MN Broadband Task Force releases annual report
The Broadband Task Force released their latest annual report. They recommend $35.7 million a year for ongoing broadband grants. https://wp.me/p3if7-4qx Word is spreading in local media. https://wp.me/p3if7-4r5

Minnesota Policymakers on Broadband

• Broadband was a hot topic in Granite Falls discussion with Rep Swedzinski and Sen Dahms https://wp.me/p3if7-4sY
• Voice of Alexandria highlights Minnesota Rural Legislative interests, including transportation, bonding, child care & broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4sQ
• Doug Dawson compares CAF II vs A-CAM (two federal broadband funding strategies) https://wp.me/p3if7-4sM
• Broadband makes short list of Gubernatorial topics, starting with Chris Coleman https://wp.me/p3if7-4sm
• Broadband is topic of public discussion in Nicollet County among state and federal representatives https://wp.me/p3if7-4rV
• Sherburne County talks about top legislative issues, including broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4rT
• Broadband is making the short list with public discussions in Marshall https://wp.me/p3if7-4rN
• House Communications Subcommittee introduces third round of Broadband Infrastructure Bills https://wp.me/p3if7-4rL
• Broadband is an issue in rural Minnesota, but it’s a different issue in different parts of rural Minnesota https://wp.me/p3if7-4rm
• Rural Broadband in Minnesota is an issue that’s not going away soon https://wp.me/p3if7-4qr

Federal (and International) Policy Topics

• Senator Klobuchar calls infrastructure the bipartisan job creator rural America needs https://wp.me/p3if7-4sI
• Federal discussion on Closing the Digital Divide Broadband Infrastructure Solutions https://wp.me/p3if7-4sO
• AT&T’s answer to Net Neutrality – the Consumer Internet Bill of Rights https://wp.me/p3if7-4sv
• With pole attachments, the devil is in the details for broadband policy https://wp.me/p3if7-4se
• UN sets broadband goals for 2025 https://wp.me/p3if7-4rX
• What some MN broadband providers are saying about the Net Neutrality repeal https://wp.me/p3if7-4rP
• Steve Kelley’s take on federal funding and rural broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4rG
• Attorney General Lori Swanson is suing the FCC over Net Neutrality repeal https://wp.me/p3if7-4rC
• Senators Klobuchar, Capito, King, Boozman, Heitkamp urge President Trump to include dedicated, stand-alone funding for broadband deployment https://wp.me/p3if7-4ro
• FCC proposes $500 million increase for rural broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4rj
• Supreme Court is looking at online sales tax issue https://wp.me/p3if7-4ra
• House Commerce Committee Republicans lay out principles for broadband infrastructure https://wp.me/p3if7-4r3
• President Trump’s broadband infrastructure plan is long on streamlining the process, short on specific new funds https://wp.me/p3if7-4qN
• Senator Tina Smith support a proposal to restore Net Neutrality https://wp.me/p3if7-4qL
• Senator Smith makes broadband a priority while talking to the Iron Range https://wp.me/p3if7-4qG
• Minnesota’s take on Connect America Fund Phase II Auction https://wp.me/p3if7-4qB
• Rural broadband is on Tina Smith’s short list https://wp.me/p3if7-4ql

Local Broadband News

Aitkin
Broadband efforts in Aitkin County mean Wifi is filling the gap between the haves and have-nots https://wp.me/p3if7-4rZ

Bois Forte Band, Cook & Orr
Broadband efforts in Orr, Cook and Bois Fotre Band include digital inclusion classes, broadband upgrade and new equipment https://wp.me/p3if7-4rA

Bemidji
Why is Bemidji best? Courageous conversations, Broadband and Art https://wp.me/p3if7-4so

Chisholm
Chisholm broadband efforts include wifi on buses, in parks, to check out and an upcoming coworking space https://wp.me/p3if7-4rw

Dakota County
Dakota County shares Broadband Joint Powers Agreement https://wp.me/p3if7-4rI

Ely
Ely broadband efforts include a feasibility study, community portal and helping local businesses do online marketing https://wp.me/p3if7-4rv

Hibbing
50 Seniors in Hibbing get PCs thanks to PCs for People https://wp.me/p3if7-4sE

Broadband efforts in Hibbing are helping businesses and students better use technology https://wp.me/p3if7-4sb

E-marketing training changes a Hibbing business completely https://wp.me/p3if7-4qv

Isanti County
Isanti County broadband survey indicates community needs more broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4t0

Lyon County
Lyon County gets results of broadband feasibility study https://wp.me/p3if7-4rE

Mille Lacs
Mille Lacs is unhappy about not getting broadband grant https://wp.me/p3if7-4r8

Mountain Iron
Broadband efforts in Mountain Iron take the form of lots of training and getting kids excited about technology https://wp.me/p3if7-4s8

Northwest Minnesota
Midco acquires fixed wireless provider from NW Minnesota https://wp.me/p3if7-4sU

Palisade
Palisade works with a local provider to get wireless access in town and encourage FTTH https://wp.me/p3if7-4sK

Sunrise Township
Public-Private Partnership is working with Sunrise Townships, CenturyLink and MN State Grant https://wp.me/p3if7-4sW

Twin Cities
Super Bowl hype brings more wireless solutions to the Twin Cities https://wp.me/p3if7-4sg

AT&T Boosts Minneapolis area mobile coverage for Super Bowl https://wp.me/p3if7-4rq

Comcast is increasing Internet speeds for Twin Cities Customers https://wp.me/p3if7-4qT

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

• Feb 8 – Next MN Broadband Task Force Meeting https://wp.me/p3if7-4sS
• Feb 10 – application deadline for 10-week summer program for underrepresented coding undergrads – with stipend- at NCSA https://wp.me/p3if7-4o1
• March 2 – Broadband discussion in Fergus Falls – moving the needle https://wp.me/p3if7-4sq

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 – by Bill Coleman

The big game will have come and gone by the time you read this post.  A week from now, most of the event and marketing glitz will be removed – zip lines, ice sculptures, event stages and tents.  But some things will remain in place, especially newly installed telecommunications infrastructure.  At the next Broadband Task Force meeting, Minnesota’s largest ISPs will share details of their recent investments in a super-connected environment that I imagine encompasses most of downtown Minneapolis, the Mall of America and 494 strip, US Bank Stadium, the airport and other key sites.

This is a preview of the future that raises all kinds of question about the future. For rural community leaders, key questions include:

• Who is going to bring this level of connectivity to your community?
• If yes, when will they do it?
• Will you leave these decisions to others?