Map of MN broadband grant projects

Definition of Broadband Matters

The FCC releases a report that shows access to broadband increases from 89.4 percent in 2014 to 95 percent in 2016. The increase is in part result of the satellite coverage being counted as broadband for the first time with the 2016 report. https://wp.me/p3if7-4xL

Minnesotans Need Broadband for Healthcare and Insurance
A White Paper done by FAIR Health reports that Minnesota has one of the greatest number of claims with telehealth usage. https://wp.me/p3if7-4xE On the opposite end of the spectrum, Medicaid applicants report needing better broadband to access tools to continue their health coverage if Medicaid laws change. https://wp.me/p3if7-4xp

Minnesota Rural Equity Project
The Minnesota Rural Equity Project identifies legislative priorities for revitalizing local economies and reducing disparities in Greater Minnesota. According to their research, 47.12 percent of households in rural Minnesota lack access to broadband. They are pushing the state to extend its grant program for broadband and make it more accessible. https://wp.me/p3if7-4wW

Reports on Impact of Broadband and Economic Development
The Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that in 10 years the digital economy grew 5.6 percent compared to overall economic growth of 1.5 percent. https://wp.me/p3if7-4wL The National League of Cities releases a report that calls out broadband as a tool to bridge the rural-urban economic divide. https://wp.me/p3if7-4wB The Foundation for Rural Service reports that transactional value of the Internet in rural American is nearly $1.4 trillion. https://wp.me/p3if7-4wm

Blandin Foundation News

• Blandin is accepting applications for its BBC initiative. https://tinyurl.com/y8994y8s Applications due May 31 https://wp.me/p3if7-4w0 Learn more from a recent Blandin webinar https://wp.me/p3if7-4wO
• Introducing great broadband digital inclusion project ideas from Minnesota https://wp.me/p3if7-4xN

Minnesota Legislature – actions and reactions

• Governor Dayton Proposes $30 million for broadband grants https://wp.me/p3if7-4xI and https://wp.me/p3if7-4wQ
• Bill creating music education online grant program (HF2378) is introduced https://wp.me/p3if7-4xA
• A bill to increase state aid for school district telecommunications projects is introduced https://wp.me/p3if7-4xw
• Bill to make satellite broadband providers eligible for grants (HF4180) is introduced https://wp.me/p3if7-4xu
• A bill requiring ISPs to comply with internet privacy rules (HF4182) is introduced https://wp.me/p3if7-4xs
• A bill (HF4137) to replace Office of MN.IT with a Division of IT is introduced https://wp.me/p3if7-4xi
• Border to border broadband grant (HF3002) discussion focuses on removing “unserved” and “wired” from the existing bill https://wp.me/p3if7-4xc
• A bill to create a task force to innovate health-related telepresence (HF4045) is introduced https://wp.me/p3if7-4×2
• A bill (SF2966) that replaces Office of MN.IT with a Division of IT moves to Committee on Finance https://wp.me/p3if7-4wG
• A bill (HF2919) to support telehealth, moves to Health and Human Services Finance https://wp.me/p3if7-4wE
• A bill related to limiting fees for certain wireless facility applications (SF3166) is introduced https://wp.me/p3if7-4wr
• Rural Coalition Makes pushes for bi-partisan funding for broadband in Minnesota https://wp.me/p3if7-4wk
• Broadband grant program appropriation (HF 3527) introduced in the MN House https://wp.me/p3if7-4wf

Federal Legislature and Funding Notes

• Senator Tina Smith hosts a broadband discussion at Itasca Community College https://wp.me/p3if7-4xC
• Senator Klobuchar recognizes the need for better broadband everywhere https://wp.me/p3if7-4xk
• Daily Yonder editorial questions FCC funding recipients and lifts up cooperatives https://wp.me/p3if7-4xn
• Federal funding will upgrade MN infrastructure, including broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4xa
• Applications being accepted for $2 billion rural broadband auction https://wp.me/p3if7-4×8
• National discussion of small cell collocation continues although Minnesota’s decisions were made last year https://wp.me/p3if7-4wJ
• What’s up with e-rate? Some schools are waiting months for answers https://wp.me/p3if7-4wi
• “Dig Once” rule on track to become US law https://wp.me/p3if7-4wd

Provider News

• Cable is surpassing telecom as broadband provider across the US https://wp.me/p3if7-4xQ
• Minneapolis-based US Internet talks about how they grow the FTTH service in Minneapolis https://wp.me/p3if7-4xy
• Elon Musk set to launch low orbit satellites https://wp.me/p3if7-4xX
• Zayo sells Scott-Rice Telephone to New Ulm Telecom https://wp.me/p3if7-4×4

Local Broadband News

Bemidji
Fiber brings Delta Dental and 150 new jobs to Bemidji https://wp.me/p3if7-4×0

New London Spicer
Seniors get tech training from high school kids in New London Spicer https://wp.me/p3if7-4xg

Wilkin County
Wilkin County policymakers are interested in broadband funding https://wp.me/p3if7-4xG

Winona
Gary Evans, former CEO of HBC, talks about getting broadband to Winona and beyond https://wp.me/p3if7-4×6

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

• April 3 – MN Broadband Task Force (St Paul) https://wp.me/p3if7-4xV
• April 5 – Connect Rural Broadband Summit (Mankato) https://wp.me/p3if7-4wa
• April 9-10: gpTRAC Annual Telehealth Conference (Minneapolis) https://wp.me/p3if7-4v9
• April 12 – Broadband Day on the Hill https://wp.me/p3if7-4ww
• April 18 – Free Webinar Building Better Broadband for Cities and Counties https://wp.me/p3if7-4wp
• April 30 – May 3 Fiber: Putting Your Gigs to Work (Austin TX) http://www.bbcmag.com/2018s/pages/18factsheet.php
• May 1 – Deadline to nominate someone for the Government Experience Awards https://wp.me/p3if7-4w4
• May 14 – Deadline for RUS Community Connect Grant Program applications https://wp.me/p3if7-4wY
• June 4-6: Fiber Connect (Nashville) https://wp.me/p3if7-4u2
• September 30 – USDA Seeks Applicants for Rural Broadband Access Loans https://wp.me/p3if7-4xT

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

Earlier in this E-news blast, you should have seen some details about applying to become a Blandin Broadband Community (BBC).  I would like to fill in more details about why you should consider this intensive initiative for your community.

• If you have connectivity challenges, becoming a BBC can help align your community leadership to pursue better broadband infrastructure and services while implementing short-term connectivity projects.
• If you have good broadband in place, but not seeing much change in community tech vitality, the BBC program can spur more sophisticated technology use through shared learning and collaboration experiences.
• If no organization is working to address digital equity so that all residents have a device, a connection and computer skills, then the BBC program will shine a spotlight on and provide resources to address this critical issue.

In rural communities, great broadband infrastructure is an essential element of community competitiveness, but building infrastructure is not enough.  Becoming a BBC will create a lasting platform for ongoing community innovation and investment.

I highly recommend it!