Reminder: Blandin Foundation Seeking New Blandin Broadband Communities
Blandin Foundation is now accepting applications for its Blandin Broadband Communities program, which supports rural community efforts to improve both access to and use of broadband that enhance community vitality. Selected communities will participate as a cohort with other Minnesota communities over a 24-month period, will have access to up to $75,000 in project grant funds and will receive priority for up to $25,000 in grant funds from the Foundation’s Robust Network Feasibility Fund program.  Applications are due May 31. https://wp.me/p3if7-4w0

Take Our Digital Readiness Survey, Please
Communities across Minnesota rely on high-speed Internet access to compete in today’s economy, yet critical gaps exist. Rural Minnesotans have an opportunity to help identify those digital inclusion gaps through the Digital Readiness Survey, offered by the Purdue Center for Regional Development and supported by Blandin Foundation and Growth & Justice. https://wp.me/p3if7-4zg

FirstNet Brings Expands Minnesota’s Public Safety Communications
Additional coverage and capacity is coming to Minnesota’s first responders with the deployment of FirstNet’s public safety spectrum, called Band 14. FirstNet is the country’s first nationwide public safety communications platform dedicated to first responders when they need it. https://wp.me/p3if7-4A0

MN Task Force talks about FirstNet and Internet of Things
The Task Force learned about FirstNet and the Internet of Things (IoT) and the need for better broadband throughout the state to take advantage of improved safety communication and IoT. Most IoT applications require narrowband access – but narrowband access requires the back haul of broadband. They also talked about their final report. There was some discussion to create a roadmap to lead Minnesota to successfully accomplish the 2026 goals. https://wp.me/p3if7-4ya

Minnesota Legislature – actions and reactions

The following posts are listed in reverse chronological order:

• A bill for $15 million broadband grants moves forward in House with a set aside of $750,000 for satellite providers https://wp.me/p3if7-4Ba
• MN Senate Bill for broadband funding includes grant priority for net neutrality projects https://wp.me/p3if7-4B7
• Rep Neu supports $15 million for broadband in rural MN https://wp.me/p3if7-4AD
• Rep Layman is working to connect rural MN https://wp.me/p3if7-4AB
• MN Senate bill allocates $15 million for broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4Ar
• MN House version of the broadband grant bills and eligibility of satellite as recipient of grant https://wp.me/p3if7-4An
• House moves $15 million for broadband grants, carves out $750,000 for satellite https://wp.me/p3if7-4Al
• Broadband video clips from House Omnibus meeting (HF4289) from April 18 https://wp.me/p3if7-4Ab
• Latest on MN House Omnibus bill – includes $15 million for broadband (April 18) https://wp.me/p3if7-4A9
• A bill relating to Minnesota Broadband Provider activities (HF4411) is introduced https://wp.me/p3if7-4zH
• Rep Layman highlights MN Broadband Day on the Hill – hopes for continued investment https://wp.me/p3if7-4zU
• House Republicans announce budgets including $15 million for broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4zy
• US News reports on MN House’s discussion on broadband funding and satellite https://wp.me/p3if7-4zs
• Minnesota Rural Broadband Coalition Day on the Hill: Committee session and legislator meetings https://wp.me/p3if7-4ze
• MN House Job Growth and Energy Committee Hearing addresses broadband (HF3527 and HF4180) https://wp.me/p3if7-4za
• Wireless facility application fees limit bill in MN Senate not being moved to Omnibus (SF3166) https://wp.me/p3if7-4z8
• Women’s March MN promotes rural broadband in MN https://wp.me/p3if7-4yM
• Broadband grant program appropriation (SF3919) introduced in the MN Senate https://wp.me/p3if7-4ys
• A bill to make Satellite broadband providers eligible for grants (SF3892) is introduced https://wp.me/p3if7-4yp
• Mankato Free Press talks about broadband funding at the Legislature https://wp.me/p3if7-4yd

Federal Legislature – notes

• Senator Klobuchar supports Senate Commerce Committee approval of bipartisan precision ag connectivity act https://wp.me/p3if7-4AF
• Senators Klobuchar and Kennedy introduce bipartisan privacy legislation to protect consumers’ online data https://wp.me/p3if7-4Ay
• Federal legislation on broadband is introduced but limited details on how to fund it https://wp.me/p3if7-4zB
• Tina Smith introduces bill to deploy broadband to unserved rural and tribal communities https://wp.me/p3if7-4zm

Provider News

• T-Mobile Fined $40 million after tricking rural customers with ‘false ring tones’ https://wp.me/p3if7-4zI

Local Broadband News

Arrowhead Region
Arrowhead Regional Development Commission learn about local broadband options https://wp.me/p3if7-4A4

Becker County
Fifth grader campaigns Becker County Commissioners for better broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4zW

Chippewa County
Chippewa County Broadband Feasibility Study shows hybrid fiber and wireless solutions seem viable https://wp.me/p3if7-4AQ

Cook and Chisholm
Local libraries “check out” broadband in Cook and Chisholm https://wp.me/p3if7-4y6

Grand Marais
Blandin Foundation supports BorealCorps, a digital-savvy youth group in Grand Marais https://wp.me/p3if7-4yE

Koochiching County
Koochiching County considers becoming a Blandin Broadband Community https://wp.me/p3if7-4Af

Lake Shore
Broadband Market Survey for Lake Shore Community makes a good model https://wp.me/p3if7-4B2
Lake Shore MN will look at better broadband with help from Blandin Foundation https://wp.me/p3if7-4yf

Lyon County
Lyon County Broadband Feasibility Study shows hybrid fiber and wireless solutions are economically viable https://wp.me/p3if7-4AH

Mankato
Connect Rural Broadband Summit in Region 9 notes and archive https://wp.me/p3if7-4yn
Mankato’s broadband event getting attention highlighting access and policy https://wp.me/p3if7-4yu

Minneapolis
Minneapolis Hosting Community Planning Meetings in May includes technology https://wp.me/p3if7-4B0

Southwest Minnesota
Southwest MN schools will soon have faster broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4B5

Wanamingo & Randolph
Midco is expanding broadband from Wanamingo to Randolph (MN) https://wp.me/p3if7-4yl

Wilkin County
Wilkin Commissioner testifies for rural broadband funding https://wp.me/p3if7-4zF Wilkin and Aitkin Counties frustration with lack of broadband and losing potential recruits to the area https://wp.me/p3if7-4yQ

Willmar
Farmers in Willmar list broadband as a top concern https://wp.me/p3if7-4zD

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

• May 2 Webinar: Net Neutrality Primer for Digital Inclusion Practitioners https://wp.me/p3if7-4Bd
• May 7-11: Digital Inclusion Week https://wp.me/p3if7-4yT
• May 21: Applications due for FirstNet Board members https://wp.me/p3if7-4Ah
• June 4: Applications due for USDA RUS Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program https://wp.me/p3if7-4yj
• June 4-6: Fiber Connect (Nashville) https://wp.me/p3if7-4u2
• June 15, September 14 and December 14: Blandin Robust Network Feasibility Fund grants deadline https://blandinfoundation.org/programs/expanding-opportunity/broadband/robust-network-feasibility-fund-grants/

We are looking to add MN broadband-related events to the Blandin on Broadband blog calendar. https://wp.me/P3if7-4yG If you have an event you’d like to add please send it to atreacy@treacyinfo.com

Stirring the Pot – by Bill Coleman

I’m in Austin TX for the Broadband Communities Conference.  Austin is widely noted for talent attraction.  Minnesotans remember Austin grabbing a big 3M expansion in the Perpich years.  Seemingly, decades ago, locals started the “keep Austin weird” movement. Now with corporate campuses, condo towers and traffic everywhere, I expect that few of those locals still live here.  Or, if they do, feel that they have lost the battle. As Joni Mitchell sang, “tear down paradise and put up a parking lot.”

Most rural communities now put talent attraction high on the economic development priority list.   I advise that your team think about what makes your town special and work to build on and preserve that essence, that unique weirdness.  You can look to the Strong Towns movement for more thoughts on this topic.  Welcome the newcomers; keep what brought them (and you) to your community.