Hoodline reports on broadband advocacy in Scott County. It is as if the folks in Scott County were at the same Office of Broadband Development meeting I was yesterday. It’s a call for Scott County folks and maybe a model for other MN counties…

For residents and local business owners in Scott County, Minnesota, the countdown has begun to speak up about their internet service, or the lack thereof. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has flung open a 30-day window, starting now, for individuals and companies to report inaccuracies in their listed internet coverage. This step could be a game-changer for those in dire need of a digital boost, navigating a landscape where high-speed internet is rapidly transitioning from luxury to necessity.

Under the microscope is the sprawling Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, with its hefty $42 billion purse provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It’s all about bridging the digital divide, working towards an “Internet for All” mantra. It’s no small chunk of change for the Land of 10,000 Lakes – Minnesota is looking at a hefty injection of nearly $652 million to connect its disconnected, according to county officials.

Why the urgency? BEAD zeroes in on the underserved and the unserved – places where the internet crawls below 25/3 Mbps or simply doesn’t exist. Minnesota’s own Office of Broadband Development (OBD) is spearheading the charge, equipped with an FCC-provided, interactive map that lays bare who’s got speed, who doesn’t, and who gets a slice of the BEAD funding pie.

Accuracy is paramount; the map’s revelations determine who rides the internet fast lane, and who remains in the pits, waiting for service. And it’s serious business – the OBD has implored constituents to use the map, ensure its precision, and essentially, chart their own path toward a more connected future. The map can be found on the OBD’s website, a crucial tool in an era where internet access is as critical as electricity and running water, once was.