Blandin Broadband eNews: Broadband activity throughout Minnesota Monthly Recap
On the Minnesota policy front…
- House Jobs and Economic Development Finance Division learns about DEED https://wp.me/p3if7-4W4
- MN Attorney General Keith Ellison puts broadband on his short list https://wp.me/p3if7-4W8
- Governor Walz prioritizes broadband in his spending plan https://wp.me/p3if7-4W0
- Pioneer Press reader asks for more broadband ASAP https://wp.me/p3if7-4Wa
- Energy cooperatives promote broadband as bipartisan goal https://wp.me/p3if7-4VY
- Post Bulletin supports broadband access for everyone https://wp.me/p3if7-4VU
- Readers ask, what about a state infrastructure bank like North Dakota? https://wp.me/p3if7-4VS
- MN Senator Sparks promotes better broadband as shared goal for Senate, House and Governor’s office https://wp.me/p3if7-4VQ
- MN Broadband Bill is getting more attention https://wp.me/p3if7-4VM
- Stu Lourey wins MN Senate District 11 DFL primary: broadband is hot topic https://wp.me/p3if7-4VK
- Strong call for rural broadband in MN from Agri News https://wp.me/p3if7-4VI
- Is there is a role for government in broadband deployment? https://wp.me/p3if7-4VC
- What’s the cost to a community of not having broadband? https://wp.me/p3if7-4Vy
- Telehealth helps people stay in rural areas; policy makes is affordable https://wp.me/p3if7-4Vj
- Westrom co-authors broadband expansion legislation https://wp.me/p3if7-4Vp
- How does a bill become a law in MN and who can you contact about it? https://wp.me/p3if7-4Vl
- Timberjay editorial asks legislators to make broadband a priority https://wp.me/p3if7-4Vf
- Ubiquitous, serious broadband is a long term game – but short term wins help https://wp.me/p3if7-4V4
- Growth & Justice unveils Policy Priorities: Broadband make top 11 list https://wp.me/p3if7-4V1
- MN Broadband funding needs to be in base budget https://wp.me/p3if7-4UX
- Rep Ecklund introduces broadband bill in MN https://wp.me/p3if7-4UT
- Thom Petersen new commissioner of the Department of Agriculture is broadband advocate https://wp.me/p3if7-4UC
- Broadband bills introduced in MN House and Senate https://wp.me/p3if7-4UN
- Broadband emerges as top for Republicans and Democrats in MN Senate District 11 race https://wp.me/p3if7-4UH
And national policy front…
- FCC discusses Net Neutrality and more in recent hearing https://wp.me/p3if7-4Wh
- When Lifeline dwindles: the FCC is decreasing the field of eligible Lifeline providers https://wp.me/p3if7-4Wf
- Baller, Stokes & Lide annual Federal Compliance Support Edition https://wp.me/p3if7-4Vt
- Opportunities for Bipartisan Tech Policy: Notes and Video https://wp.me/p3if7-4UZ
- Hagedorn, Emmer, Stauber voted yes for broadband in motion that didn’t pass https://wp.me/p3if7-4UV
Vendor News…
- CenturyLink misses FCC Connect America Fund Milestones in Minnesota https://wp.me/p3if7-4W2
- S. Household Broadband Data Consumption – 268.7 GB in 2018 https://wp.me/p3if7-4VA
- Frontier responds to negative PUC report https://wp.me/p3if7-4Uv
- MN Department of Commerce files complaint against Frontier with PUC https://wp.me/p3if7-4Uo
Local Broadband News
Ada
Business in Ada is paying $800 per month for fiber https://wp.me/p3if7-4VE
Becker
Google plans to build a data center in Becker https://wp.me/p3if7-4Vr
Cloquet
There are IT Job openings in Cloquet MN https://wp.me/p3if7-4VG
International Falls
UnitedHealth Group transitions to remote workers in International Falls https://wp.me/p3if7-4Ut
Lake County
MN Watchdog takes on Lake County Network sale https://wp.me/p3if7-4UA
Lincoln County
Broadband expansion in Lincoln County is happening through Woodstock https://wp.me/p3if7-4Vn
Otter Tail County
Otter Tail County makes broadband expansion a main focus https://wp.me/p3if7-4W6
Region Five
Broadband expansion happening in rural areas of Region Five https://wp.me/p3if7-4VW
Red Wing
Red Wing Ignite Ag Tech Challenge hosts final pitch https://wp.me/p3if7-4V6
West Central MN
Meet MN Millennial Farmer, a voice for an industry and generation https://wp.me/p3if7-4VO
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
- 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
- April 1-3: Net Inclusion 2019 in Charlotte https://wp.me/p3if7-4UP
- April 3: MN Broadband Coalition Day on the Hill
- Sep30, 2019: Deadline for RUS Broadband Program applications https://wp.me/p3if7-4RF
- State looking for new Technology Advisory Committee Member https://wp.me/p3if7-4Wd
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
Bernadine is fond of the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia classic quote: “Somebody has to do something and isn’t it pathetic that it has to be us?” While this is true no matter where you live or work, I find it especially true in rural communities. During meeting introductions as we ask attendees to list their community connections, we find that some folks have quite a long list of volunteer, leadership, and probably financial, commitments. These folks are true community champions and this is a strength for Greater Minnesota.
As for “us” having to do something, I am asking you to support the Minnesota Rural Broadband Coalition, the unified voice on rural broadband. The coalition provides that unified rural voice necessary to convince legislators to do the right thing for greater Minnesota broadband. While in January and February, there are many public policy groups willing to speak up for broadband, we know that as the session winds down, organizational lobbyists narrow their focus to their own highest priority bills. Funding this unified, full-time voice means raising money. We believe that the coalition has been successful in its work to build a bipartisan consensus around the need to spur rural broadband deployment, but we cannot ever rest until that last gavel comes down in May.
We need you, our rural broadband champions to join the coalition and to recruit others in your community or industry segment as well. Prospective members range from school districts to banks to health care providers to chambers of commerce to cities and counties. We have members in each of these categories, so join your colleagues and peer organizations by becoming members. Those local units of government and telecom providers who hope to apply for Border to Border Grant Funds should especially consider a commitment since investing in the coalition will improve the odds of a significant border to border broadband grant appropriation. Those contributing $500 or more earn a voice in how the coalition operates and in our policy platform.
We all know that fundraising can be a particularly pathetic task and our broadband coalition team is working hard on it, but we need your help to succeed! A call to a personal or professional connection does wonders. We have raised about two-thirds of our goal, but need to raise an additional $20,000 before the session ends in May.
Check out the coalition website, our upcoming activities and the benefits of membership information at http://mnbroadbandcoalition.com. Join us!
Thank you.
