The Duluth News Tribune supports Representative Rob Ecklund for his reelection…
He worked nearly 30 years for the paper mill in his hometown International Falls. His wife is a schoolteacher. But Rep. Rob Ecklund’s top priority when he returns to St. Paul isn’t more education funding or incentives to attract new industries, as important as those goals are to him, too.
“What we need to do is get true border-to-border broadband so everyone has the same access (to the internet). Then we can open these shops that are employing five to 10 people, 20 people, and then they can grow.” Ecklund said at a News Tribune-sponsored candidate forum Oct. 1 in Virginia. “There’s no reason why a company in International Falls or Silver Bay can’t be doing architectural work for a company in India or China or wherever. We can do that once we’re connected.”
Last session, Ecklund sponsored a bill to finally finish building out broadband infrastructure so it’s statewide, including in rural areas and small towns. Even though the need is similar to the early-1900s push to bring electricity and indoor plumbing to all of America, more work is needed before true border-to-border broadband and its economic boon becomes reality in Minnesota.
On Nov. 6, voters in Minnesota House District 3A can re-elect Ecklund, his focus well-placed on this and other critical needs of Northeastern Minnesota.
