Category Archives: Blandin Broadband Summit 2021

EVENT Oct 12-14: Building on Broadband: Inspiring Progress: Submit a Proposal

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From the Blandin Foundation…

Submit a Proposal!
October 12-14, 2021

#mnbroadband

It’s been a challenging year. How did broadband help or hinder – or motivate – you, or your community?

This past year has highlighted the need for high-speed broadband connectivity for all communities. What has your community accomplished with good broadband? What have you accomplished despite bad broadband? What energizes and inspires you to keep at it? What cool things are you working on? What would you like to learn more about and discuss?

This is your chance to shape the agenda for our annual broadband conference. Whether you’d like to present, moderate a discussion, make a video about your town’s strengths or needs, or suggest a speaker for organizers to line up. All ideas are welcome!

  • Give a TED-style talk on a topic of your choice, like “How broadband saved my business (and sanity) during the pandemic.”
  • Propose a discussion question
  • Host a virtual tour of your facility
  • Show us how to use some software, how to set up a public wifi hotspot, etc.
  • Make a video (commercial-style) showcasing your community’s strengths, or one that demonstrates how badly you need better broadband

See the Request for Proposals and submit your idea today!

If you’d like to get together and brainstorm conference session ideas, attend the Blandin Broadband Lunch Bunch on Wednesday, July 28th at noon. Our original plan was to have attendees attend the comment period of the Governor’s Broadband Task Force Meeting for the first half hour and debrief during Lunch Bunch from 12:30-1, but Mary Magnuson will be opening the Lunch Bunch room at noon and would be happy to talk about your conference session ideas. Register for Lunch Bunch here.

Watch for info about a Regional Gathering near you!

Planning is underway for the eight regional meetings around the state. We’ll share details as they become available. The purpose of these meetings is to share your broadband story, to learn about the state of broadband, and plans around Federal funding opportunities in your neck-of-the-woods.

We’ll be in touch again soon with more information:

  • We will share information on the regional meetings as details become available.
  • Conference registration coming in August!

Save the Date! Building on Broadband: Inspiring Progress

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From the Blandin Foundation; this is a fun opportunity for anyone to speak up and tell your inspiring story, show us your innovation or ask us to get someone to speak to you…

Mark Your Calendar!
October 12-14, 2021

#mnbroadband

For our 2021 virtual broadband conference, we want to hear from YOU!

Yes, as the pandemic wanes, we’re planning another online broadband conference for 2021. But hear us out. This will not be a nine-hour webinar!

We want this conference to be your chance to be heard, and to interact with others from around the state. What’s the best thing you’ve experienced/learned around broadband or technology this year? What have you been working on? What has inspired you? If presenting isn’t your thing, don’t worry – suggest a TED talk we can discuss, pose an open space question, or better yet make your own short video. The sky’s the limit! See the Request for Proposals and submit your idea today!

Next, attend one of eight regional meetings being planned around the state to share your broadband story, to learn about the state of broadband, and plans around Federal funding opportunities in your neck-of-the-woods.

Finally, join us online for a 3-day, statewide event to hear what’s happening across the state – what is being accomplished, what is still needed, and how we can inspire each other to keep at it!

This year, we’ve all lived through a shared, but unique, experience. What was yours like? How did broadband help or hinder – or motivate – you, or your community?

We know rural Minnesotans keenly felt how important a strong, reliable broadband connection is. When kids can’t go to school, adults can’t work, and families can’t access needed resources, our communities suffer. By working together, though, our communities can forge solutions. Countless rural Minnesota communities have shown the way. Your community can too!

We’ll be in touch again soon with more information:

  • We will share information on the regional meetings as details become available.
  • Conference registration coming in August!

Questions? Visit the conference webpage