The Second Annual Black Broadband Summit was an opportunity for folks to talk about their broadband needs and experience and to learn about cooperatives. There were 2-3 dozen people attending. There is a push to create a black-led broadband cooperative to meet the needs of the local community and develop community wealth. There was more conversation about the reason and the whys than the technology but I think giving a reason for people to want to do something is a great start.
Here are notes from the sessions:
Ini Augustine – Project Nandi
During COVID Ini realized people needed computers. After the murder of George Floyd, Ini realized that having the computer wasn’t enough. People needed training, support, broadband. Redlining for technology seems to mirror the redlining for homeownership laws.
We need a black led cooperatively owned broadband provider. They released a report on broadband in the community and submitted it to the Office of Broadband Development with the hope that it might impact the federal money coming into the state for broadband.
Steering Committee Status Report
- We have the power to take control of our own technology. We can be good at technology. It’s all about opportunity.
- Internet is a modern day tool people without access to that tool are being marginalized.
- We need to take back our money and our power away from the monopolies.
- In technology, you don’t take notes for yourself, you take notes for the people who will follow you.
Can you tell us about a time that you needed internet and didn’t have it?
- Had to take days off of work rather than work from home
- Only one option means putting up with crappy service
- Dropped cell phone coverage means loss of Google Maps
- Internet is more power than lights
- In Hennepin County if you get MFIP, you can submit forms by iphone – but not with an Android and you need a decent data plan.
- I need access to compose music – I rely on internet to do that. It’s greater to food to me.
- I will pay broadband before I pay electricity. I have five kids and when internet goes out, I pack up my kids to pay it immediately.
Black Coop Training by Nkuli Shongwe
- Ownership is a goal of the cooperatives.
- How do we relate to community wealth meeting? Buy in the community.
- What does it mean build your own membership when the history for some members may lead an inherent or historical imbalance.
- Black Panther started food stamps and buses that would bring families to visit loved ones in prisons. The point being cooperatives understand and strive to meet the needs.
- Cooperatives meet many needs.
Nandi surveyed Minnesotans about technology – the Myth of Urban Broadband
Here are some of the finding/notes/stories from the audience:
- 113 people surveyed
- According to OBD, 90 percent of MN have broadband but that means 300,000 people in the TC without broadband
- 3 percent of people surveyed had no device at home
- less than 30 percent of people who qualify for ACP take advantage of it – Nandi tris to help with that because they found that the time required to get ACP was a barrier
- Access to broadband by ethnicity/race varied dramatically
- The speeds and quality of service also varied greatly. They found that people in parts of Minneapolis were paying as much for slower speeds than folks in the suburbs.
- Many providers are beholden to shareholders, not customers.
