Everyone is welcome. I don’t think the report will be finalized at this point, but it will be close. If you have two cents to add, this is your time…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

December 1, 2020

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Meeting will use the Microsoft Teams platform:

Join on your computer or mobile app

Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only)

+1 763-317-4323,,456061428#   United States, Plymouth

Phone Conference ID: 456 061 428#

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 11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.                Welcome, Introductions, Meeting Overview, Approve Minutes

11:10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                Discussion of Electric Cooperative Easements for Broadband
MREA – Dan Lipschultz
MCCA — Tony Mendoza

11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.                Walk Through Draft Report

12:45 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.                Public Comments

12:50 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.                  Other Business, Next Steps, Wrap-up

From the MN Rural Broadband Coalition…

Save the Date!
Minnesota Broadband Coalition Meeting

Tuesday, December 15, 2020
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Via Zoom

Agenda and Details on How to Join the Meeting Coming Soon!
Please RSVP by replying to  Emily Murray to indicate attendance or absence.
Feel free to extend this invitation to other interested stakeholders.

The MN Rural Broadband Coalition met today to talk about plans moving forward. They did a nice job of getting feedback from all attendees. The notes I’m sharing are more of a glimpse than record of the meeting but I thought there might be potential members who wanted to know more about the organization. I’ve peppers screenshots of PPT slides with notes from the discussion:

What would be lost without the coalition?

• Unified message – particularly important for funding asks, helps smaller more niche organizations have a voice at the capitol
• Without the coalition we would have different positions/advocacy by the some of the broadband organizations. B2B program would be in jeopardy.
• Unified voice at the legislature on broadband
• Lobbyist to represent collective
• Harder to create a cohesive statewide plan. Carriers would be there at the table during the final discussions when their interests may not align with the coalition.
• We would lose a unified, bipartisan, rural voice at the legislature to ensure continued funding for broadband grants and the OBD.
• Prior to the Coalition, there were advocacy efforts, the Coalition provided true lobbying efforts.

• Border to border “real” broadband. Real = Future proof / expandable broadband deployment
• It’s not only about investment…. It is also about training
• Affordability – private? Public?

New Mission/Vision?

• All Minnesotans have access to quality, affordable broadband that meets their needs today and into the future.
• Fund long-term as a priority, necessity,  & essential infrastructure — treat it like rural electrification was NEEDS TO TO PART OF BASE BUDGET
• Minnesota will have adequate funding and support for  broadband to allow participation in all online activities now and in the future.

What are the ESSENTIAL elements that will help us reach our desired future?

• Funding the coalition is essential
  • Current funding model doesn’t allow us to do that adequately
    • Allows us to pay for a lobbyist
• Necessary infrastructure for broadband
  • We need funding but what is it we are paying for?
  • Roadmap of what would work
  • Incentives to private providers and/or government-run utilities

What, if any, elements may fall outside the scope of what we do?

• The coalition doesn’t want an ownership stake in the physical infrastructure nor do we intend to profit from our work
• Affordability of services
  • At the household level vs. at the provider level
• Defining infrastructure

Who benefits most from our efforts? (Our PRIMARY beneficiary)

• Those who have and will become connected through the broadband grant program

First – the agenda for tomorrow…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
November 10, 2020
9:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting will use the Microsoft Teams platform:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+1 763-317-4323,,706772572#   United States, Plymouth
Phone Conference ID: 706 772 572#

9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.                  Welcome, Introductions, Meeting Overview
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.                Gov. Tim Walz conversation with the Task Force
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.                Economic Development and Digital Inclusion Subgroup – report content and recommendations
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.                Barriers and Technology Subgroup – report content and recommendations
12:00 p.m. — 12:30 p.m.               Break for Lunch
12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.                Public Comment

• Duluth Mayor Emily Larson discussing the Minnesota Mayors Together letter
• Other public comment

12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.                  Minnesota Model Subgroup – report content and recommendations
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.                     Other Business, Next Steps, Wrap-up

One of the things they will be discussing is a letter from a group called Mayors Together that asks the Task to remember a few things with the recommendations…

We are writing to urge the task force, as it finalizes its report to the Legislature, to make two
clear recommendations:
• The first of these is speed. The 2026 goal of 100 Mbsp download and 20 Mbsp upload, while it may have seemed aggressive when it was adopted, now looks somewhat
modest. Why not recommend what the Border-to-Border grant has enabled in some areas of the state: 100 and 100?
• Second, we would urge the task force to tell legislators that this is an ongoing challenge, that having good access and speed is vital to all Minnesotans. As such, this investment should be a regular and recurring feature of the state’s operating budget. So, we would ask you to say that the Legislature consider the $35-50 million as an annual expenditure – for many years.

Finally, they will be welcoming the newest member of the MN Broadband Task Force…

Yvonne Cariveau is the Director of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the College of

Business at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Dr. Cariveau is also Principal owner and President of

Internet Connections/VoyageurWeb, a company providing web site hosting, custom programming and

website accessibility testing services. She received her Doctor of Philosophy in Marketing from the

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. She resides in Mankato, MN.

Yvonne will be filling the seat vacated by Shannon Heim.