What? Regional Gatherings Report Out: What are our greatest opportunities for improving broadband access and adoption in rural Minnesota?
Rural leaders from all corners of Minnesota will offer snapshots of their region’s broadband successes and opportunities, drawing on input heard at eight regional broadband gatherings held across the state in September and October.

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Chat from the session:

Regional Gatherings

11:04:28 From  Mary Magnuson (she/her)  to  Everyone:

We’ve listed the speakers on our website here https://blandinfoundation.org/programs/broadband/annual-conference-2021/tuesday-october-12/

11:05:04 From  Joe Buttweiler – CTC  to  Everyone:

re: prevailing wage….Contractors don’t like prevailing wage projects because they need to pay different wages on a different projects and it creates employee cultural challenges for them. The administrative work associated with prevailing wage is incredibly costly for contractors and the providers. If we could remove those barriers somehow……

11:05:47 From  Misty Hendrickson  to  Everyone:

I agree, Joe! It just complicates things unnecessarily.

11:08:56 From  Dawn Hegland  to  Everyone:

If we want to use  state and federal funds  I don’t believe it would ever be possible to NOT use state or federal wage rates. I think the bigger issue is the BIG differences between using state prevailing wages and federal  wage standards from county to county.

11:11:36 From  Ann Treacy  to  Everyone:

East Central MN Regional Broadband Conference: video and notes https://blandinonbroadband.org/2021/10/08/east-central-mn-regional-broadband-conference-video-and-notes/

11:11:59 From  Ann Treacy  to  Everyone:

NW Regional Broadband Gathering Notes https://blandinonbroadband.org/2021/10/04/nw-regional-broadband-gathering-notes/  – just got video will add asap

11:12:14 From  Ann Treacy  to  Everyone:

Enhancing Our Regional Broadband Capacity: 7W MN Regional broadband (Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties) https://blandinonbroadband.org/2021/09/27/enhancing-our-regional-broadband-capacity-7w-mn-regional-broadband-benton-sherburne-stearns-and-wright-counties/

11:12:47 From  Ann Treacy  to  Everyone:

Northeast Minnesota Regional Broadband Summit Notes and Video https://blandinonbroadband.org/2021/09/22/northeast-minnesota-regional-broadband-summit-notes-and-video/

11:13:06 From  Ann Treacy  to  Everyone:

South Central & Southeast Regional Broadband Conference Notes & Video https://blandinonbroadband.org/2021/09/16/south-central-southeast-regional-broadband-conference-notes-video/

11:16:53 From  Ann Treacy  to  Everyone:

Link to county profiles that went out on MOnday: https://blandinonbroadband.org/2021mnbroadband/

11:20:12 From  Mary Magnuson (she/her)  to  Everyone:

Lezlie mentioned the group that went through our Community Broadband Resources: Accelerate! program – all in east central https://blandinfoundation.org/programs/broadband/community-broadband-resources-accelerate/

11:22:43 From  Melinda Miller  to  Everyone:

Interesting to express the need for service in a city with 60 people.  Expressing the mobility of people.  How many people pass through on that bike trail in a year?

11:23:27 From  Ann Treacy  to  Everyone:

another, probably easier link to Regional meeting notes (at bottom of page) https://blandinfoundation.org/programs/broadband/annual-conference-2021/#regional-gatherings

11:28:49 From  Brenda Johnson SEMLM  to  Everyone:

Melinda, thousands of people use the bike trail in that area every year. You are correct to bring up that point. It’s important to note.

11:42:35 From  Melinda Miller  to  Everyone:

We heard about the number of people who visit Lake of the Woods every year in NWRDC.  I heard 2.7 million visitors to Lake of the Woods.  That is a lot of people who may need to call 911.

11:49:25 From  Brenda Johnson SEMLM  to  Everyone:

Melinda, per year, there are more like 100K+ just on that one trail. On the numerous trails throughout SE MN, the numbers would be more in the range you see in NW. Thank you for stressing this so it will be duly noted. It’s often the small communities that are working so hard to address this, and it can be a daunting task.

12:01:23 From  Yvonne Cariveau  to  Everyone:

Diane is a spectacular resource to all of us.

12:01:56 From  Brenda Johnson SEMLM  to  Everyone:

Diane rocks! Thank you, Diane!