The State is calling the Minnesota Broadband Task Force back together. Terms run from July 19, 2023 to January 4, 2027. Here’s a formal description of the board…

The Task Force will consist of 15 members, with the Governor appointing one member to serve as chair. The Task Force is charged with creating an annual report to be issued by December 31 each year. The report will address areas such as: the needs, barriers, issues and goals for broadband access; the needs and use of broadband in various sectors; digital inclusion definitions and the benefits, needs and strategies for addressing identified gaps; availability and accessibility for unserved and underserved populations; advances in broadband technology; opportunities to coordinate with other levels of government; and continued review of the adequacy and appropriateness of the broadband goals.

According to the Secretary of State Boards and Commissions page, members have been selected although the positions are pending, not confirmed.

Returning members:

• Tewodros Bekele, returning member and chair, SVP/CTO, Land O’Lakes
• Mr. Steve Fenske, returning member, General Counsel, Minnesota Association of Townships
• Marc Johnson, returning member, Executive Director, East Central Minnesota Educational Cable Cooperative
• David Wolf, returning member, CEO, Gardonville Coop Telephone Association
• Mr Phil Stalboerger, returning member, VP Public Affairs, Medical Transportation Management
• Bree Maki, returning member and Director of the Office of Broadband Development (she is listed as only current member now)

New members:

I’ve including a professional connection if I knew the person or was very sure I found the right one. But there were some interesting potential skills in the otherst.

• Daniel Lightfoot, Intergovernmental Relations at League of Minnesota
• Melissa Wolf, Government Relations at Midcontinent
• John Twiest, CEO/General Manager Arrowhead Electric Coop
• Gail Hedstrom, Library Director, Fergus Falls Public Library
• Adam Hutchens
• Mr Bruce Crane
• Paul McDonald
• Ini Augustine, from Technologist Computers SBC
• Jerald Loud, Tribal expertise with negotiating contracts at Bird & Bear

I’m sure we’ll learn more about all of them soon enough but folks have been asking me about the task force. Below are the folks who have applied for the position, followed by the date they applied. It must be a difficult job to choose from such an amazing list. There are some highly qualified names on both lists. There are some parameters that must be met when selecting members…

The Task Force consists of fifteen members who are appointed by the Governor and have experience or interest in broadband matters. The members must represent a balance of broadband interests, including: residential and business consumers, local governments, libraries, K-12 and higher education institutions, tribal interests, healthcare, broadband providers, economic development, agriculture, rural development, workforce development, and labor interests.

• Naveen Aggarwal
  4/8/2023
• Scott Arneson
  4/3/2023
• Technologist Computers SBC Ini Augustine
  4/3/2023
• Dr John Bassing
  9/3/2022
• Mrs Ling Becker
  4/4/2023
• Tewodros Bekele
  4/21/2023
• Kenneth Budd
  4/10/2023
• Joseph Buttweiler
  3/27/2023
• Stacy Cluff
• 3/2/2023
• William Coleman
  3/3/2023
• Mr Bruce Crane
  5/17/2023
• Ms. Lona Dallessandro
  4/7/2023
• Mr Adam Deathe
  3/21/2023
• Carolyn Deters
  4/3/2023
• Barbara Droher Kline
  9/14/2022
• Mr. Steve Fenske
  3/16/2023
• Mrs Julie Foote
  4/7/2023
• Mr Antonio Franklin Jr.
  3/15/2023
• Josh Friday
  3/16/2023
• Carter Grupp
  3/22/2023
• Jacob Grussing
  4/4/2023
• Gail Hedstrom
  3/22/2023

• Mr Brian Hood
  6/2/2023
• Adam Hutchens
  4/3/2023
• Roger Imdieke
  9/14/2022
• Mark Jeffers
  3/17/2023
• Christopher Johnson
  9/2/2022
• Marc Johnson
  3/17/2023
• Hyon Kim
  11/7/2022
• Mitchell Koep
  4/1/2023
• Jeff Lacher
  9/20/2022
• Daniel Lightfoot
  10/4/2022
• Jerald Loud
  7/10/2023
• Michelle Marotzke
  4/4/2023
• Paul McDonald
  9/12/2022
• LOU MICHAELS
  3/2/2023
• Briana Mumme
  4/3/2023
• Jacqueline (Jaci) Nagle
  3/28/2023
• Mr. Terry Nelson
  3/2/2023
• Lisa OHalloran
  12/5/2022
• Todd Ojala
  4/3/2023
• A. John Peters A. John Peters
  4/3/2023
• Dr. Lana Peterson
  3/22/2023
• Emily Pinkston
  6/28/2023
• Scott Reimer
  3/2/2023
• Jennifer Sims
  4/3/2023
• Trevor Smith T
  4/13/2023
• Linda Soderstrom
  3/28/2023
• Mr Phil Stalboerger
  3/2/2023
• Daniel Stocker
  3/31/2023
• Dr Christopher Terry
  3/23/2023
• John Twiest
  3/22/2023
• Daniel Wilson
  4/5/2023
• Aaron Wittnebel
  3/15/2023
• Mr Matt Woestehoff
  3/20/2023
• David Wolf
  3/24/2023
• Melissa Wolf
  3/16/2023
• Nathan Zacharias
  9/11/2022