Monthly Archives: January 2018

Minnesota Broadband grants held up as “the right way” to do rural broadband

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Doug Dawson from Pots and Pans compares Minnesota and California’s broadband grant programs – much to Minnesota’s favor…

This contrasts greatly with a grant program that is doing things the right way – the Border-to-Border grants in Minnesota. In that programs the legislature has set aside funding now for four straight years that provides grants up to a 50% matching for qualifying broadband projects. So far the state has provided over $85 million to the program.

The incumbent providers have the ability to challenge a grant request, but only on a very limited basis. One of the parameters used to judge a grant request is whether a particular area is unserved or underserved with broadband, with this determination made from broadband maps that were created using ISP-reported data. The incumbents can challenge a grant request if they believe that the proposed service area has better broadband than is claimed by the mapping process. They also can challenge a grant if they have near-term plans to build broadband that is fast or faster than that requested by a grant request.

Since most of the Minnesota grant requests are requesting money to build fiber directly to customers there have been no serious challenges by the incumbents. There have been a few challenges that disputed the available speeds in an area.

The net result of the Border-to-Border grants is that small towns and rural farm areas all over the state are getting a real permanent broadband solution due to the assistance provided by the grants. There are a number of independent telephone companies and small cable companies in the state that are competing with each other to grab new territories that are made feasible due to the grant program.

There is no telling if the Minnesota grant program will continue because it’s been funded during a period of state budget surpluses. It’s expected that the budget will be tighter in 2018 and we’ll have to see if they keep the grants going. But this has been, by far, the most effective state broadband grant program in the country. Other states like Ohio are looking to use the Minnesota model in developing a new grant program.

50 Seniors in Hibbing get PCs thanks to PCs for People

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WDIO reports…

50 senior citizens and people with disabilities were given a refurbished computer, computer monitor, keyboard, and printer at the Access North Center on Monday.

PC’s for People teamed up with the Access North Center and the Hibbing Chamber of Commerce to give people the technology for those that need access to a home computer.

People that get PC services received a form in the mail from Access North that they filled out. They didn’t know whether they were going to be chosen or not to receive the computer until they attended a computer class.

Many people left happy…

One of the people that was chosen to receive a computer was Barbara Peternell, who says she didn’t expect to receive one until she went to the class.

“I’ve always wanted a computer, but couldn’t really afford one,” said Peternell.

The project was part of the IRBC program funded by the IRRRB and Blandin Foundation.

Klobuchar calls infrastructure the bipartisan job creator rural America needs

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The Faribault Daily News recently posted a guest column from Senator Klobuchar on infrastructure…

Infrastructure is one of the smartest investments we can make in our country. It allows businesses to grow and compete. It keep us safe. It creates millions of jobs—good paying jobs that cannot be outsourced overseas. And, it’s bipartisan. It’s one of the first things President Trump said he wanted to get done after he was elected.

The time has come to work together to get this done, and get it done right. We cannot let another year go by without action.

The good news is, there are bipartisan solutions already on the table.

Broadband is specifically called out…

One area that relies on direct federal investment is rural broadband. Broadband is the perfect infrastructure investment. It creates jobs, opens new economic opportunities for the communities we connect, and keeps America competitive in an increasingly digital world. Just this week, as co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, I led a bipartisan effort to get dedicated, stand-alone funding for broadband deployment in an infrastructure proposal to ensure telecommunications infrastructure is prioritized alongside needed upgrades to our roads, rail, waterways, and bridges. A serious plan for the 21st century is not a complete without addressing the broadband connectivity issues facing rural America.

I know we can work across the aisle to invest in America’s infrastructure because we’ve done it before.

Broadband discussion in Fergus Falls – moving the needle – March 2, 2018

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A broadband discussion is coming up in Fergus Falls on March 2…

When:

  • FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018 – 9-11:30 a.m.

Where:

  • West Central Initiative
    1000 Western Ave.
    Fergus Falls

Register at http://wcif.org/broadband.html  or call 800-735-2239.

What:

  • For cities, counties, businesses and organizations committed to expanding and improving broadband in west central Minnesota.

AGENDA

  • 9:00 to 9:05 Welcome
  • 9:05 to 9:20 Introductions What is your broadband story?
  • 9:20 to 9:40 Greater Minnesota broadband overview Bill Coleman, owner Community Technology Advisors
  • 9:40 to 9:50 Break
  • 9:50 to 10:20 Otter Tail County broadband study – Nick Leonard, Otter Tail County Director of Communications and External Relations, will talk about how Otter Tail County utilized Blandin’s Robust Network Feasibility Fund Grant in order to conduct a countywide broadband feasibility study.
  • 10:20 to 10:50 Legislators

Burger King explains Net Neutrality aka Whopper Neutrality

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To be fair this is really worst case scenario – but it makes a point both in terms of what worst case could be but also what happens when rules change without warning…

Why is Bemidji best? Courageous conversations, Broadband and Art

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Minnesota Monthly voted Bemidji their Best City. The article is an interesting look at all sides of Bemidji – and includes broadband…

As charming as Bemidji is, it has grown a lot in the past decade, as per a plan set by a coalition of businesspeople and civic leaders, including Treuer, called Bemidji Leads. They saw Bemidji as more than a small town with a flagging timber industry. Funding since then has gone into a new civic center, heart and cancer centers at Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota, and broadband for all residents—among the most progressive internet services in the country’s rural areas, set up to attract entrepreneurs.

Bemidji is pretty awesome. (I won’t be picking a MN Best – I travel too much for that!) I had the opportunity to check it out and talk all about broadband last summer when we were on our case studies measuring impact of broadband in a community. Bemidji was one of the five towns we investigated. What I found was that active community leadership (who plan from the future) keeps the community eye are focusing on what they want to be 10-20 years from how. Also, they are lucky enough to have an engaged local broadband cooperative Paul Bunyan that has focused on community needs as much as company profit understanding that long terms community prosperity also means long terms company prosperity.

I’m sure I’ve posted it before – but seems like a good time for a reminder from Paul Bunyan on their view of rural broadband…

Trump is looking at nationalizing a 5G network

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Axios reports…

Trump national security officials are considering an unprecedented federal takeover of a portion of the nation’s mobile network to guard against China, according to sensitive documents obtained by Axios.

They are apparently looking at two approaches…

Two options laid out by the documents:

  1. The U.S. government pays for and builds the single network — which would be an unprecedented nationalization of a historically private infrastructure.
  2. Analternative plan where wireless providers build their own 5G networks that compete with one another — though the document says the downside is it could take longer and cost more. It argues that one of the “pros” of that plan is that it would cause “less commercial disruption” to the wireless industry than the government building a network.

Between the lines: A source familiar with the documents’ drafting says Option 2 is really no option at all: a single centralized network is what’s required to protect America against China and other bad actors.

  • The source said the internal White House debate will be over whether the U.S. government owns and builds the network or whether the carriers bind together in a consortium to build the network, an idea that would require them to put aside their business models to serve the country’s greater good.

Why it matters: Option 1 would lead to federal control of a part of the economy that today is largely controlled by private wireless providers. In the memo, the Trump administration likens it to “the 21st century equivalent of the Eisenhower National Highway System” and says it would create a “new paradigm” for the wireless industry by the end of Trump’s current term.

  • But, but, but: The proposal to nationalize a 5G network also only covers one part of the airwaves; there’d be other spaces where private companies could build.

The PowerPoint presentation says that the U.S. has to build superfast 5G wireless technology quickly because “China has achieved a dominant position in the manufacture and operation of network infrastructure,” and “China is the dominant malicious actor in the Information Domain.” To illustrate the current state of U.S. wireless networks, the PowerPoint uses a picture of a medieval walled city, compared to a future represented by a photo of lower Manhattan.

It would be a game changer. It would mean a tremendous amount of infrastructure as the reach of 5G is short distance. Maybe it would be a chance to look at an open access model. The hope I’d think would be that the infrastructure would be available for providers to tap into the network to provide wired solutions such as FTTP. It will be interesting to see what discussion develops in the public and private sectors.

[Added Jan 29 3 pm] Seems like Trump is denying this report. From Recode…

The Trump Administration said it has no plans to build a 5G wireless network

The idea of technology neutral – summed up by Telecompetitor

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Telecompetitor recently ran an article on Charter’s plans to invest in rural areas. The article ended with a recap on what’s up in the world of technology-neutral and how policy (really funding) has an impact on whether folks are really technology-neutral or not…

So why is Charter emphasizing rural investment and the importance of a technology-neutral approach at this time? The company also did not immediately respond to our request for examples of policy issues where technology considerations would be important, but I can hazard a few guesses.

The Universal Service Fund (USF) and Connect America Fund (CAF) normally are important policy areas when it comes to rural broadband, as those programs are helping to fund some deployments in high-cost areas. In administering those programs, the FCC has made an effort to be technologically-neutral, although anticipated rules for the upcoming CAF II auction are expected to favor lower-latency deployments – a rule that puts satellite broadband at a disadvantage. Telecom companies also have an advantage over cable or wireless companies in the areas they serve, as the USF and CAF programs essentially give telcos the first right of refusal for funding for those areas.

Traditionally cable companies haven’t been very interested in USF and CAF and have not sought such funding, however. And the video accompanying Charter’s post today suggests that hasn’t changed, as the company boasts that it is investing millions in broadband in New York state “all at company cost” and “without tax-payer subsidies from the state.”

The idea of being technologically-neutral could come into play with regard to the CBRS band, which includes the 3.5 GHz band that Charter has been using for fixed wireless trials. But open issues there pertain largely to fixed versus mobile wireless and small companies versus larger companies, rather than wireline versus wireless.

I’d be interested to hear if readers have some ideas about why technology-neutrality is so important to Charter. I will also post an update whenever I may hear back from them.

AT&T’s answer to Net Neutrality – the Consumer Internet Bill of Rights

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Thanks to AT&T for sharing their views on the Consumers’ Need for an Internet Bill of Rights.

Government rules for the internet have been debated for nearly as long as the internet has existed, even before a professor coined the term “net neutrality” 15 years ago.

The internet has changed our lives and grown beyond what anyone could have imagined. And it’s done so, for the most part, with very few—but often changing—rules. Regulators under four different presidents have taken four different approaches. Courts have overturned regulatory decisions. Regulators have reversed their predecessors. And because the internet is so critical to everyone, it’s understandably confusing and a bit concerning when you hear
the rules have recently changed, yet again.
It is time for Congress to end the debate once and for all, by writing new laws that govern the internet and protect consumers.
Until they do, I want to make clear what you can expect from AT&T. AT&T is committed to an open internet. We don’t block websites. We don’t censor online content. And we don’t throttle, discriminate, or degrade network performance based on content. Period.
We have publicly committed to these principles for over 10 years. And we will continue to abide by them in providing our customers the open internet experience they have come to expect.
But the commitment of one company is not enough. Congressional action is needed to establish an “Internet Bill of Rights” that applies to all internet companies and guarantees neutrality, transparency, openness,
non-discrimination and privacy protection for all internet users.
Legislation would not only ensure consumers’ rights are protected, but it would provide consistent rules of the road for all internet companies across all websites,
content, devices and applications. In the very near future, technological advances like self-driving cars, remote surgery and augmented reality will demand even greater performance from the internet. Without predictable rules for how the internet works, it will be difficult to meet the demands of these new technology advances.
That’s why we intend to work with Congress, other internet companies and consumer groups in the coming months to push for an “Internet Bill of Rights” that permanently protects the open internet for all users and encourages continued investment for the next generation
of internet innovation.

Randall Stephenson
AT&T Chairman and CEO

Broadband makes short list of Gubernatorial topics – starting with Chris Coleman

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Fairbault Daily News reports on a gubernatorial forum late last week. All nine candidates for Minnesota governor answered questions at a forum at the Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention. They report on at least one talking about rural broadband…

Former St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, a DFLer, said communities need to have vibrant identities wrapped around what is best there. And, to attract and retain people, they need broadband internet.

“How can we expect to attract families where you have to put your kids in the car and drive around so you can get a signal and broadband development for them to do homework?” he said.

Broadband forum planned in Bemidji

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The Bemidji Pioneer reports…

Headwaters Regional Development Commission and the Blandin Foundation will host a broadband listening session from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 201 Third St. NW.
The event is meant to provide an overview of the current situation with broadband and for the public to provide comments prior to the 2018 legislative session. Registration is not required. For more information, contact Tim Flathers at (218) 333-6532 or tflathers@hrdc.org.

Pole attachments – the devil is in the details for broadband policy

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There are a lot of moving pieces to broadband policy. The biggest for deployment is funding. The biggest for adoption/access is Net Neutrality. And inherent in those biggies is a lot of details – such as how do you define broadband? But dive in deeper there are a host of other wonkier topics that can be just as important – such as pole attachments.

Pole attachments is one topic on the agenda for the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. A committee that (according to Axios) San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo resigned from alleging that the committee is dealing internet service providers “a very favorable hand” of policy recommendations.

Light Reading reports on the committee’s discussion on pole attachments…

The Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) — which is charged with laying out recommendations to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for driving broadband expansion in the US — found itself facing a fundamental divide. Some members of the committee want rules that give communications service providers greater access to poles and other structures in the public right-of-way by guaranteeing local permit approvals and capping fees.

Others believe local officials have the right to determine rules of access based on the public interest. Specifically, they think that local governments have the right to negotiate with service providers to ensure that broadband buildouts reach all communities, thereby helping to close the digital divide.

The fault lines in the debate are clear. Industry folks want unfettered access, arguing that next-generation broadband services require it. Cities, and in some cases states, want service providers to recognize that there are other factors to consider, i.e. that it takes resources for local governments to oversee permitting, and that unregulated deployments without regard for the needs of an entire community are not in the interest of the citizens who collectively own the public assets in question. (See Broadband Fee Fight Gets Messy at the FCC.)

It’s wonky but important because it balances the need for better broadband in many communities with the management of public property. It’s similar to cable franchising and other rights-of-way issues. The discussion of selling off national parks garners more attention but management of more localized public space is important too. There’s a solution but the right decision requires having a strong balance of views in the room to come up with it.

Two MN webinars:  Affordable PCs and Internet Access & Building Library-Adult Education-Workforce Partnerships

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Looks like two great digital inclusion sessions from the Minnesota Department of Education….

Connect Your Community with Affordable PCs and Internet Access

Interested in helping connect members of your community with affordable personal computers, computer repair, and internet access? Learn how you can partner with PCs for People, an organization that works with businesses, government agencies, and residents to recycle and refurbish computers. Those computers are provided to low-income people, along with support for going online.

Madeline Tate, PCs for People’s Director of Partnerships and Programming, will give an overview of the organization, then describe how you can partner with them to benefit residents of your community. She also will tell us about an exciting pilot program with several rural libraries in Oklahoma.  We’ll have plenty of time for your questions, too.

The webinar will be Tuesday, January 30, from 11-noon Central Time. Follow this link to join the webinar; the call-in number is 1-888-742-5095, conference code 492 064 9083.

Building Library-Adult Education-Workforce Partnerships

Do you want to boost your community’s digital literacy efforts? Or maybe you want insight into how participating in digital literacy programming can translate into better job and educational opportunities for members of your community? Partnerships with library, adult education, and workforce colleagues could be the answer.

Please join us for a webinar with tips for getting the conversation started. The webinar will be Tuesday, February 6, 11-noon Central Time. Click here to access the webinar; the call-in number is 1-888-742-5095, conference code 492 064 9083.

This session will build on two years of Better Together sessions gatherings of library, adult education, and workforce development staff that focused on how collaborative digital literacy efforts can increase communities’ capacity to improve adult literacy and workforce outcomes for Minnesotans. Susan Wetenkamp-Brandt (Minnesota Literacy Council) and I will be the presenters.

Broadband efforts in Hibbing – helping businesses and students better use technology

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This month I am traveling with the Blandin crew to visit various Iron Range Broadband Communities – communities that have been making a concerted effort to improve broadband access in their area. The last stop was Hibbing. They are working with a lot of businesses and getting kids interested in tech-focused jobs.

Here are full notes on their various projects:

We work on trying to get the word out to get more people to join the broadband team. There have been several articles in the local newspaper.

Library hotspots
We were able to do the project for under $5000. Worked with PCs for People and are working with the library to get the hotspots into the library rotation.
Because they came in under budget they are able to add connectivity to the Memorial Building. With the current provider they have been down for up to a week – which means they can’t get work done. They have STEM programs, community center, museum…

Digital Marketing
Worked with 7 businesses to help them make better use online marketing.
 It went well.
Andy’s Auto Sales – got great lessons from Molly and has continued to post on a regular basis. He started with 30 fans, now has more than 600. He might actual purchase a location now. He has seen a bump in sales.
Pink Tie Design – learned to use social media in her work and can now pass it onto her clients. Helped correct whois info. Her new website will launch April 1.

Technology Career Fair Day
Had about 100 students (grades 9-12)
Four sectors of industry were represented and kids got to visit with each to learn more about career options. We had lunch and t-shirts.
Post survey responses were good.
It was great for kids who have an interest in technology (or a latent interest).
We worked through teachers but you really need to get on their calendar early to make it happen.
Lessons were learned doing this the first time – like starting early and understanding school/college reimbursement procedures. And the pilot was a good chance for teachers, students and counselors to learn more about the opportunity.

Round 2 Digital Marketing
Worked with more businesses – both new and old (Alumni) businesses.
They are mid-process and it sounds like everyone it moving forward.
A challenge this time has been working with businesses that are less engaged than the original 7.

Marketing Seminars
Looking for an venue
Topics include – SEO, Content Management and Social Media
Looking at 8:30 to noon – with time to network beforehand and continue working through lunch

PCs for People – round 2
Sent letters to 250 people about PCs for People through Access North (centers for independent living). Heard back from (and pre-qualified) 50 people. And have provided training to 41 of the people. The trainer is a service vet with a disability.
Distribution event is Monday (Jan 29).
Some will be home distribution – especially for folks with mobility disabilities.
There is interest in continued training.
Got a special deal on printers too!

Broadband efforts in Mountain Iron – lots of training and getting kids excited

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This month I am traveling with the Blandin crew to visit various Iron Range Broadband Communities – communities that have been making a concerted effort to improve broadband access in their area. The latest stop was Mountain Iron. It was fun to hear about how students and teachers are getting excited (and re-excited) about their school subjects with new projects born of new tools and broadband technology. You can read on about specific programs and check out the video below if you want greater details on what and how it’s happening.

WiFi on Buses

Got wifi installed on 7 buses (out of 9) and it’s going well. Just needed to explain to folks that the WiFi is built off cell network. SO if you’re phone doesn’t work, your WiFi isn’t going to work either and there are patches in the area where that’s the case.
Kids are great when they have something to do. The blue screens have not been a distraction.
Ongoing costs? Not more than $1000/month and it’s well worth it.
The teams use the connection when they are traveling – especially when some of that travel gets late.

Tech Training
We do a class every other week. Weather has been an issue but we’re working with Community Education.
We are offering a range of Google classes, Pinterest, Facebook, getting elderly people on to Facebook is a big draw.

PCs for People
Distributed about 50 computers. Have about 10-15 left over, some are surplus in case of damage. Distributed through the community center. People had to come for an orientation and the event was announced through the schools and we called folks that would probably benefit from a free computer.
TO distribute we got a truck and a group of 7th grade boys.
The folks from PCs for People were fantastic.

Great Scott Township Website
The website is coming along. It should be done soon.
Kinney has been less successful. There are only 160 people in the town. Maybe we could get them to do a Facebook Page.

Business Technology Training

We’re putting together classes we think business would like: use marketing to hire people, how to deal with reviews online, mastering social media, Facebook Live, How to make a nonprofit go digital and see the impact. Art Unlimited would do most of the training.
Use the usual routes for advertising – email blasts, newsletters, social media and asking other to spread the word.
Coming up – we will have business consultants working with businesses.

Feasibility Study Update
Trying to get a model to attract providers to our projects and possibly going after RUD funding. Will be presenting to the County soon. The Governor spoke recently and mentioned broadband – we hope people were listening. We have a time to talk to Mediacom soon and hope to line up others.
Eventually we will take out individual pieces of the project to our communities and try to find localized solutions.

Trying to work with the county on some policies – such as a resolution on Dig Once for the area.

Upcoming Projects

  • Getting students STEM/STEAM at younger ages.
    Looking at classes on drones – building, driving and licensing.
  • The Maker Space will be in the high school. But the high school is connected to the grade school. We will look at inviting Community Ed – but first we want to make sure we are in good shape for school needs. Ordered 3-d printers for the Maker Space.
  • WiFi spots – Great Scott Township is in a tough place because there’s not cell access but that also means there’s great need. They want to hire students to man a space where people can come in and the connection as well as accessing PCs for People computers that are available for use on site.
  • Working on improvements in the community center. We had the governor here – and we need for visitors like that to be able to get online.
  • We are increasing availability of telepresence and people are using it – so much easier that traveling and we need more space for folks.
  • IN some communities the senior center can become a tech hub where they have the best connectivity and they allow the general public in.