eNews: MN Monthly Recap Aug 2022: Opportunities and Resources

Blandin Broadband Conference Canceled
Better with Broadband: Reflect. Recharge. Inspire., Blandin Foundation’s annual broadband conference, has been canceled.
While we won’t be gathering in person, you can expect to continue receiving emerging broadband news and funding updates on the Blandin on Broadband blog in the coming months. Thank you for your continued commitment to expanding access and use of broadband in rural Minnesota.

Telehealth is in the news and growing
Two recent reports have been released one indicating that telehealth visits are a boon to vets with opioid addiction and the other showing that telehealth helps with prenatal and maternal care. Brookings has developed a The Roadmap to Telehealth Efficacy supporting the idea that broadband is essential to good health. And there’s a new app that connects patients and pharmacists in Minnesota.

MN County digital equity related rankings
Microsoft has created searchable tool that tracks education attainment, computer ownership, broadband subscriber and speed and more to help gauge digital equity in a geographic area. A tool like this will be valuable as communities work on digital equity plans.

MN PUC will looking into LTD’s ETC designation
LTD Broadband was awarded the sole opportunity apply for federal (RDOF) funding to expand fiber in much of Minnesota. The opportunity has been controversial. In July, the PUC decided to investigate LTD Broadband’s ETC designation, which may disqualify them for RDOF awards in Minnesota.

MN Broadband Task Force July 2022
The Task Force heard about the Affordable Connectivity Program and American Connection Corps. They also got an update from the Office of Broadband Development. They are in the middle of receiving Border to Border applications with hopes of doing a second round of funding later in the fall.

State News

Federal News