Blandin Broadband Leadership Webinar Series
The Blandin Foundation is hosting a webinar series – Broadband Leadership Webinar Series: Creating Successful Broadband Projects on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 am until April 30. https://wp.me/p3if7-5TM Here are the sessions:

• March 31 Series Overview (archive https://wp.me/p3if7-5X3)
• April 2 Setting the Vision (archive https://wp.me/p3if7-5Y0)
• April 7 Broadband 101
• April 9 Community Broadband Surveys
• April 14 Broadband Mapping
• April 16 Ownership Models and Provider Partnerships
• April 21 Feasibility Studies
• April 23 Federal and State Broadband Finance Programs
• April 28 Local Broadband Finance Options
• April 30 Making it Happen: Determining your Community’s Best Option

Blandin will also be hosting a webinar on Tips and Tricks of online meetings on April 8. https://wp.me/p3if7-5WZ

MN Broadband Day on the Hill
The Day on the Hill happened just as policy decisions were being made about coronavirus changes. Many legislators showed great enthusiasm for increased broadband funding, but broadband funding did not make the special coronavirus funding package. However, policymakers encouraged attendees to continue to advocate for funding. https://wp.me/p3if7-5RO Minnesota Broadband Coalition shared their notes on the day. https://wp.me/p3if7-5S1.

State Policy Issues

• Broadband related MN bills introduced: easements, social media, data and telecom definitions https://wp.me/p3if7-5Rz

Federal Policy Issues (in reverse chronological order of post date)

• Senators question FCC restrictions on broadband funding in areas that have state funding https://wp.me/p3if7-5RE
• Rep Colin Peterson running again – broadband is hot topic https://wp.me/p3if7-5Rt
• Federal Bipartisan Bill to Improve Broadband Mapping Passes House https://wp.me/p3if7-5Py

Impact of Coronavirus Policies
Mid-March, we saw a dramatic change in our world with the growing danger of coronavirus in the US and increasing policies and procedures to combat the spread – most notably the recommendation to stay at home. Broadband plans a big part in allowing people to learn, earn and keep healthy at home. Subsequently there are a lot of posts this month. I’ve tried to organize them to make them most accessible:

COVID-19 Resources Available

• National & Minnesota Free & Low-Cost Internet Plans https://wp.me/p3if7-5T5
• USDA Rural Development on COVID-19 response resources https://wp.me/p3if7-5XC
• Tips for rural groceries during COVID-19 available through U Libraries https://wp.me/p3if7-5XO
• Want to know where to find the good toilet paper? There’s an app for that now! https://wp.me/p3if7-5WE
• Cybersecurity Tips for Working at Home https://wp.me/p3if7-5VR
• Webinar Archive Tips for Education in the Time of Coronavirus https://wp.me/p3if7-5W1
• Tools that local government can use to monitor and respond to social media chatter https://wp.me/p3if7-5VU
• Tips to quickly deploy free WiFi https://wp.me/p3if7-5Vp
• UofM Extension finds ways to make distancing fun and/or productive https://wp.me/p3if7-5Vb
• How can school leaders prepare for distance learning plans? https://wp.me/p3if7-5TC
• Tips for teaching online from Columbia and St Catherine’s University https://wp.me/p3if7-5T9
• From coronavirus disruption comes innovation – get a MN soundtrack for your pet online https://wp.me/p3if7-5SZ

COVID-19 Policy/Preparedness

• On Human Services Weekly Call with the Governor’s Office Lt Governor Peggy Flanagan answers question on broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-5Zc
• Rural Minnesota needs State help getting enough broadband to weather the pandemic and beyond https://wp.me/p3if7-5Z5
• The Internet isn’t bogging down but people are upgrading home connections https://wp.me/p3if7-5Z2
• Next Century Cities applauds the FCC’s efforts to increase spectrum available for WiFi https://wp.me/p3if7-5XX
• Minnesota gets a nod for leading the higher broadband charge! https://wp.me/p3if7-5X7
• MN Rural Broadband Coalition Legislative Update: Legislature Passes COVID-19 Emergency Bill, Recesses https://wp.me/p3if7-5Wi
• Recognizing that rural connectivity doesn’t equal urban connectivity https://wp.me/p3if7-5W8
• The internet superhighway isn’t going to shut down but your last mile might falter – especially uploading! https://wp.me/p3if7-5W5
• Klobuchar, Smith, Cramer, Colleagues introduce Bill to Sustain Rural Broadband Connectivity During Coronavirus Pandemic https://wp.me/p3if7-5Vh
• NPR’s Marketplace looks at broadband with Chris Mitchell from Institute for Local Self Reliance https://wp.me/p3if7-5UK
• Rep Ecklund lives the broadband gap as his work moves increasingly online in light of COVID-19 https://wp.me/p3if7-5TY
• MN Broadband Coalition Update: Action Alert: Broadband in the Time of Coronavirus https://wp.me/p3if7-5TF
• MN Rural Broadband Coalition Update: Legislature Curtails Operations https://wp.me/p3if7-5SB
• Local media recognizes that COVID-19 Spotlights MN Rural Broadband Woes https://wp.me/p3if7-5Si
• Can today’s broadband infrastructure handle social distancing? https://wp.me/p3if7-5S6
• Broadband in the time of coronavirus: broadband cannot be an unfunded mandate https://wp.me/p3if7-5RU

COVID-19 Education

• First day of online learning in MN presents challenges but keeps kids safe https://wp.me/p3if7-5YM

• What are local communities doing to get infrastructure to kids for online learning? https://wp.me/p3if7-5Vv
• Community Use of E-Rate-Supported Wi-Fi is Permitted During Closures https://wp.me/p3if7-5V7
• Rural Minnesota needs better broadband for students and workers to be productive https://wp.me/p3if7-5V4
• Philly teachers told to halt remote instruction due to equity concerns – how do we address those in rural MN? https://wp.me/p3if7-5Tc
• Recognizing the transition in MN from classroom to online education with some bumps https://wp.me/p3if7-5SO
• How can the Feds make it easier for schools and libraries to connect the community to broadband? https://wp.me/p3if7-5SE
• MN distance education need ubiquitous broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-5Su
• Broadband in the time of coronavirus: How to prepare for school closing – get broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-5RX

COVID-19 Healthcare

• Minnesota Health Insurers Announce Plans for Coverage of COVID-19 Testing and Treatment https://wp.me/p3if7-5Yl
• MN Community Care moves services online to keep patients safe and changes in Medicare reimbursement help https://wp.me/p3if7-5Ya
• MedCity Beats makes case that telehealth is here for good https://wp.me/p3if7-5Xz
• Chairman Pai Announces Plan for $200 Million COVID-19 Telehealth Program https://wp.me/p3if7-5WV
• Telehealth at the Mayo Clinic – today and moving forward https://wp.me/p3if7-5WP
• Coronavirus is excuse for dental office to move to telehealth https://wp.me/p3if7-5Wu
• Minnesota is looking to telehealth to support mental health during coronavirus quarantine https://wp.me/p3if7-5VL
• US Dep of Health and Human Services Awards $100 million to health centers – in part for telehealth https://wp.me/p3if7-5VH
• Coronavirus distancing leapfrogs patients into telehealth for therapy https://wp.me/p3if7-5UX
• Minnesota already reimburses for many telehealth services https://wp.me/p3if7-5Uz
• Allina closed for non-urgent visits – what about telehealth? asks Sen Rosen https://wp.me/p3if7-5T7
• Telehealth and video-chat great comfort to seniors in assisted living https://wp.me/p3if7-5Sy
• Could emergency coronavirus preparedness funding boost telehealth? https://wp.me/p3if7-5Rw
• Telehealth is a gift to therapists and patients with broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-5PT

COVID-19 Government

• Local Officials explain why Broadband has been Essential For Emergency  Response Efforts https://wp.me/p3if7-5YA
• How prepared are MN Counties to shift workers to remote work? https://wp.me/p3if7-5Vz
• Webinar Archive: 2020 Census: Everyone Counts, so how we can count them during a pandemic https://wp.me/p3if7-5TI
• Juror Deliberates Via Videoconference https://wp.me/p3if7-5Sr
• Augmented Reality Tool for local governments and first responders https://wp.me/p3if7-5VX

COVID-19 Affordable Broadband/Digital Divide

• National & Minnesota Free & Low-Cost Internet Plans https://wp.me/p3if7-5T5

• PCs for People bring to computers to people who need them https://wp.me/p3if7-5Ua

• Broadband in the time of coronavirus: Making it affordable helps where it exists https://wp.me/p3if7-5Sd
• Broadband listed as tool to help close equity gaps https://wp.me/p3if7-5Rc

COVID-19 Vendor News

• NEO becomes GEO and can help with strategic hotspot placements https://wp.me/p3if7-5YT
• Frontier prepares for bankruptcy, regrets failure to install enough fiber https://wp.me/p3if7-5Yv
• CenturyLink Donates $25,000 to PCs for People https://wp.me/p3if7-5Yd
• Cable companies experience broadband demand in Minnesota during COVID-19 threat https://wp.me/p3if7-5XF
• Paul Bunyan makes broadband possible for many students https://wp.me/p3if7-5Xt
• Rural WISPS get access to 5.9 GHz Spectrum to expedite rural broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-5Wx
• MinnPost looks at what broadband providers are doing to facilitate life ongoing online during a pandemic https://wp.me/p3if7-5Uf
• MVTV Wireless offers free hotpot access, low cost service https://wp.me/p3if7-5U3
• AcenTek offers free broadband and WiFi to new customers https://wp.me/p3if7-5TV
• BEVCOMM’s offers low-cost options, donations to school, waiving late fees https://wp.me/p3if7-5Tl
• Garden Valley Technologies offers assistance to families to get online https://wp.me/p3if7-5T2
• USI opens their WiFi network in Minneapolis https://wp.me/p3if7-5SR
• Arvig announces education assistance Program in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic https://wp.me/p3if7-5SH
• HBC offers free broadband to low income households amid coronavirus closures https://wp.me/p3if7-5S9
• Evansville-based MetroNet acquires MN-based Jaguar Communications https://wp.me/p3if7-5RH
• Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services (SMBS) talks about small rural towns and broadband https://wp.me/p3if7-5PB

Local Broadband News

Aitkin
Aitkin County’s Blandin Broadband Community Reflection https://wp.me/p3if7-5QI

Anoka County
Anoka County is working with Blandin on broadband improvement projects https://wp.me/p3if7-5Rk

Bois Forte, Cook and Orr
Grizzlies’ (Bois Forte, Cook, Orr) Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County) https://wp.me/p3if7-5QU

Cannon Falls
Cannon Falls’ Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (Goodhue County) https://wp.me/p3if7-5Qa

Center City
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is bringing addiction and mental health services online https://wp.me/p3if7-5TS

Chishom
Chisholm’s Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County) https://wp.me/p3if7-5QM

Crookston
RiverView Health in Crookston implements telehealth https://wp.me/p3if7-5Wo

Dakota County
Dakota County outlines broadband by the numbers https://wp.me/p3if7-5R6

Ely
Ely’s Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County) https://wp.me/p3if7-5QQ

Franklin Township
Tiger 4G and AT&T work together to get Franklin Township online https://wp.me/p3if7-5Z8

Hibbing
Hibbing’s Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County) https://wp.me/p3if7-5QY

Iron Range
A glimpse at fiber-haves and fiber-have-nots from Aaron Brown on MN’s Iron Range https://wp.me/p3if7-5YQ

Iron Range Tourism Bureau’s Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County) https://wp.me/p3if7-5Qw

Koochiching County
Koochiching Technology Initiative’s Blandin Broadband Community Reflection https://wp.me/p3if7-5Qn

Koochiching County approves Koochiching Technology Initiative https://wp.me/p3if7-5Q4

Le Sueur
Le Sueur County selected for Blandin Community Broadband Program https://wp.me/p3if7-5Ut

Mankato
Mankato Clinic to Offer Telehealth Visits https://wp.me/p3if7-5UE

Mille Lacs
Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative State Grant Details (Aitkin County) https://wp.me/p3if7-5RR

Minneapolis
Washburn Center for Children Adopting telehealth with help from Medica https://wp.me/p3if7-5Wr

Pandemic preparation for a local urban broadband provider: Community Networks with US Internet https://wp.me/p3if7-5YJ

Mountain Iron Buhl
Mountain Iron-Buhl teachers share their plans for online teaching but not everyone has access https://wp.me/p3if7-5Tp

Mt. Iron-Buhl’s Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County)
https://wp.me/p3if7-5R2

Otter Tail County
Otter Tail County selected for Blandin Community Broadband Program https://wp.me/p3if7-5Sl

Pennington
Broadband coming to Pennington and Strawberry Areas of Leech Lake Indian Reservation & SE Beltrami County https://wp.me/p3if7-5PE

Quad Cities (Eveleth, Gilbert, Mountain Iron, and Virginia)
Laurentian Chamber of Commerce’s Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County) https://wp.me/p3if7-5QA

Rochester
Family Service Rochester opens telehealth door for therapy https://wp.me/p3if7-5V1

Rock County
Rock County’s Blandin Broadband Community Reflection https://wp.me/p3if7-5Qf

Sherburne County
Sherburne County is installing conduit and becoming Telecommuter Forward community https://wp.me/p3if7-5Rf

St Louis County
East Range Joint Powers’ Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County) https://wp.me/p3if7-5Qr

St Paul
Kindergarteners meet on Fridays for Zoom lunch at this St Paul School https://wp.me/p3if7-5YD

Swift County
Swift County’s Blandin Broadband Community Reflection
https://wp.me/p3if7-5Qj

Tower
Tower Economic Development Authority’s Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County) https://wp.me/p3if7-5QE

Winona
Winona Engage creates online space for local community and info https://wp.me/p3if7-5So

Yellow Medicine
Midco’s plan for fixed wireless in Yellow Medicine County https://wp.me/p3if7-5Ro

Upcoming Events

• Thursdays in April and May: Dancing Heart Live – online morning stretch with Kairos Live https://wp.me/p3if7-5Xi

• April 7: Blandin Broadband Leadership Webinar – Broadband 101 
• April 8: Meetings in the Time of Coronavirus: Tips and Tricks of online meetings webinar 
• April 9: Blandin Broadband Leadership Webinar – Community Broadband Surveys
• April 9: 2020 Bush Prize for Community Innovation  Applications due https://wp.me/p3if7-5Pv
• April 14 Broadband Mapping https://wp.me/p3if7-5TM

• April 16: NTCA 5th Annual Rural Video and Broadband Study Webcast https://wp.me/p3if7-5Xc
• April 16 Ownership Models and Provider Partnerships https://wp.me/p3if7-5TM
• April 21 Feasibility Studies https://wp.me/p3if7-5TM
• April 23 Federal and State Broadband Finance Programs https://wp.me/p3if7-5TM
• April 28 Local Broadband Finance Options https://wp.me/p3if7-5TM
• April 30 Making it Happen: Determining your Community’s Best Option https://wp.me/p3if7-5TM

Opportunities

• Southwest Initiative Foundation is offering grants https://wp.me/p3if7-5XR
• Free Live Streamed Music Classes from MacPhail https://wp.me/p3if7-5WS
• Opportunity: Broadband editor for Institute for Local Self Reliance https://wp.me/p3if7-5Wl
• NetSqaured meetings for nonprofit techies move online https://wp.me/p3if7-5Vl
• National Nonprofit Launches Easy Census Help For Seniors https://wp.me/p3if7-5Ve
• Government Experience Awards 2020 Call for Entries https://wp.me/p3if7-5RC

• Submit ideas to mitigate impact of COVID-19 https://wp.me/p3if7-5UH

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

Community broadband advocates need to take a look at the Rural Development Opportunity Fund (RDOF) funding that will be made available via the latest FCC’s funding program for rural broadband.  Communities should engage with their preferred provider partners now to encourage them to bid for this available funding.  A preferred partner is one whose deployment plans line up with your community’s vision for future broadband service rather than a provider using these funds to meet today’s minimum broadband standards similar to the CAF II 10 Mb/1 Mb debacle.

Over $20 billion is available and only areas that lack 25 Mb/3 Mb funding, using the current FCC maps, are eligible.   Eligible areas can be found here: https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/maps/auction-904-preliminary-eligible-areas/ along with GIS data tables.  There are large blocks of eligible areas in northeast, east central, southeast and southcentral Minnesota.  One interesting aspect of the reverse auction process will be to reward providers who commit to providing higher speeds and lower latencies.  Frankly, this whole process is very complicated.

A significant barrier to effectively using these funds is the patchwork of eligibility.  The funds would be a great building block in a collaborative funding plan, combining provider, local and state funds with federal funding to cover a wide geographic area.  County and regional broadband planners would do well to commit local funding to their preferred provide partner which would increase their ability to bid confidently on these federal funds.

Smart legislators would empower the DEED Office of Broadband to reserve some of their funds supporting providers chasing RDOF funds.  I hope that they are talking about this.  With a prospective DEED application window in September and the October FCC auction, the timing seems compatible.  Combined, these funds could be used to ensure widespread deployment of fiber to the home networks, especially since so many of the eligible areas are not idea for wireless deployment.  This would be a great opportunity to push the “Minnesota Model” to a new level of innovation.