I reported on this meeting yesterday, but it’s interesting to see what KRWC in Wright County has to say about the committee’s interest in broadband. It rings the bell for me again that we need folks representing the consumers and communities in the room with the providers and government agency folks. Always best to have the ones getting served in the room discussing what that will look like…

Broadband will be a focus for the Minnesota House Agriculture Policy and Finance Committee this legislative session. Chair Samantha Vang says the ag committee will oversee broadband for the first time. The Brooklyn Center DFL’er says the Legislature passed funding to support Greater Minnesota last session, now they need to review what progress has been made, and where further investments are needed.

Minnesota Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing of Waverly agrees that a closer look needs to be taken across parts of the state that may show on a map as having broadband coverage.  He says there are differences between having broadband, and having dependable, quality broadband.

Representative Vang says other important issues for the committee are avian influenza and better support for beginning farmers.