MAEDC) and on the communications committee for the National Rural Economic Development Association (NREDA). Brossoit’s work has won local, state and national design awards.

Madison MN – fiberless county seat in fiber-rich county looks at options

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Most rural areas have broadband connective maps that look like a donut. The county seat or bigger town is served, the outlying areas are not. Madison, in Lac qui Parle County is more like Swiss cheese. The outlying areas are served and Madison sits like the hole in the cheese. But they’re working on it. Last week the Madison Chamber Commerce heard from the local community broadband committee, as reported in the Western Guard.

The committee laid out the history of high speed broadband internet, and how Madison was left out when a countywide fiber optic installation took place in 2010. Back in 2010, Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, thanks to a USDA grant and loan from Lac qui Parle County, did a fiber to the premises project throughout the county. But since Madison was not considered underserved, due to the fact that Mediacom advertised broadband speeds that met FCC standards, the city was left out. At that time, Madison was not technically underserved. Six years later, those speeds have become obsolete. This is why the committee was formed, as they try to gauge public interest and need, and figure out a way to bring fiber optic internet to Madison.

The committee talked about their plans to move forward…

The committee has been speaking with the public at different events and will soon be putting out a survey to Madison residents and businesses, asking for their input regarding internet. The survey will show up in the mail as a tri-folded sheet of bright pink paper. Those whose complete and return the survey will be entered in a drawing for $50 in Madison Bucks.

Lots of organizations supporting the Minnesota Broadband vision!

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It’s been a busy week – the legislative session just began and broadband is making everyone’s short list of hot topics. Not all of the players agree on the nuances but it’s fun to see how many people do come together on their support of 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.

For your Sunday reading, I thought I’d share an updated list of all of the organizations who have supported the vision so far. (Note: If your organization is considering endorsing the vision and you need a formal resolution documents, we’ve drafted a resolution in support of the vision.

Statewide Advocacy Organizations:

  • Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC): a voluntary, non-partisan statewide organization that has assisted the state’s 87 counties in providing effective county governance to the people of Minnesota since 1909
  • Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM): a statewide association of professionals specializing in the field of economic development.
  • Greater Minnesota Partnership (GMP): a nonprofit corporation devoted to advocating for state economic development policies and resources that benefit Greater Minnesota
  • Minnesota Association of Community Telecommunications Administrators (MACTA): originally formed to address issues that impact cable television and franchise development, MACTA has evolved into a an advocacy organization to help shape the rapidly changing telecommunications landscape as it affects cities
  • Minnesota Association of Professional County Economic Developers (MAPCED): promotes the role of counties in fostering economic growth, expanding the tax base, and enhancing quality of life
  • Minnesota Association of Townships: a nonprofit corporation representing 1,779 of Minnesota’s 1,782 townships
  • MN Library Association Legislative Committee: the committee is charged with recommending a legislative platform and program to the MLA board of directors each year and to lobby on behalf of MLA
  • Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA): a nonprofit corporation representing the interests of the state’s 100+ municipal electric and natural gas utilities
  • Minnesota Public Broadband Alliance: A statewide association representing the interests of communities that have invested either federal, state or local public dollars into support of a broadband network
  • Minnesota Rural Counties Caucus: MRCC is dedicated to promoting and protecting rural concerns and rural lifestyles through advocacy on behalf of Greater Minnesota county concerns at the Minnesota Legislature, and coordination of communication between its membership
  • Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA): the only advocacy organization devoted exclusively to Greater Minnesota schools
  • Minnesota School Boards Association: a leading advocate for public education by supporting, promoting and strengthening the work of public school boards
  • Minnesota Service Cooperatives: a Joint Powers organization comprised of nine educational service agencies
  • Northeast Service Cooperative (NESC): established by the legislature in 1976 as a nonprofit public corporation, NESC serves 32 school districts and 79 cities, counties and other governmental agencies throughout NE Minnesota through professional development, student enrichment and technology services

Government Officials

  • Congressman Rick Nolan: representing Minnesota’s 8th District
  • Congressman Collin Peterson: representing Minnesota’s 7th District

Educational Institutions

  • East Central MN Educational Cable Cooperative (ECMECC): a joint-powers association of schools in east central Minnesota that provides interactive TV programming to its members
  • Minnesota State Community and Technical College: with campuses in Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead and Wadena and online, M State’s mission is to provide education for dynamic learning, living, working and serving
  • TISP Forum (Telecommunications and Information Society Policy Forum), HHH School of Public Affairs, U of MN: the central clearinghouse for policy discussion in Minnesota and neighboring states on critical issues in telecommunications and information policy

Telecommunications Organizations

  • Leech Lake Telecommunications Company: a department of Leech Lake MIS Division, the telecommunications company is charged with providing and maintaining telephone communications to over 2000 desktops and modems on the reservation
  • MVTV Wireless: a nonprofit, member-owned corporation founded in 1960 to bring television to the Granite Falls area; in 1999 MVTV began providing wireless internet service, and now covers 22,000 square miles of Southwest Minnesota

Place-based Development Organizations and Units of Government

  • Chisago County HRA-EDA
  • Kandiyohi County & City of Willmar Economic Development Commission
  • Ortonville EDA
  • Redwood Area Development Corporation
  • Seward Township
  • Winona County EDA
  • Minnesota Initiative Foundations: established in the early 1980’s, these are strong, independent entities that are built to respond to regional needs and opportunities
  • Northland Foundation
  • Northwest Minnesota Foundation
  • Southwest Initiative Foundation
  • West Central Initiative

Regional Development Commissions: established in 1969 to provide technical assistance to the local units of government in their region

  • Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
  • Headwaters Regional Development Commission
  • Mid-Minnesota Development Commission
  • Northwest Regional Development Commission
  • Region Five Development Commission
  • Region Nine Development Commission
  • Southwest Regional Development Commission
  • Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission
    Counties
  • Aitkin County
  • Big Stone County
  • Carlton County
  • Chippewa County
  • Itasca County
  • Kanabec County
  • Lac qui Parle County
  • Nobles County
  • Redwood County
  • Saint Louis County
  • Sherburne County
  • Sibley County
  • Winona County
  • Yellow Medicine County

Cities

  • City of Arlington
  • City of Big Lake
  • City of Brownton
  • City of Buffalo Lake
  • City of Elk River
  • City of Fairfax
  • City of Gaylord
  • City of Gibbon
  • City of Grand Rapids
  • City of Green Isle
  • City of Henderson
  • City of Lafayette
  • City of Madison
  • City of New Auburn
  • City of Stewart
  • City of Winthrop

Utility Companies

  • Agralite Electric Cooperative: a locally owned progressive utility providing dependable electric service and other consumer related products to improve the quality of life in the Benson area

Nonprofit Organizations and Community Groups

  • Camp UniStar Foundation: a non-profit organization offering programs to enhance personal and spiritual growth at their north woods island camp on Cass Lake, and driving positive change for the camp, the island environment, and the surrounding communities
  • Cloquet Valley Internet Initiative (CVII): a multi-township effort to improve the options residents have for high-speed internet service
  • EnSearch: located in the Brainerd Lakes Area, EnSearch provides research and evaluation services to support the growth of a variety of businesses and industries
  • IMPACT 20/20: an influential group of Northwest Minnesota leaders representing diverse interests and working together for the region’s economic success
  • Kanabec Broadband Initiative: an ad hoc group of community organizations that recognize the importance of broadband to the economic competitiveness of Kanabec County residents, businesses and institutions
  • Nobles Economic Opportunity Network (NEON): a coalition of governing agencies in Nobles County
    Project FINE: a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen and enrich the Winona area by facilitating the integration of people who are ethnically diverse
  • Red Wing Ignite: provides infrastructure that enables entrepreneurship and innovation for the Red Wing community
  • Resilient Region Champions of Region Five: a group of citizens a working together to realize the Resilient Region mission of planning sustainable regions that integrate the disciplines of housing, transportation, natural environment and economic development that will encompass in-reach strategies through HIGHLY involved civic engagement in efforts to build an inclusive region that will provide opportunities, be free from discrimination and improve the quality of life of ALL residents

Mankato sums up 2016 legislature in three words: Broadband, bonding and roads

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According to the Mankato Free Press…

The to-do list of the 2016 Legislature can be summed up in three words: Broadband, bonding and roads.

And here’s what they say about broadband…

We can build on the past success of Minnesota’s broadband grant program by adding millions more to a fund that was quickly used up in the first two rounds of competitive projects. An initial $20 million in projects was quickly awarded the first year of the program. Funding was unfortunately cut back to $10 million last year with the importance of this program getting lost in the rancor and chaos of the closing days of the session.

Two leading Republicans have told The Free Press they will now support increasing this fund, which could possibly be up to as much as $100 million that Dayton has proposed.

Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, and chair of the House jobs and energy committee, said he expected the momentum of support for the program to possibly make the $100 million possible, even though Garofalo, last year, proposed cutting the program due to new technology coming online.

Low Cost Broadband Option in the Twin Cities via PCs for People

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PCs for People distributes refurbished computers to low cost households. They have a few offices and/or relationships in rural Minnesota but today I have a story that relates mostly to their Twin Cities patrons. They have provided a broadband option with the computer for a while now.  They ran into a problem when their last provider quit offering low cost services – but they are now working with Sprint to offer high speed wireless services – hotspots that will accommodate up to 10 WiFi devices.

Here’s a sample of their service:

12 months for $180
Includes Netgear Fuse or Sprint MiFi modem ($74.95) + 12 months service ($120)
Unlimited 4G LTE Service*
No Throttle
No hidden fees
Customer must prove eligibility yearly

*Sprint is providing PCs for People’s users with an unlimited 4G LTE data-only plan subject to Sprint’s network management policy for the unlimited LTE plan it offers its own retail customers.

It’s cost-effective and one of the advantages is the portability of the service. So if the subscriber moves, the connection moves with them – so long as they move to an area Sprint covers, which means most of the Twin Cities.

It’s good news for folks in the area, in fact I know PCs for People has been signing people up as fast as their staff can fill out the paperwork. Also it’s an example of why it’s harder to get broadband in rural areas.

Blandin Webinar Archive: Spurring small business use of technology

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Thanks to everyone who joined the webinar yesterday. Below are the slides, recording and description…

Spurring small business use of technology
Thursday, March 10, 2016 03:00 PM

Just because broadband is available does not mean that small businesses will make effective use of it as a tool for management, marketing and sales. This webinar will showcase three approaches to increasing the value that businesses can receive when they make good use of available broadband services.

Michael Curri of Strategic Network Group will showcase the SNG tool set that community clients use to increase the economic vitality of their local business community. SNG provides an in-depth assessment, a business scorecard and online toolkit for helping businesses anticipate and gain increased sales and profits from better technology use.

Mark Zimmerman of Itasca Economic Development Corporation will discuss the range of activities happening in Itasca County, including Google Place promotion, business assessment and counseling, Social Media Breakfasts and IT networking groups.

Ross Wagner of Aitkin County will talk about the process and results of the focused one-on-one business site visits and counseling by an IT consultant that is working successfully in Aitkin County.

Join us for an informative hour about how you can help your own business community make better use of available broadband services.

Seize the momentum to build broadband statewide

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As posted in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today – a commentary by Blandin Foundation’s Kathy Annette…

Kathy_Annette_CEO_Annette06FS45_thumbSeize the momentum to build broadband statewide

We need leadership, cooperation and money to make equal access real for all Minnesotans.

‘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.”

This vision for universal broadband access for Minnesota was forged by nearly 200 community leaders from across the state last November. It struck a chord; a growing chorus throughout the state endorses it, including cities, counties, nonprofits, associations and telecom providers.

The problem is, as basic as this vision sounds, Minnesota still is far from meeting it. Yes, we have access to world-class, high-speed Internet in parts of the state (Minnesota’s best-covered six counties have more than 99 percent broadband coverage). But the bottom 13 counties still have less than 50 percent coverage. Many businesses and households still depend on dial-up.

According to the state Department of Employment and Economic Development, nearly a quarter of rural Minnesota households lack speeds necessary to do online homework, run an online business or use budding telehealth options.

This stark urban-rural divide hurts all Minnesotans. When students can’t do homework and patients can’t access telehealth support, we all pay the consequences. It’s time to look at investing together in solutions — because Minnesota is falling behind. In a national ranking of broadband access, Minnesota ranks 23rd.

“Minnesota should be looking at the rest of the country in its rearview mirror,” said Harvard Law School Prof. Susan Crawford during our Border to Border Broadband conference in November. Crawford could see that Minnesota has many broadband heroes and that funding programs and public will are building, but we can and must do better, faster.

The “Vision for Broadband in Minnesota” calls on all of us to step up our efforts to bring the benefits of a broadband-enabled future to all Minnesotans by incorporating the vision’s four key concepts:

Everyone — urban, rural, suburban; resident, student, business owner, worker, traveler.

Affordable — at a household and community level, even for remote communities with sparse populations.

World class — wired and wireless connectivity that allow us to be globally competitive.

Survive and thrive — provide access to health care, education and economic vitality.

Minnesota’s communities have the leadership needed to make the vision real. Even in the most remote parts of our state, communities have proved to themselves and to each other that they can set ambitious broadband access and use goals, and build the partnerships to meet those goals, so they don’t settle for slower, less connected futures.

Itasca County, Blandin Foundation’s home, made the case for broadband build-out across three rural townships, leading to a $5.5 million public-private project to bring gigabit speed to 1,250 households and businesses never served before.

Red Wing Ignite is building a culture of innovation among existing and aspiring tech entrepreneurs by tapping the power of their gigabit network through events for local technologists, tech internships, new STEAM education opportunities in the schools and more.

The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has forged a partnership with the Northeast Service Cooperative to get band members the access they need to thrive in a connected world.

Patty Bauchard, an official in Morrison County’s Ripley Township, summed up our challenge well in remarks to the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband: “It is extremely important that the people who live in rural Minnesota have just the same sort of access as those who live in town.”

It’s time we act as a state to ensure that “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.” Achieving the vision that Minnesotans say they want for themselves and their children will require leadership, investment and cooperation at all levels.

Kathleen Annette is president and CEO of the Blandin Foundation in Grand Rapids.

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

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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.

Governor Dayton makes broadband a priority in his State of the State Speech

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Last night Governor Dayton gave his State of the State, introducing his plan for the 2016 legislative sessions. According to Capitol Chat, broadband featured highly…

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton laid out a plan for the 2016 legislative session Wednesday night, ranging from expanding broadband high-speed Internet to increasing education funding to cleaning the state’s water.

Legislators are predicting $70 million for broadband fudning…

Legislative reaction generally was positive, but House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, noted that Dayton took several swipes at the GOP.

Assistant House Majority Leader Dave Baker, R-Willmar, said he “did not get a real negative tone from him.”

Baker, saying “I thought it was a good speech,” said he was especially interested in hearing Dayton’s continued support for expanding broadband through rural Minnesota.

Sen. Lyle Koenen, D-Clara City, said that Dayton likely will not get the $100 million for broadband that he wants, but the senator said he hopes lawmakers approve $70 million.

Dayton told about communities that benefit from high-speed Internet, including Bemidji.

“Bemidji has seen new business openings in diversified fields, due, in large part, to the city’s high-speed internet access,” the governor said. “Four Bemidji businesses were recently ranked among the fastest-growing in the United States by Inc. Magazine.”