Thank you to everyone who joined us for a range of conversations on broadband. Yesterday, we came up with a short list of topics – suggested and chosen by conference attendees. Today we met in small groups to discuss this topics.
The video above includes report outs from the individual conversations. Below is a list of the topics with the highest level comment on their session. (OK, I’ve included a tweet on each breakout.)
- How do we get to symmetrical service?
who can pay for symmetrical service – for communities that don’t qualify for MN border to border grants? And what technology really work for symmetrical? Can we get at least that to the community?
- How to remove the barrier of affordability?
making Broadband affordable is something providers can/do help with -some on the DL. CARES funding is helping too but that’s temporary
- What are the implications for MN on the abandonment of copper networks?
copper has been saying good to users via cell phones, providers has not been investing. We need a short game and long game plan
- What is the role of broadband in mental health/healthcare delivery?
great ideas for mental health and broadband – such as using voter registration info to call people up and just ask how they are.
- What are our ideas for more effective legislative engagement and rural advocacy?
in terms of legislative advocacy, we need to look at rural/urban divide, education (vocabulary) and industry lobbyists. The MN Broadband Coalition is a tool. We need sustainable funding. - Should we treat broadband as a public and/or private utility?
in thinking of Broadband as an utility we would go so far as to call it digital water. We need it to live.
- How do we find common ground to move the state forward on broadband?
how to find legislative common ground to move Broadband forward – convene a group, create a story around issues that are important to people
- What are “Digital Navigators” and how can I get one?
Digital Navigators were created by @netinclusion – schools have been using them – it helps student families get over one of many barriers that they often experience - What should MN’s speed goals be?
we need to look at Broadband speed goals and symmetrical speeds because upload is productivity
Blandin on Broadband 