Category Archives: MIRC

Local leaders drive rural broadband: $6.3 million project shows resources, local focus boost local use

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Very pleased to share the following press release. I was lucky enough to work with the Blandin Foundation on the project and to work with some of the local projects.

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (May 31, 2013) – Through the work of local leaders in dozens of rural Minnesota communities, more than 250,000 rural Minnesotans have been introduced to online resources to find jobs, continue their education and monitor their health.

Connecting rural Minnesotans with tools they can use to plug into the benefits of broadband was a key goal of the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) project, a $6.6 million broadband adoption and use project in rural Minnesota between 2010 and 2012. The project was funded through a $4.8 million Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) grant through the U.S. Department of Commerce and $1.6 million in MIRC partner matches. Blandin Foundation administered the grant on behalf of the initiative partners.

Now complete, the MIRC project brought a network of resources and support to rural Minnesota individuals and communities—especially those unemployed and seeking employment, small businesses, coalitions of government entities, and local leaders. It leveraged resources of coalition partners to extend small business technical assistance and training, expand hours for access to workforce centers, distribute refurbished computers to low-income families, train individuals and businesses and create courses for knowledge workers.

A group of 11 rural “MIRC demonstration communities” received $100,000 each to identify and implement nearly 100 projects that fit local broadband needs and helped communities boost their overall ability to participate in the Internet-based economy.

“Rural towns, cities and counties stand at the threshold of the broadband economy,” said Robert Bell, co-founder of the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), who helped demonstration communities evaluate their broadband readiness. “They already have the sense of place their residents treasure. Through broadband services, they have the chance to add the richness and complexity of life that their urban neighbors have long enjoyed.”

Efforts like MIRC are one factor in Minnesota’s ability to maintain its place as a leader in rural broadband adoption and use. Broadband adoption, as measured by broadband subscriptions, increased from 64 percent to 70.6 percent in rural Minnesota during the MIRC project. In the demonstration communities, adoption jumped from 61.7 percent to 68.8 percent — close to 15 percent faster than the rest of rural Minnesota.

“The communities that experienced the fastest growth reported higher percentages of awareness and participation in MIRC activities,” said Dr. Jack Geller of The EDA Center at the University of Minnesota – Crookston and lead MIRC researcher. “Such evidence allows us to conclude that overall, intervention works. It’s hard not to connect the MIRC project … as a contributor to Minnesota’s leading position in rural broadband adoption.”

Local leaders drive progress on broadband in rural communities. In MIRC demonstration communities, dozens of leaders gathered community members to plan and implement nearly 100 local projects, including:

  • Boreal.TV in Grand Marais, a new local-access online video site that connects residents of and visitors to this far-flung northeastern Minnesota community with local activities from government meetings to local sports events.
  • Lac qui Parle County in far west-central Minnesota created the Computer Commuter — a mobile computer lab (retooled hotel shuttle bus) that brings free broadband access to communities in one of Minnesota’s most sparsely populated regions.
  • The University of Minnesota Extension’s Center for Community Vitality (CV) conducted training for more than 2,400 small rural Minnesota businesses on how to use high-speed internet for marketing, sales and operations. Businesses that participated in training had a bigger digital presence than those who did not, according to CV’s follow-up research.

“Blandin Foundation is all about Minnesotans imagining, leading and growing vibrant, resilient, rural communities,” said Dr. Kathleen Annette, CEO of Blandin Foundation. “Though rural broadband faces challenges, local leaders are making inroads. ‘Plugging in’ to broadband allows the small businesses, government entities and individuals in communities from Worthington to Thief River Falls to Grand Marais to fully engage in

“We applaud and stand with rural leaders with the vision of a strong, connected future, who know that to reach their vision they have to do it themselves, but they can’t do it alone.”

Free trial of broadband ROI? 84% customer retention in Itasca County

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Two questions I hear a lot in the broadband world: How can public and private work together? How can we encourage non-adopters to subscribe to broadband? I think the following story answers both…

Through MIRC funding, KOOTASCA Community Action supported a project that sought to bring computers and broadband connectivity to Native American student families in the Deer River School District. They partnered with PCs for People and Paul Bunyan, the local broadband provider to make it happen.

There were 28 PCs for People refurbished computers available at no charge to these families along with a paid 10 month subscription for Internet service for 24 families through Paul Bunyan Communications. The families qualified for free and reduced price lunch. The project ended December 31, 2012.

As of January, 2013 the households picked up the cost of the Internet at the regular rate from Paul Bunyan Communications. To date in March only 4 households have dropped their Internet service from Paul Bunyan Communications….an 84% retention rate.

KOOTASCA helped to facilitate the project between PCs for People (a nonprofit), the school and the local provider. We’ve had stories of similar projects in Thief River Falls and other areas – but it seems like the kind of straightforward plan that bears repeating.

Background and Update on Arrowhead Electric’s Fiber in NE Minnesota

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Last week I was luckily enough to travel with the Blanidn Foundation broadband team to several MIRC communities, including a visit to Cook County. I’ll post more information on broadband adoption in Cook County – but for today I wanted to post an update on broadband access. We started our tour of the area with a visit with Joe Butweiler at Arrowhead Electric Coop.

Arrowhead was awarded a combination grant and loan package from the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) a couple of years ago – and now they are on the brink of completing construction of 700-800 miles of fiber in some of the rockiest terrain in Minnesota.

Joe talks about how and why they got into the broadband business and how they will be able to serve customers through strategic partnerships soon.

Grandmas on Facebook: Closing the Digital Divide on the Leech Lake Reservation

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Photo 1Last week I was on the road with the Blandin Foundation visiting MIRC communities. We stopped in a number of places, including the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Temporary Employment Program. Through MIRC funding, the TEP developed a number of projects, including a computer center and access to digital literacy programs. I have written about the program before – the quick take is that TEP participants now have the opportunity to take digital literacy classes as part of the service that is offered. The lab is also open to other community users.

This visit we talked about the folks who come to visit the lab outside of the TEP participants. People walk to the lab, drive to the lab and sometimes the dedicated Program Director (Janice Gale) gets a van to shuttle users to the lab. She has done that to bring elders to the lab where they have learned to use computers through digital literacy training lessons (also developed through MIRC funding). It is very basic and starts with the assumption that the user has no experience with computer and apparently it’s a very good fit with the elders.

It was also fun to hear about how folks are being trained for better jobs – but it was a story told by Mike Jones that caught my attention. He said that one thing he learned through the program was that his grandmother was on Facebook. Mike made the point that with tools such as Facebook more people (especially older people) are interested in getting online because it is a connection back to family. His grandmother lives out of state, but is now able to connection with generations of her family.

I think Mike’s observation – that everyone wants to get online – struck me because the day earlier I had heard Jack Geller speak about the segment of the population who will never be interested in adopting broadband.  It just seems like there’s room for a couple big pushes to get more people to adopt. That may require getting a van and shuttling people to the computer center, or getting their grandkids to friend them on Facebook, but I left the TEP more hopeful.

PCs for People Affiliate in Willmar

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I’m a fan of PCs for People. They refurbish used computers and get them into the hands of folks who need them. The West Central Tribune recently ran an article on the PCs for People affiliate in Willmar. There are several branches or extensions of PCs for People in Minnesota, the partnership is Willmar is a little different in that PCs for People is working through a local computer dealers…

KandiComp of Willmar doesn’t plan to get rich working with PCs for People, a nonprofit that provides free refurbished computers to low-income families.

While the company is a for-profit business, its partnership with the nonprofit PCs for People is an important aspect of their effort, said Roy Stiff, KandiComp owner and a former United Methodist pastor.

When he and his wife Beth started KandiComp nine years ago, he knew he didn’t want to be just a business man.

“We built this to be a ministry extension, to help people receive computer technology at a price they can afford,” he said.

The partnership with PCs for People and KandiComp began through a MIRC grant.  The Kandiyohi County & Willmar Economic Development Commission (EDC) became the Demonstration Community that administered their local grant during the two year period.  They are planning a big computer giveaway on February 1, 2013. They will be distributing 100 computers.

This distribution of computers will diminish their inventory, so  KandiComp and Kandiyohi County & Willmar EDC asking folks in the area to consider donating any used computers company to the PCs for People program. (For more information about donating a computer to PCs for People or volunteering with the organization, call KandiComp at 235-2701 and ask for Robert.)

MIRC Partner Recognized: Carlos Espinoza

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Carlos Espinoza is the assistant city planner with the City of Winona. He was instrumental in much of the MIRC (Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities) activity that happened in Winona. At the 2011 Broadband Conference, Carlos spoke about their efforts to add public wireless hot spots around Winona in popular areas such as the public park, Lake Winona and the city campground.  He also spoke about Project FINE; a project we have mentioned before that provides digital literacy training to new residents, many who are also new Americans. Carlos also worked on Winona’s website to attract new residents to the area to fill the open jobs.

carlosI was pleased to learn a little more about Carlos in a recent volume of the CURA Reporter. CURA (Center for Urban and Regional Affairs) strives to encourage University-Community engagement. Carlos was recently recognized for his work as a Krusell fellow. The article describes the special fellowships…

the program makes academic work more meaningful, enables fellows to be more purposeful in designing their academic program, teaches practical skills, and builds relationships and networks with professionals in the field.

Most of Carlos’ work for CURA centered around, unsurprisingly, urban work. He worked with City of New Hope Community Development Department, Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services (DBNHS), and Model Cities, a community-development corporation in St. Paul. But it sounds like the lessons he learned easily transferred to his more current, more rural setting in Winona. We know he helped make MIRC a greater success in his community…

I credit the Krusell fellowship with helping me gain the professional experience instrumental in being hired by the City of Winona immediately after graduating from the Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning program. Perhaps more importantly, the Krusell fellowship opened my eyes to the tremendous difference that community-development activities can have on people’s lives. Overall, the Krusell fellowship professional experiences allowed me to “get close to the action” and understand that when you work for a community development department or organization, your daily work has a direct and beneficial impact on local people and places.

Tekne Award: A good time to look back at MIRC

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Last Thursday night, the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities MIRC team received the Innovative Collaboration of the Year award from the Minnesota High Tech Association. Some of us celebrated at the glamorous event in downtown Minneapolis, but we knew that we were standing on the shoulders of partners across the state as, by definition, winning an award for collaboration is not something you do alone.

The MIRC project was launched  in May 2010 when Blandin Foundation  convened the many partners for the first time to get to know each other, to assess symbiotic needs and assets and to define success for the project.

The folks at NTIA who administered our grant as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) have been keenly interested in broadband subscription numbers and rates and in job creation.  Against these indicators we can report that we have “overfilled the plan.”  Jack Geller’s project assessment team at UofM Crookston has documented a total of 56,222 new broadband subscriptions attributable to MIRC work – comfortably ahead of the initial goal of 38,000.  Jack’s team further documented that the adoption rate is 29.8 percent faster in MIRC partner communities when compared to the rest of rural Minnesota. And, to top it off, the assessment suggests that Minnesota’s lead in rural adoption rates nationally is directly attributable to MIRC.

But over the long-run, perhaps the most important result of our work together will be the relationships we’ve forged.  So far these relationships have given rise to many many wonderful community impacts no one ever foresaw or even knew to hope for.  YOU have made it so.

Today I want to take time and space to recognize and thank our partners by sharing some of my favorite, fun stories of the difference this work is making. You can get a more complete list of projects – today I’m just sharing the tip of the iceberg!

Benton County Enables People with Disabilities to Get Online

Benton County has been successful with a number of programs that improve the standard of living for seniors – allowing them to connect with loved ones online either as they age in place or move to assisted living. Developing a program called BRAVE (Broadband, Resources and Vocational Education), the local assisted living center purchased computer equipment to create a computer center that includes assistive technology such as rubber, indestructible keyboards, large style keyboards and roller ball and joystick style mice for easier computer navigation.  It has been an opportunity to bypass barriers to getting online.

Cook County is Going Hollywood

Tourism is 70% of the local economy in Cook County with over 1,000,000 visitors annually. So it made sense to focus some of their programming on improving their online presence. Cook County improved mobile access to key tourism sites; they also made a big push to increase efforts to post local videos online with WTIP’s Videos from the Edge, which include great videos of the area, local events and local government activity.

Grand Rapids Website Wins Award

The Tekne wasn’t our only MIRC award. We were pleased to announce last February (2012) that Itasca Community Television earned the prestigious Pegasus Awards of Excellence for its website. The site features local video that helps keep citizens informed and engaged.

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Create Computer Literacy Program

Fun to see what’s happening  with Leech Lake on local news program.  Hats off to Janice Gale for her inspiring leadership of the Temporary Employment Program’s tremendous strides in integrating digital literacy into tribal employment services:

Public Computers for Vets in Stevens County

Sheldon Giesse, Mayor of Morris and veteran, talks about how computers and wifi in American Legion are bringing two generations of veterans closer.

Thief River Falls Partners with Providers to Make Access Affordable

One of the stated goals in National Broadband Plan and Minnesota Task Force recommendations has been to encourage public-private partnership. Thief River Falls is working with local broadband provider (Sjoberg Cable) to make broadband accessible to low income homes.

Computer Commuter tours Upper Minnesota Valley Region

Lac qui Parle is the home to the Computer Commuter, a souped up mobile computer lab. In the video below, patrons talk about why the visit the site when it rolls into their town.

What 8 Computers Can Mean to Somali Community in Willmar

We visited the Somali Women’s Center last year – amazing to hear the work being done to welcome to immigrants, including computer training and connecting back home thanks to the MIRC-sponsored computer lab.

Remote Interpreter Training in Windom

Windom has seen an influx of non-native English speaking residents. It has spurred some serendipitous business opportunities, which are currently in development through remote access to certified interpreter training made available through the University of Minnesota via teleconferencing equipment in the local Community Education location.

Digital Literacy Brings Cultures Together in Winona

Winona has become a hub for New Americans. Many are welcomed to the community by Project FINE. Folks from the Hispanic and Hmong communities take classes either separately in their native language or together in an English-language class. While Project FINE works extensively with these groups, the computer/internet classes have been the first ones with great interaction between the two communities. It’s been a great way for folks to connect with friends back home while they make new friends in their new home.

iPads in the Schools in Worthington

The Worthington schools acquired wireless access and 40 iPads. IPads are distributed across the various school buildings. The Alternative Learning Center is the leading user. There are not enough to go around! The new wireless access also provides great flexibility for students and teachers.

PCs for People

PCs for People refurbishes computers to distribute to low income households. Through the MIRC project they have been able to redistribute more than 1500 computers to rural MIRC communities. They have also been able to partner with some communities to set up franchise-type local PCs for People outlets.

eBusiness Training Gets More Local Businesses Online

The University of Minnesota Extension and MNREM  (Minnesota Renewable Energy Marketplace) presented business training to more than 1600 businesses. Extension focused on classroom training.

MNREM focused on local Social Media Breakfasts and Webinars. Below is an interesting video on what happens when demand outpaces supply – as happened at one MNREM event. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXpA2GkZIvg

Digital Literacy Training

We also reached around 1000 individuals with training Knowledge Training classes and online digital inclusion through DEED (Department of Employment and Economic Development) and Minnesota Learning Commons.

Finally we were fortune to work with 11 Regional Development Commissions across the state. They were instrumental in helping to spread the word about various local activities and built partnerships locally getting people connected with resources they needed.

This is a generous list, but I promise you it’s only a partial one.  And many seeds planted have yet to bear fruit.

So you can see that many many hands and hearts and spirits have contributed to the impressive impacts we were recognized for with the Tekne Award.    I love our team!  My hats off to each of you.

Blandin Foundation-led MIRC project receives Tekne

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I am pleased to report that last night the Blandin Foundation-led MIRC team received a Tekne award. Here is the official press release from the Blandin Foundation…

Billed as the “Academy Awards for high tech,” rural Minnesota communities and partners received a Tekne Award in Minneapolis on Nov. 1 from the Minnesota High Tech Association for their work on broadband access and adoption.  Representatives of the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) initiative collected the “Innovative Collaboration Award” in front of a crowd of nearly 1,000 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Selection of Tekne finalists and winners was made by an independent panel of judges.  In choosing MIRC, an initiative convened by Blandin Foundation and involving 30 partners, judges noted that, “MIRC has benefited from a legacy of collaboration. MIRC partners are numerous and the impact the collaboration has had on broadband adoption is significant.”

All rural regions of Minnesota have engaged in broadband projects as part of the MIRC Initiative.  Individual communities initiated more than 70 locally designed and led demonstration projects, such as Lac Qui Parle County’s “Commuter Computer” (mobile learning lab) or Winona’s “Project FINE” (language-specific computer literacy training in Hmong and Spanish).

Statewide MIRC partners provided training to more than 8,000 individuals, computers to more than 1,600 households and has resulted in more than 40,000 households in rural Minnesota subscribing to high-speed Internet.  The two-year initiative was funded through a $4.3 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant administered by Blandin Foundation and will be completed at the close of 2012.

“Resilient, vibrant communities are connected communities,” said Dr. Kathy Annette, Blandin Foundation CEO.  “And the quality and diversity of those connections is a hallmark of a community’s leadership and sustainability.  Through MIRC, engaged local leaders and statewide partners worked together to bring the promises of broadband to many of Minnesota’s rural communities, including all residents in their progress.  Blandin Foundation is thrilled that this ambitious and innovative partnership has been honored through the Tekne Award.”

Presented by the MHTA, the Tekne Awards honor those who play a significant role in discovering new technologies that educate, improve lifestyles, and impact the lives and futures of people living in Minnesota and all over the world. The program reinforces Minnesota’s place as one of the most competitive and technologically advanced regions in the world. A full list of winners and finalists is available online at http://www.tekneawards.org/finalists

“The Tekne Awards recognize those whose leadership and dedication to technological innovation helps demonstrate Minnesota as a global player in technology-based markets,” said Margaret Anderson Kelliher, President & CEO of MHTA. “This year’s finalists should be extremely proud of their role in helping Minnesota excel.”

It was a wonderful night. So much fun to hear more about all of the finalists and the award recipients. What I loved most about the night was how the whole team marched up to accept the Tekne – Blandin staff, partners, community folks, consultants. It was fitting that the recipients of the Innovative Collaboration of the Year would be the ones to fill up the stage. That kind of inclusivity is what will help bring better broadband to every person in the state, it’s what makes good leaders and it’s what made the MIRC project so successful.

Reducing rates to get low income folks online is smart investment for providers

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Last week the Blandin Foundation hosted a webinar on Digital Inclusion: Success from the Frontline. One of the speakers was Dick Sjoberg, of Sjoberg Cable. Dick talked about their success with offering low cost broadband access to low incomes folks in their services area around Thief River Falls.

I thought it would be helpful for other local broadband providers and communities to hear how and why their program works. Dick points out that while it’s nice to do something for the community, that it has also been a very good marketing project. He offers reduced rates for a set period of time, but finds that 80 percent of those who trial broadband through the program extend their subscription.

Dick has been working with MIRC (Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities) partners. The community has been working to provide low cost computers and training as well as reduced broadband subscriptions.

A look at Minnesota Broadband in Twin Cities Business

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It’s always nice to see broadband get coverage in local mainstream media outlets! Twin Cities Business recently ran an article outlining recent history of broadband in Minnesota. The article starts by looking at access, recognizing the long term investment made by commercial providers as well as explaining the impact of government subsidies  – from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), FCC’s Universal Service Funds (USF) and ARRA (America Recovery and Reinvestment Act) – on those commercial providers. It details how Minnesota is stacking up to the legislative goals of ubiquitous broadband coverage of download speeds of 10-20 Mbps and upload speeds of 5-10 Mbps. The article indicates that there is progress yet to be made.

The report also looks at adoption – highlighting some of the recent Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) projects.

Broadband is an indispensable infrastructure for rural communities, says the Blandin Foundation’s Joselyn. The organization has been working with rural communities to both secure broadband access and to adopt the new digital technologies since 2003. Blandin and its partners secured an ARRA grant of nearly $4.9 million to promote Internet adoption in rural communities and added another $2.7 million of their own to the project.

One of the project’s target goals is to set up 11 demonstration communities using the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Community (MIRC) approach to determine priorities. For instance, Winona community leaders have determined that they need to increase Internet access in campgrounds and parks to compete for tourists, while other communities are focusing on goals such as e-health and distance-learning initiatives.

“Compared to the rest of America, rural Minnesota is leading adoption,” Joselyn says. “And MIRC partners are adopting at a faster rate than others.” According to a study conducted at the University of Minnesota–Crookston, about 64 percent of rural Minnesotans with access to broadband have adopted the new technologies, compared with 55 percent for all of rural America.

“To be successful in the new economy, communities need to be connected,” Joselyn says. “Access denied is opportunity denied.”

The report includes an interesting quote from broadband provider and Broadband Task Force member Gary Evans on broadband access…

Hiawatha Broadband is currently completing a $20 million project, funded by the company, to bring fiber cable to six communities: Dover, Eyota, Elgin, Plainview, Lake City, and Red Wing. Evans notes that while it is crucial to provide access to all of the state’s residents, the real impetus behind the race to connect is not residential Internet access, but improvement in health care, private and public safety, education, and jobs in rural areas.

It stresses the importance on anchor institutions – but I think focus indicates that we’re still a step behind ubiquitous access and adoption. First we must get these anchor institutions to make the most of broadband. Part of that process will include developing ways to offer and/or improve services to residents via broadband, probably at reduced rates to both the anchor institution and residents served – that when the business case will be made to provide ubiquitous access to broadband, affordable access to the tools and train everyone to better use broadband.

iPads for Patients in Windom Area Hospital

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I want to thank the folks in Windom for sending me the story from the Windom Area Hospital Beat on use of iPads in the hospital. Using MIRC (Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities) funds, the hospital has purchased four iPads for patients to use while in the hospital…

The iPads are intended to help patients and visitors stay “connected” to their family, friends and the world while they are at Windom Area Hospital. For example, the iPads can be used to: update CaringBrdige sites; access, send or respond to emails; surf the internet; use news or other current event apps; play games; read e-books; and more!

It’s a great way to help time pass more quickly, relieve stress and help patients keep up with work or school to make for a smoother transition back to real life once discharged.

Tekne Finalists Announced: MIRC partners celebrate

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We are very pleased to share the list of Tekne finalists; we are so proud to be on the list. The Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) project made the short list for innovative Collaborative Programs. We are humbled to be in such good company with the other finalists:

Innovative Collaboration

Also it’s exciting because earlier this year the Blandin Foundation made a strategic decision to continue efforts to promote better broadband around the state. Communities are invited to check out the website to apply to participate in the new Blandin Broadband Community Program.

The awards will be given out on November 1 at the Tekne Award ceremony.

Here are the other finalists that were announced last night. (I’ve bolded the companies based outside of the Twin Cities.):

Software – established:

  • GE Capital Feel Services
  • JAMF Software
  • Open Access Technology International

Software – small and growing:

  • Code 42 Software
  • Savigent
  • Third Wave systems

EDUTECH

  • eLumen Collaborative
  • St Cloud State University
  • UofM Rochester

Startup

  • Sophia Learning
  • SparkWeave

Technology Excellence in NP

  • GiveMN
  • MacPhail Center for Music
  • The Works

CleanTech & Energy

  • Biovation Holding
  • Sheerwind
  • TransUNImission

Life Science – established

  • 3M
  • Starkey Hearing Technologies
  • Vital Images

Life Sciences – small and growing

  • Cardio3 BioSciences
  • Circle Biologics
  • OrthoCor

Mobile & Communication Technologies

  • MakeMusic
  • MN Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Starkey Hearing Technologies

Advanced Manufacturing

  • 3M
  • Seagate Technology
  • Top Tool

Computer Hardware

  • Imation (Dataguard)
  • Imation (RX Media Source)
  • Network Instruments

Robotics

  • Parr Systems
  • ReconRobotics
  • Robotics Innovation

Tech Services & Consultants – established

  • Digital River
  • PeopleNet
  • Thomson Reuters

Tech Services & Consultants – Small & Growing

  • Agosto
  • SWAT Solutions
  • Trissential

PCS for Kids in Upper Minnesota River Valley

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I have to find a way to sneak in the following video into the blog. It’s a public service announcements (PSA) from 1995 that features fifth graders from Helena Montana as they try to sell the Internet. It’s fun but it’s amazingly prophetic when you listen to what they think the Internet will bring to the future. They recognize that the Internet will be the phone, the television, the shopping center and the place to get cupcake recipes for cats.

My job in 1995 was to sell the Internet – and while there were plenty of adults who got it; there were also plenty who didn’t. Kids seem to have the vision – partially because they don’t worry about practicalities – but I think part of building an effective future is arming kids with the tools they need to have the vision – and today that includes broadband. So I was pleased to learn about PCs for Kids in the Upper Minnesota River Valley.

PCs for Kids is an extension of the PCs for People initiative – the idea is to refurbish donated computers to give computers to families who need them. Upper Minnesota River Valley got 100 computers delivered through the MIRC project funding and due to the great work and flexibility of PCs for People. Five school districts in their region had been anxiously waiting for last Friday when PCs for People delivered 100 computers to Lac qui Parle Valley High School. From there the four other area schools came in trucks and school vans to pick up their computers that were for families that were selected to receive a computer from their list of eligible free and reduced lunch program families. Ortonville received 5 computers, Benson received 25 computers, MACCRAY received 20 computers, Yellow Medicine East received 20 computers and Lac qui Parle Valley received 30. Through this project they also have a $50 rebate available for these families if they are a new internet subscriber.

I wanted to share notes from of the participants…

It was amazing to see 25 of the people out of the 30 show up last evening to receive their computers. One of the Moms said then we have to give these back at the end of the school year right? And I said no these are your families computers and it is our hope that you and your children will make great use of them. Now, you will be able to access school information on the website and this will help your children understand that school is a priority. She had tears in her eyes when she realized the computer was hers, with very little strings attached. It is times like that when we truly understand the impact we can have on our student’s lives.

MIRC Community Update: Benton County

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As the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) initiative winds down, demonstration communities are taking time to reflect on what has happened in their community as a result of added focus on broadband and broadband projects in the area. Each community will go through this process looking at what’s happened, lessons learned and plans for the future. One of the public benefits of federal funding for a project link this is the opportunity each community has to share what they have learned and the opportunity that other communities have to glean from their lessons. And so today I’m pleased to share notes from Benton County. (Actually I have notes to share all week. I’ll add this preamble to each for historical context – but each day will be a new community.)

MIRC Coordinator Angie Boecker welcomed the group and recognized their hard work.  She noted the absence of Nancy Hoffman who has moved on to a new job.tom

Project Updates

Independent Lifestyles, A center of Independent Living

This non-profit organization has had 100 people taking digital literacy classes and over 900 people have used the computer lab.  This newly created computer lab is open to clients and the general public. They have handicapped accessibility computers.

They were surprised at the number people who do not know about computers initially, but not any more!  This area needs attention.

The technology center provides a permanent resource for the organization and the general public.  The computer lab brings people into the facility and increases interaction between the clients and the community.

What’s up in Foley?

The goal was to increase the exposure to the community’s events, information and opportunities.  The community has lots of web sites doing their own thing, but there was no linkage between sites, with many gaps.  This site also provides a web presence for those organizations without a web site.  It serves as the community portal.

They have done lots of work with non-profits – the non-profits use it as a tool for fundraising and a place to find volunteers.  They have volunteer opportunity listings.  A great success story – Foley Fun Days promotion.  5700 page views during the festival – fun run registration, parade information etc.  Accessed from multiple devices.  Challenges – “teaching old dogs new tricks” – but once people see the benefits, they are more enthusiastic.  Sustainability – $50 annual fee for business, no charge for non-profits, moving towards FACEBOOK.

LA HOME CARE – Smart Home Technologies – Grand Care

Tom Ardolf

The project was about Tele-health and tele-wellness.  It required combined health care and technology expertise.  Goal – keep seniors in the homes.  Benefits – the cost savings are significant, plus seniors want to stay in their homes.  How do you assist seniors and care givers?

They monitor daily living and ease access to the Internet.

The technology uses sensors to monitor behavior, prescriptions, movement monitor, etc.  and provide video conferencing.

Success story – During the home to a 90 year old woman with dementia, she received a video call from her granddaughter in Hawaii who just had a baby.  Greatgrandma got to see the baby rather than just a picture.  Though she does not understand the technology, she knows that when the computer beeps, she will soon have a visitor on the screen.  Using Skype for the video conferencing.  Family locally was not real supportive of the use of technology; family farther away love it.    Broadband is so important; crummy broadband does not support the technology.  Three systems provided by funding.  Ten clients assisted.

CITY AND LIBRARY

The goal is to increase knowledge, accessibility and training.

They created a new city web site, purchased computers and IPAD for library and provided training at library.   The web site used for the hiring of new police officer, pool news, Foley Fun Days info.  It provides 7 x 24 availability of information.  The project solved the ongoing shortage of computers in the library.  The library delivers ad hoc training to users.  The availability of wireless within the library allows people to bring their own devices.

Senior training class with 5 participants.  They begin at the beginning with mouse, etc.  Success – one of the five seniors has purchased their own computer and caught fire.  Lesson learned – PEOPLE WANT TO LEARN!  Email, Skype, searching basics.    Only a few people with no interest.  There is a waiting list for classes.  They are hoping to partner with community ed for additional training.

28,000 hits on new web site.  Use quadrupled over old site.  Analytics drive content and seasonal web changes.

FOLEY COMMUNITY EDUCATION

They increased the access to their computer lab, tutoring, and classes.  They are making use of online learning for all kinds of learning – foreign languages, lego robotics, computers, etc.

They have one memorable story of a displaced worker who came to community ed and learned how to use a computer for his job search.

The project has provided lots of good learning for community ed about what people are seeking and their receptiveness to online learning.  They are using the lab for Gifted Students.  With more hours, there is lots of lab use in the morning before school.  The STEM programs benefitted from more access.

Community Ed also hosted the U of M business training.

FOLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Foley Schools installed wireless access routers for open access for all those within the schools.  The network is completely wireless and open to all devices.  Football and track fields too!  They are now streaming sports events online.  They believe that their best success story is yet to come.  They are moving to IPADs for lots of kids for mobile learning around the school and campus.

We are opening up the world to our kids.  Kids can use their own devices on the school network.  We expect to see more student achievement as a result.

Sauk Rapids Community Ed.

Their project purpose was to increase use of broadband; they increased   computer lab time for students and community.  They provided skills training, including the U of M business training.  They purchased 12 IPADS to use in classes and training sessions.  MIRC funding made all of the training very affordable for attendees which was great.

They educated parents about the parent portal web site for payments and other information.  The open computer labs for middle school kids was very successful; less success offering open labs to the community.

One of their classes targeted the senior citizens and included information about  “How to buy a wedding gift online”. This was a great success.

They targeted classes at people 50 + who do not use computers; they need to know this stuff to participate in the world.

They shared the purchased IPADS with ABE Students.  Students feel very comfortable with the IPADS.

Offered over 50 classes with 400 + participants.  Participation was higher than we expected – low price spurred interest.  Ongoing, they will have to charge a bit more tuition.

They now plan to create joint events – one activity for youth, one for the parents.  Parent conferences are an opportunity.

The project had a positive impact on community ed by participating on the steering committee and sharing across community organizations.

COUNTRY MANOR

They are now providing Ipads for use by building tenants.  Sartell students are serving as teachers for senior citizens. Tenants and families feel more connected.  Now tenants are purchasing their own computers and/or IPADS.  Learning: patience is critical for trainers.  Open access wireless network has been well received.

FOLEY FFA

They created a FFA web site.    They are using technology to connect the students to the agricultural community, including GPS and mapping software.  They are testing local wells.  This has had a positive impact on student learning – real life learning.  Collecting 64 water samples.  Health Department helped test the water, then the data and GIS data uploaded.   People were very interested in getting the web site data.  3 of 64 wells were discovered to be bad.

Water testing will be ongoing.  The database of information is growing and becoming more valuable.  Google maps are used to plot wells and data.  The teacher learned lots!!

MAYWOOD GROUP AND NEW FRONTIER SERVICES

This is a project to implement the business website assistance program with six Benton Co. Businesses.  It is slow going on this project.

MIRC COMMITTEE PROJECTS

They created a telecom provider brochure.  They are marketing Benton Co. with this new web site.  They have a new logo.  The business posters have been very effective at promoting the 13 new public access hot spots across the county.

They really worked the roadside marketing class.  57 businesses now claim their Google places; the goal is 75

They are embarking on Community Asset mapping.

PROJECTS

  • To continue education efforts around seniors, adults and school age kids.  All groups.
  • Organize user groups around specific topics – cooperative learning and networking.
  • Creation of checklists and help hotline.
  • Encouraging 1:1 initiative with schools so that every kid has access to a device to connect to school.  Side benefit of family access
  • Mapping assets and businesses.
  • Attract Lower cost Internet provider
  • To increase the available places for public access.  Market these locations.
  • Share success stories
  • Help small businesses more ably use the Internet
  • Social media breakfast

MIRC Community Update: Cook County

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As the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) initiative winds down, demonstration communities are taking time to reflect on what has happened in their community as a result of added focus on broadband and broadband projects in the area. Each community will go through this process looking at what’s happened, lessons learned and plans for the future. One of the public benefits of federal funding for a project link this is the opportunity each community has to share what they have learned and the opportunity that other communities have to glean from their lessons. And so today I’m pleased to share notes from Cook County. (Actually I have notes to share all week. I’ll add this preamble to each for historical context – but each day will be a new community.)

MIRC project coordinator Danna MacKenzie welcomed an excellent group to the meeting and gave her thanks to the great work done by the committee and project teams.

PROJECT UPDATES

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic – Rita Plourde, clinic director, provided an overview of the work to date.  Their initial idea was much bigger and different than the project that was funded.  The project morphed from the concept of a big portal to something more manageable.  Rita admitted that she loves the approach NOW, but it required a big mindset change.   Rita loves the inter-generational interaction of their project team.  Video education for patients is the primary activity that is now occurring.  The videos feature local health care professionals dealing with local residents; this brings huge credibility to their video efforts.    Bringing health care professionals into the change of practice has been a challenge – Some are resistant to change.

The project has enabled better patient communication with the clinic; having a small staff makes one-to-one communication difficult.

RN Amy Marie Schmidt picked up the project reporting with the opening phrase –

“Blandin Foundation to the rescue!”  Cook County Challenges – We are in the middle of nowhere, at the end of the road.  Technology helps us solve these problems.

The clinic formed a Community Relations Committee as a first step to plan electronic outreach.  Step one – fix the current web site which was described as a black hole.  So they now have a snazzy new website.  Jack created the web site at Boreal.  They have a new electronic newsletter, the web site has an “ask a nurse” function, making the clinic an accessible home for Cook County residents.

“Move it in May!” is a highly interactive social media campaign around health.  People measure their steps or biking and plot it as a virtual tour around Lake Superior. This tool is hosted on the clinic web site.  The tool provided fun, oriented people to the web site, and helped them learn to use the technology.  People needed help!  About 250 registrants.  Marketing through FACEBOOK, signs up around town and web site.

They have created 12 patient education videos.  They are rotating on web site and archived for anytime viewing.

They also purchased two IPADs as pilot for patients to enter data and patient education videos.  They have three online forms.   There is also the “ask a nurse function” too.  They have committed a lot of effort around HIPPA.

“The Blandin Funds helped us think outside the box, it made us stretch!  This has opened the flood gates of ideas.”

PCs for People.

25 computers were provided to each demo community.  While the target was individual residents, the group decided that it would be better to put these in the community centers due to the lack of broadband in the community.  Higher ed center, Grand Portage received computers.

DIGITAL INCLUSION

They wanted to expand the capacity of the library to support those wanting to go online.  They also wanted to make the library a place where residents could touch and use new devices.  So they purchased e-readers and IPADS available at the Library.  Kick off is set for an August 27 event.  A bit of training will also be available.  The project exposed concerns of library staff – tech issues around filtering, etc.    Locking them down or not – that is the question.

They are considering the possible use of high school students to help train people to use equipment.

The Senior Center now had three computers with small monitors.  They are moving towards a peer training system.    They are investigating the purchase of touch screen technology computers.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

They are moving towards an Online Museum catalog.  They are partnering with MN Historical Society on training.  They have been collecting since 1924 when the Cook Co. Historical Society was formed.  5 years ago, they began to archive using the Past Perfect Archive system.  The goal is to help the researchers help themselves.  Initially this was on the in-house computer only, but turned out that the tool was too complex for amateur users.  So they moved to different system.

They have 3200 objects, 450 library items, 3500 photos, all of which are moving online.    They already have 8000 archived items now online.  One key is using good search terms and categories.

You can digitize anything!! Photos, videos, audio clips.  It all takes time, they have a long way to go.  Time to ready the data, digitize and enter.

Higher Ed Center

The Higher Ed Center is an excellent training facility and training location.   The PCs for People computers stretched their budget nicely.  There is tremendous collaboration around training with many engaged parties.  Knowledge workers, Digital Literacy and business training was completed.  21 training events with 185 different individuals attended.  Google Map classes was a success; they went from 5 places to 25 places overnight.  Bad broadband is still a barrier.  Now businesses don’t have it, but the visitors do at home.  We need to know our customers’ expectations.

Collaboration around accessibility – tech squad made up of youth had mix of issues, but still was productive.

Explored using the tech center as a telework center – both residents and visitors.  Discovered system constraints.  With the new network, there is a question as to whether such a telework center will still be an asset.

They are now offering certificate and degree opportunities.  GPS for loggers was a very interesting mix of people with widely varying computer skills.

They were able to leverage other foundation funding opportunities to support goals.

They provide public access on evenings, with an overlay of training aspects.  They are finding that there are still folks learning to use the mouse!

Digital Literacy – ABE – Issues.  The requirement that ABE class takers be job seekers is a real barrier.

COOK CO CVB

The goal was to convert existing five visitors sites to mobile compatibility.

Tourism is 70% of local economy with over 1,000,000 visitors.  Mobility is critical.

In 2009 – 9%  used mobile phones for tourism web serving, in 2011, this grew to 27% .

Converting to mobile required lots of learning.  WordPress sites are great for conversion; others not so great.  Tourists want to avoid talking on the phone; they want to investigate and book online.

People are staying online longer on the web sites.

IPADS and IPHONES are the top mobile devices.  700 IPAD hits in one weekend.

The conversion requires the right back end.  There are cross platform challenges of content, pictures, databases.  Photos need to be selected carefully for the small screen.

The project opened our minds to the possibilities that we can do!  It is now impacting the viewpoints and practices of the entire tourism industry and Cook County.  Extreme use of google analytics!

VIDEO

The school district started doing web streaming sporting events………Lessons learned… do a good job in researching the right equipment.  Be creative – had to wire the gym for computer for electric and Ethernet.  Collaboration was huge – so Boreal, WTIP and the county have been an effective partnership.  Boreal.tv is the result . We now stream graduation, band concerts, sports, .  We share a videographer, tech support through Boreal.   Now we have a non-profit to continue these activities.

WTIP Video – shooting and streaming video that supports the aura of Cook County.

Boreal supports the growth of video production through training and promotion.  Boreal also works on the back end – all of the equipment, servers, streaming software.  Great team.  Do all the county government web sites.  55 videos archived.

The group then brainstormed ideas for future priority…

  • Grow Boreal TV
  • ISD 156 YOUtube channel
  • More IPADS in schools
  • Snazzy e-government use
  • Mapping historic sites
  • Health education and intergenerational activities
  • Creating a culture of use promoting use by users
  • Workforce readiness w. volunteers
  • 3D mapping
  • Telework initiative