How many Minnesotans lack broadband?
Microsoft recently unveiled an interactive map that compares FCC broadband maps to their own research on what their customers seem able to access. The FCC reports that 409,000 people lack access in Minnesota; Microsoft reports 3 million. https://wp.me/p3if7-4Ub

How does Minnesota rank?
Minnesota is top ten in State Technology & Science Index, but slipped to number eight. https://wp.me/p3if7-4Tv

Essential Aspects of Digital Readiness
Roberto Gallardo has a new research report Gauging Household Digital Readiness that found that metro households scored slightly higher than nonmetro counterparts on digital readiness. https://wp.me/p3if7-4Tl

Benefits of Broadband

• The Average American family can save $10,500 annually by using Broadband for comparison shopping and online deals https://wp.me/p3if7-4T3
• Home buyers will pay seven percent more for a home with Gigabit service https://wp.me/p3if7-4Tj
• Telehealth increased sevenfold in MN between 2010 and 2015 https://wp.me/p3if7-4Sl

On the Minnesota policy front…

• Governor Elect Walz names some tech-savvy Commissioners, such as Steve Kelley and Steve Grove https://wp.me/p3if7-4U9
• Rural legislative interests include funding for broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4U1
• Westrom is reappointed to Chair the MN Senate Committee that discusses broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4TZ
• Network for Public Heath outlines laws and policies affecting broadband access in Minnesota https://wp.me/p3if7-4TR
• Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson sues Comcast https://wp.me/p3if7-4TE
• MN online sales tax not the windfall predicted https://wp.me/p3if7-4Tr
• Broadband bubbles up as top policy goal by Thriving by Design attendees https://wp.me/p3if7-4Te
• Final Meeting of Gov Dayton’s MN Broadband Task Force https://wp.me/p3if7-4Sx

And national policy front…

• Congresswoman Ilhan Omar makes rural broadband a priority https://wp.me/p3if7-4TP
• Senator Klobuchar has broadband on radar for 2019 https://wp.me/p3if7-4TN
• Sen Klobuchar thinks broadband is an issue that crosses to both sides of the aisle https://wp.me/p3if7-4Tt
• Rural Jobs and Investment Act might include potential broadband funding https://wp.me/p3if7-4T6
• Farm Bill includes $350 million for broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4SW
• USDA is offering up to $600 million for broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4SZ
• Eighth Circuit denies petition for rehearing of Charter VoIP decision https://wp.me/p3if7-4SP
• FCC is moving to new broadband map format and decommissioning old maps https://wp.me/p3if7-4SE
• Senator Smith says farm bill focuses on expanded broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4SA
• FCC plans to classify text message in same category as broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4Sn

Local Broadband News

Blue Earth County
Blue Earth County Board talks about expanding broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4ST

Fountain
Mediacom extends fiber to Fountain (Fillmore County) with help from a MN State broadband grant https://wp.me/p3if7-4T1

Iowa
Iowa is looking to catch up with MN with state Broadband grants https://wp.me/p3if7-4TB

Lake County
Lake County accepts $8.4M bid for Lake Connections from Pinpoint Holdings https://wp.me/p3if7-4TI
Community members have opinions on the sale of Lake Connections https://wp.me/p3if7-4T9

Minnesota
Arvig buys Windstream Fiber assets in Minnesota and Nebraska https://wp.me/p3if7-4Tp
Minnesota broadband is better than Wisconsin broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-4SC

Orr
The Timberjay posts an editorial of frustration written about the broadband providers’ lack of investment in last mile broadband. https://wp.me/p3if7-4SR

Red Lake County
The story of an online cricket order gone bad goes viral on Twitter https://wp.me/p3if7-4TV

Renville & Sibley Counties
RS Fiber is featured in an NBC report on rural broadband, fiber and 5G. https://wp.me/p3if7-4U3

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

• Jan 10: Application deadline for new Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee Members https://wp.me/p3if7-4SJ
• Jan 15: Opportunities for Bipartisan Tech Policy (St Paul & DC) https://wp.me/p3if7-4U6
• Jan 17: Discussion with the Office of Broadband Development (Mpls) https://wp.me/p3if7-4Rl
• Jan 30: MN Broadband Coalition meeting (St Paul) http://mnbroadbandcoalition.com/
• Feb 1: 2019 Charles Benton Digital Equity Champion Award Applications Open https://wp.me/p3if7-4Uk
• Feb 13-14: Discussion with the Office of Broadband Development https://wp.me/p3if7-4Rl
• Feb 28: Digital Learning Day https://wp.me/p3if7-4Sr
• Sep30, 2019: Deadline for RUS Broadband Program applications https://wp.me/p3if7-4RF

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

Spurring broadband investment in unserved rural communities requires a convergence of partnerships, financial incentives and leadership.  From my experience, leadership is the differentiating factor between those that get better broadband and those that continue to wait.

I have just finished reading the book “Leadership in Turbulent Times” by Doris Kearns Goodwin.  She profiles the leadership circumstances, strategies and successes of four presidents: Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. Setting the vision, gathering momentum, and coalition building are all integral to success.

While each of these presidents had their own unique style, they were all committed to their cause.  They were, respectively, devoted to ending slavery, busting trusts and monopoly corporate power, tackling massive economic dislocation and global warfare, or ensuring civil rights.  They realized that they could not accomplish these huge goals alone, but knew that executive leadership was essential to overcoming the many barriers to changing the status quo.

So, if you picture yourself a broadband leader, I encourage you to read this book and use the lessons within to plot your strategy to become the leader that your community is waiting for.  Or buy a few copies and distribute them to prospective co-leaders, then sit together and make a plan.  Remember, Blandin Foundation’s Community Broadband Resources Program is readily available to help jumpstart your community broadband team’s efforts.