Monthly Archives: November 2022

EVENT Nov 13: MN Black Broadband Summit

Posted on by
Reply

The Black Broadband Summit is happening later this week in Minneapolis. I’m not able to attend because it’s at the same time at the MN Broadband Task Force but it looks interesting, Tickets are $25…

During the pandemic, many black and brown families were left behind due to the digital divide. Some families could not afford the internet because of the monopoly internet providers had in the Twin Cities area. Project Nandi was founded because our founder Ini Augustine wanted to make a change. She had seen firsthand the damage done to her community by the pandemic. Social injustice hit close to home with the George Floyd protests. With her experience being a network engineer she had the vision to make a community-owned internet cooperative a reality.

The goal of the Black Broadband summit is to discuss our shared experiences around lack of access. We will learn how the internet works, and discuss community led solutions to closing the digital divide. Please join us to bring change to the Twin Cities. November 17th 13 [corrected Nov 4] from 10 am-3 pm.

Here’s another description from MENAFN…

In lower-income communities like Cedar-Riverside, CenturyLink only offers internet service of 10 megabits per second, which isn’t really even broadband. Internet providers in the twin cities have been engaging in digital redlining for decades. This November 17th from 10 AM-3 Pm, the inaugural is launching a community-led mission. Join us to discuss our communities’ shared experiences around the lack of access to internet & technology. Together, we will tell our stories of digital inequity, and Organize for Community Empowerment. We’ll develop solutions to the barriers that exist, & prepare for a future without them.
“It is long past time for us to make technology that works for us. Each year that passes, our children fall further behind educationally, & the places we live become less safe. Our families need us to step into this moment. I hope you can join us, & our mission to take urgent action to close the digital divide.”, Executive Director,
The Black Broadband Summit will be a revolutionary event in the Twin Cities, the first of its kind. This event is generously sponsored by Global Entrepreneurship Week Minnesota and Nexus Community Partners, AM 950, Voqal,& The Minneapolis foundation.
We will be creating the first black-run, black-owned internet cooperative in the Twin Cities. Our ISP will be designed and run by the people most impacted by the digital divide. The summit is open to everyone with an interest in creating accessible, community-led solutions to the digital divide.

EVENT Nov 17: MN Broadband Task Force monthly meeting

Posted on by
Reply

I will be livestreaming on Facebook, but all are welcome to attend the meeting directly…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Thursday, November 17, 2022

10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 211 376 886 577
Passcode: GaoY7A

Download Teams | Join on the web

Join with a video conferencing device

mn@m.webex.com

Video Conference ID: 118 214 531 6

Alternate VTC instructions

Or call in (audio only)

+1 651-395-7448,,631853343#   United States, St. Paul

Phone Conference ID: 631 853 343#

Find a local number | Reset PIN

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.                Welcome, Task Force Introductions, and Approval of Minutes from October 24, 2022 meeting

10:05 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.  Office of Broadband Development Update Bree Maki, Executive Director

10:10 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.  Walk Thru of Draft Report Scott Cole, Collectivity

10:20 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Affordability and Adoption Sub-Group

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Break

11:10 a.m. – 11:50 p.m. Funding, Mapping and Usage Sub-Group

11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Update

Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

12:00 p.m. – 12:05 p.m. Public Comment, Other Business, December 19, 2022 Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

Need help closing the digital gaps? The Just Transition Fund supports MN and other areas

Posted on by
Reply

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society has a series to help folks manage the opportunity coming in to support digital equity at the local level: Pathways to Digital Equity: How Communities Can Reach Their Broadband Goals—and How Philanthropy Can Help. They are manageable bits of information that you can run with right away. Today’s chapter is about the Just Transition Fund…

JTF offers grants of up to $150,000 and technical assistance to help organizations access federal and state funds to expand broadband access. This program is designed to offer flexible support for what local organizations need. Grants and technical assistance can be used for:

  • Grant writing to put together a successful application
  • Identifying grant programs that are a good fit for a community project
  • The community’s portion of infrastructure project matching funds
  • Building internal staff capacity to further develop and refine a community broadband project
  • Feasibility studies and additional project planning

The Fund prioritizes communities in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Texas.

Recipients of broadband grants or technical assistance, which are provided on a rolling basis, are invited to join JTF’s community of practice. Through ongoing open calls and relationship-building, the JTF supports communities and connects them with one another to facilitate peer learning, mentorship, and the sharing of best practices.

OPPORTUNITY: job opening for Regional Outreach Director for Senator Klobuchar

Posted on by
Reply

This is a little off the usual topic for us and Senator Klobuchar already has a broadband expert (Chuck Ackman) who is very good but I always like to see broadband-forward folks find places to flourish and the Senator is looking for a Regional Outreach Director for the Northwest MN region…

Regional Outreach Director

Summary:

The primary role of a Regional Outreach Director is to serve as a liaison between Senator Klobuchar and constituencies in their regions. Issues areas could include business, commerce, banking, manufacturing, export promotion, travel and tourism, workforce development, agriculture and consumer protection, as well as to build and maintain relationships within those communities. The Regional Outreach Director position will be responsible for proactively reaching out and being in their region on a regular basis and for reporting back as necessary on information gathered and any follow-up action that may be needed, either on the part of staff or the Senator, including possible legislative or policy initiatives.

Additionally, this position will be responsible for staffing the Senator at meetings or other events when she travels to their region, and for preparing by the prescribed due date all necessary briefing materials for the Senator.

Job Functions:

  • Serve as lead contact person in their region for the Senator and any issues constituents raise.
  • Coordinate meetings, briefing materials, and assist Media Advisor on media events related to their region.
  • Informs the Senator and office leadership of all happenings in his or her assigned region by screening district media sources and interacting with constituents
  • Build strong internal working relationships across MN and DC offices
  • Attend key meetings on behalf of the senator
  • Advance and staff the Senator at in-state events as needed.

Skills and Knowledge Required:

  • Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills
  • Knowledge of all issues and events in the region in which the Member is involved
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
  • Works well under pressure and handles stress
  • Innovative thinker; idea generator
  • Demonstrable experience working with or managing coalitions
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills
  • Proven ability to work collaboratively and enjoys building relationships with diverse groups and individuals

Education:

–          Bachelor’s Degree in political science or related field or related experience.

Working Conditions:

–          Work is mainly performed in a fast-paced office environment.

–          Hours are 8-5, Monday-Friday, some evenings and weekends.

–          Ability to travel as needed for meetings.

Interested and qualified candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Clara_Haycraft@klobuchar.senate.gov

FCC will unveil draft broadband maps and NTIA clock on BEAD allocation to start

Posted on by
Reply

Something to look forward to next week – new broadband maps – as the FCC reports…

The Federal Communications Commission today announced that it will unveil a pre-production draft of new broadband maps on November 18, 2022. This version is the first release of the map required by the Broadband DATA Act and will begin an ongoing, iterative process that will improve the data submitted by providers by incorporating challenges from individuals and other stakeholders.

Broadband availability will be based on data submitted by providers during the initial Broadband Data Collection filing window and will reflect services available as of June 30, 2022. When published, the draft maps will display location level information on broadband availability throughout the country and will allow people to search for their address, and review and dispute the services reported by providers at their location.

The FCC will also accept bulk challenges to the reported availability data from state and Tribal governments and other entities. As a result, this map will continually improve and refine the broadband availability data relied upon by the FCC, other government agencies, and the public. The pre-production draft map release is an important first step forward in building more accurate, more granular broadband maps, which are long overdue and mandated by Congress. Historically, the FCC’s maps have been based on broadband availability data collected at just the census block level rather than the location level, which kept unserved locations hidden if they were in partially served census blocks.

To generate this version of the map, providers’ availability data has been matched to the location information contained in the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (Fabric). The Fabric is a common dataset of all locations in the United States where fixed broadband internet access service is or can be installed. To improve the accuracy of the FCC maps, the Commission began accepting challenges to Fabric information from providers, states, local and Tribal governments starting in September. Once the draft maps launch, individuals will also be able to submit challenges, or request corrections, to Fabric locations directly through the map interface. They will also be able to request missing locations be added. Information from those challenges will be incorporated in future versions of the Fabric.

For more information about the BDC, please visit the Broadband Data Collection website at https://www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData.

And once that happens, the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Association) reports…

Following the Federal Communications Commission’s announcement that on November 18 it will unveil an initial version of new broadband maps and open the mapping challenge process, NTIA expects to communicate Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment allocation levels to eligible entities by June 30th.

“The next eight weeks are critical for our federal efforts to connect the unconnected,” said Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. “The FCC’s upcoming challenge process is one of the best chances to ensure that we have accurate maps guiding us as we allocate major Internet for All awards in 2023. I urge every state and community that believes it can offer improvements to be part of this process so that we can deliver on the promise of affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service for everyone in America.”

The Biden-Harris Administration is required by law to allocate Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment funds according to a formula derived from the map data. NTIA coordinates closely with the FCC to ensure that this data is accurate and reliable and will continue to do so. NTIA’s efforts to date include:

  • Calling every single Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the United States to remind them of their obligations relating to the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) process, register any concerns or technical assistance requests, and relay those to the FCC;
  • Engaging in sustained outreach with Governors’ offices, state broadband offices, and stakeholder communities to share technical assistance resources, solicit feedback, and relay major areas of concern; and
  • Producing and sharing materials to break down the process with key dates and deadlines for affected stakeholders.

NTIA will engage in a comprehensive outreach effort to support the FCC in its efforts to ensure that every state that wishes to file a challenge can do so. This effort will include:

  • Technical assistance to state broadband officials and governors’ offices as they prepare challenges;
  • Webinars for members of the public wishing to learn more about how to participate in the challenge process;
  • Regular engagement with state officials to identify and resolve issues.

Internet for All

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access in communities across the U.S. NTIA recently launched a series of new high-speed Internet grant programs funded by the law that will build high-speed Internet infrastructure across the country, create more low-cost high-speed Internet service options, and address the digital equity and inclusion needs in our communities.

Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward high-speed Internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Visit getinternet.gov for more information.

For more information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s high-speed Internet programs as well as quotes from the awardees, please visit InternetforAll.gov.

The latest news on Mille Lacs County broadband hope and plans

Posted on by
Reply

The Mille Lacs Messenger reports…

Economic Development Manager Mike Wimmer was in the midst of his last day when he presented to the Mille Lacs County Board of Commissioners for the final time on Nov. 1. He highlighted challenges counties across the state and country are facing, challenges like workforce issues, child care availability, and broadband access, as well as housing.

Wimmer spoke about current grant applications in review for greater broadband access, a need rather than a want in an increasingly online world. According to a letter Chair Genny Reynolds signed in August in support of an SCI Broadband grant application, “nearly 40 percent of households in Mille Lacs County lack access” to broadband that would meet the state’s goals for 2026. 

He spoke about technology options…

Wimmer talked about the developing technology of 5G, a wireless option, which he called “promising,” but he encouraged the board and county to continue pushing for fiber-to-premises connection “as far as possible.” At this moment in time, the new technology is costly. Fiber-to-premises, or FTP, is more reliable and can provide more consistent speeds, even during “network congestion or outages due to obstructions or inclement weather,” according to a CNET article comparing 5G to wired connection.

He brought attention to East Central Energy’s recent decision to begin exploring broadband options. He believes the cooperative is “in a good position to tackle” issues concerning connectivity in low population-density areas. ECE’s Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution to “enter the broadband business,” according to a press release from ECE.

Ty Houglum, vice president/chief information officer of ECE, said the Oct. 27 board decision came after “nearly a year of hard work, including grant applications, a feasibility study, meetings with local entities, additional research and learning from other co-ops that offer broadband.” The release also stated, “the co-op plans to prioritize unserved and underserved locations” throughout their 14-county service area.

On the heels of ECE’s release, the Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative announced on Nov. 2 that they received nearly $3.8 million as a Rural Development investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The money will allow MLEC to “deploy a fiber-to-the-home network to connect 473 people, 15 farms and nine businesses to high-speed internet in Aitkin and Crow Wing Counties.” 

MLEC will partner with Consolidated Telecommunications Company on the construction of the announced project, which is expected to begin in late 2023; the release also noted the cooperative will “make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program.” Additionally, a map of the project is available for viewing at www.mlecmn.net/fiber.

Warm wishes on a cold night celebrating broadband in Le Sueur County

Posted on by
Reply

Last night Le Sueur County held a celebration of broadband, headed up by Barbara Droher Kline. We were there to recognize a few key people who have helped bring better broadband to the area, starting with Barbara but we quickly realized that it’s a team effort. Everyone had a story. Some stories were of happy users working from home or not driving to the nearest fast food Wi-Fi to get homework done. Some stories were of frustration as Le Sueur has had its challenges with national providers getting (and subsequently losing) federal funding to serve the area when local providers were prepared to do it. A lot of the stories were of appreciation for Barb and other leaders, for the Blandin Foundation, for providers like Bevcomm and for policymakers who understand. It takes a village but it also takes a champion.

Le Sueur has been very vocal about what is working and what isn’t working for them. That has made it easy for folks like me to tell the story to help other leaders around the state (and beyond) recognize challenges and prepare for obstacles. It also helps policymakers understand where they can best channel support.

Barb’s speech below sets the stage.

OPPORTUNITY: Job opening Manager of Broadband

Posted on by
Reply

Last week I posted about East Central Energy moving into the broadband business; I’m please today to let folks know that opportunity has turned into another for the right person – they are looking for a broadband manager.

East Central Energy is excited to add a knowledgeable Manager of Broadband to our team. Are you a highly motivated leader who thinks strategically and can lead a team effectively? Can you creatively solve problems and bring together viable solutions? Come work with us in this brand-new position!

A day in the life

• Coordinate with VP/CIO to develop and maintain a department vision, strategy, and roadmap.

• Manage and direct operations and activities of ECE’s fiber network including hiring and managing employees; preparing reports; budgeting; reviewing and executing vendor contracts; maintaining public relations; marketing services; and managing assets.

• Ensure the culture set forth by ECE’s executive team is communicated and implemented.

• Keep employees informed of safety as it relates to their positions.

• Interface with broadband and internet service industry to explore new ways to bring value to ECE members.

• Represent the cooperative with regulatory agencies, legislative bodies, and industry associations.

Philanthropy and Broadband – classic combination – and a guidebook to help

Posted on by
Reply

The Benton Foundation has created a guidebook – Pathways to Digital Equity: How Communities Can Reach Their Broadband Goals—and How Philanthropy Can Help. They recognize that philanthropy has at least two roles to play. First, and most obvious, funding. Yes, a boatload of funding is coming into broadband – more than we could have dared to dream 10 years ago – but it will not be enough. We need the philanthropic community to help reach everyone. Second, and maybe even more importantly, philanthropy can get people to the table to join the discussion. Some people show up for the possibility of a check but that doesn’t mean they don’t listen and learn. Also, philanthropy often partners with policymakers and frontline leaders. And philanthropy can take the long view. Nonprofits are worried about keeping the doors open, businesses are worried about making money and elected officials worry about the next vote. Philanthropy can be patient.

Here are the chapters in the guidebook…

OPPORTUNITY: Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program now open

Posted on by
Reply

If you are working to spread the word on Affordable Connectivity Program funding (ACP) in your community, this funding might be for you…

The Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program (ACP Outreach Grant Program) is comprised of four complementary grant programs:

  • National Competitive Outreach Program (NCOP)
  • Tribal Competitive Outreach Program (TCOP)
  • Your Home, Your Internet (YHYI) Outreach Grants
  • Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Navigator Pilot Program (NPP) Outreach Grants

The FCC issues this NOFO to describe the requirements under which it will award grants for the NCOP and the TCOP. A separate NOFO will be issued for the ACP Outreach Grant Program – Pilot Programs, YHYI and NPP. The ACP Outreach Grant Program is one tool among a comprehensive set of measures authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021(Infrastructure Act) and implemented by the FCC to help bridge the digital divide. The ACP Outreach Grant Program will help increase awareness of and participation in the ACP among eligible households. The ACP Outreach Grant Program provides new federal funding for the FCC to grant eligible governmental and non-governmental entities with the funding and resources needed to increase awareness of and participation in the ACP among those households most in need of affordable connectivity. See Section IV – Program Description of this NOFO for the full Program Description.

OPPORTUNITY: President/CEO position for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce

Posted on by
Reply

A great opportunity in the same town at Blandin Foundation…

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce – President/CEO

Grand Rapids, MN 55744
From $66,000 a year – Full-time
The President is the leader and chief spokesperson for the organization and reports to the board of directors. The President’s responsibilities should be carried out in accordance with directions provided by the board of directors and within established guidelines so that organizational, fundraising, budgetary, community relations and volunteer objectives are achieved. The President serves as communicator, facilitator, and interactive community planner by developing, implementing and assessing Chamber programs, projects and events. The President provides strategic direction, vision and management for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.

RESOURCE: Recommendations to Prevent Digital Discrimination

Posted on by
Reply

The FCC has published Recommendations and Best Practices to Prevent Digital Discrimination and Promote Digital Equity. It’s a work from people on the frontlines after doing interviews and research. They have boiled it down to a series of recommendations – with greater explanation in the report than I have recreated here. I have highlighted the recommendations that struck a chord with me. For example, number 6 on the first list focused on ISPs: encourage competition. Because so much broadband expansion is funding, at least in part, by federal grants and loans, it seems practical to reconsider at how those are funded to encourage competition rather than focus on supporting one provider in any given area.

DEI Working Group Recommendations for Model Policies and Best Practices That Can Be Adopted for States and Localities to Prevent Digital Discrimination by ISPs:

  1. Develop, implement, and make publicly available periodic broadband equity assessments in partnership with ISPs, the community, and other local stakeholders.
  2. Facilitate greater awareness and information sharing among multi-dwelling unit owners regarding tenant choice and competition considering broadband service agreements.
  3. Identify local opportunities that could be used to incentivize equitable deployment
  4. Engage, where permissible under state and federal law, in the management of public property, such as public rights-of-way, to avert discriminatory behaviors that result in or sustain digital discrimination and redlining.
  5. Convene regular meetings of broadband providers and other stakeholders, including community anchor institutions, public interest groups, community advocates, labor organizations, and faith-based institutions, to evaluate areas and households unserved or underserved with competitive and quality broadband options.
  6. Encourage fair competition and choice.

DEI Working Group Recommendations to Support Digital Equity:

  1. Make low-cost broadband available to low-income households through government benefit programs, in combination with internet service providers’ low-income programs.
  2. Build on the success of existing benefit programs that allow low-income households to apply a credit to an internet service of their choice.
  3. Raise awareness about connectivity programs for programs among eligible households.
  4. Strengthen marketing and communications about available federal and state connectivity programs and other programs that target low-income or other unconnected members of a community.
  5. Streamline the application process for government benefit programs referred to above.
  6. Increase support and funding for organizations such as schools, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations to provide digital navigation assistance in communities they serve.
  7. Fund, promote and leverage the use of digital navigators.
  8. Stakeholders should encourage Congress to create a digital public service and engagement program (e.g., digital navigators), which could conduct trainings and outreach in non-adopting communities.
  9. Increase device access and participation.
  10. Use public-private partnerships to facilitate remote learning and close the homework gap.
  11. Ensure that members of the community have safe spaces to access the internet.
  12. Strengthen digital skilling efforts in underserved communities.
  13. Encourage the creation of workforce development/training opportunities, focusing on historically underrepresented communities.

I&A Working Group Recommendations (Part Two):

  1. Adopt definitions of small minority- and women-owned (SMW) businesses.
  2. Designate a government-wide office to oversee supplier diversity initiatives, including the creation of an annual plan to increase supplier diversity.
  3. Adopt an accountable goal of no less than 30% participation of SMW businesses in state and local infrastructure grant and contract opportunities and provide incentives to first-tier contractors to partner with SMW businesses. 17
  4. Include auditing and in-progress reporting in the contracts/subgrants; implement thoughtful auditing, in-progress reporting, real-time accountability, and enforcement to ensure that SMW goals are met.
  5. The grantees, working in conjunction with the supplier diversity office, should proactively identify contracting and procurement forecasts and needs.
  6. Ensure diverse participation in task forces or committees that advise grantees on their broadband plans, including broadband supplier diversity.
  7. Promote certifications prior to disbursement of funds so that SMW businesses are prepared to participate in the funding opportunities.
  8. Grantees, subgrantees, and contractors should be required to reach out to SMW businesses.

D&E Working Group Recommendations (Part Three):

  1. The Commission needs to examine and expand the definition of “equal access” to facilitate greater adoption and use of high-speed broadband, especially among populations experiencing a range of inequalities resulting from a protected characteristic, or an intersection of various attributes or social determinants that limit their full digital engagement.
  2. The Commission should play a more active role in promoting the relevance of highspeed broadband among populations where broadband can improve quality of lives and increase consumer demand for more equitably deployed broadband services.

How can you help your community or subscribers sign up for Affordable Connectivity (ACP) funds?

Posted on by
Reply

This example isn’t from Minnesota but it seems like something folks could replicate here. The SF Tech Council produced this 90 second video on how they got people signed up for ACP funds in their area.

I know folks around the state have been helping. I just thought the video was too good not to share. Thanks to the Institute for Local Self Reliance’s ACP dashboard, we can see that while we’re working on it, there’s progress to be made in Minnesota…

  • Number of Eligible Households Claimed: 87,113
  • Percentage of Eligible Households Claimed: 17.33%
  • Number of Eligible Households Enrolled: 157,322
  • Percentage of Eligible Households Enrolled: 31.3%
  • Total Spending in State: $4,837,651.50

The American Library Association offers ideas for including then in your digital equity plans

Posted on by
Reply

The American Library Association has created a report that places libraries in their role and potential role in providing digital equity serves in the midst of federal funding to help close to digital divide. The report is full of good info, tips and timelines….

This report highlights just some of the thousands of ways America’s 117,000 libraries of all types—including school, public, community college, college & research, tribal, and special—are instrumental in supporting and advancing digital equity.

Libraries:

■ Bring the internet to their community.

■ Aid their community in building digital skills.

■ Create informed internet users.

■ Support workforce development and entrepreneurship.

■ Support and connect their residents to social services and telehealth.

■ Lend or provide technology like computers, tablets, hotspots, etc., to users who do not have one.

■ Build coalitions of community partners to create digitally equitable communities.

Libraries have a proven track record over many decades of advancing these activities. Funding libraries will allow us to not only support these efforts in our community now but allow us to build and implement new approaches that can promote and support digital equity, literacy, and inclusion in the years to come.

Finally, ALA recommends that:

■ State broadband leaders and policymakers include state library agencies in statewide digital equity planning groups and leverage their unparalleled reach into all public libraries to strengthen communications and outreach statewide;

■ State and local education agencies include K-12 school librarians and college and university library leaders in digital equity planning and deployment;

■ Libraries increase awareness of their local technology assets to improve coordination across all levels of government and develop grant proposal ideas for the forthcoming funding programs;

■ Congress enable sustainable funding for digital equity through measures like the Digital Equity Foundation Act; and

■ Federal agencies continuously work to reduce administrative and record-keeping barriers that limit participation by small libraries and other community-based entities and increase incentives and streamlining for consortial applications. ALA will continue to synthesize and share policy information and best practices libraries and allies can use to build a digitally equitable future for all. Learn more online at ala.org/ advocacy/broadband.

Paul Bunyan Communications connects 600 homes in St Louis County

Posted on by
Reply

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports…

Paul Bunyan Communications recently completed an expansion of high-speed broadband to nearly 600 homes, businesses and community institutions in rural areas of northeastern Minnesota.

The majority of the locations receiving new service are in St. Louis County, Minnesota’s largest county by area and the county with the most households in need of broadband access.

The $3.2 million project, which included nearly $600,000 in broadband infrastructure grants from the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation as well as funds from the state’s Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program, will bring broadband with speeds up to 10 gigabytes per second to rural areas near Ash River, Black Duck Lake and Elephant Lake as well as Kabetogama and Morcom townships.

“This is a huge service improvement for everyone in the project area and is a game changer for the residents and businesses,” Steve Howard, Paul Bunyan Communications’ IT and development manager, said in a statement.