Category Archives: MN

FCC authorizes $166.8 million in funding over the next decade; $3.3+ million for MN Projects

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The FCC reports…

The FCC today authorized $166.8 million in funding over
the next decade to expand broadband to 60,850 unserved rural homes and businesses in 22 states, representing the second wave of support from last year’s successful Connect America Fund Phase II auction. Providers will begin receiving funding this month.

Here are the projects authorized in Minnesota…

Minnesota: Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative
Minimum Speed: 1 Gbps/500 Mbps
Locations: 315
Support /10 Years: $1,313,543

Minnesota Garden Valley Telephone Company
Minimum Speed: 1 Gbps/500 Mbps
Locations: 95
Support /10 Years: $880,346

Minnesota West Central Telephone Association
Minimum Speed: 1 Gbps/500 Mbps
Locations: 532
Support /10 Years: $611,934

Minnesota Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative
Minimum Speed: 1 Gbps/500 Mbps
Locations: 209
Support /10 Years: $552,330

 

EVENT ALET: Minnesota Broadband Coalition Meeting June 18

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Minnesota Broadband Coalition Meeting

Tuesday, June 18, 2019
NEW TIME!  10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
League of MN Cities – Boardroom
145 University Avenue West – St. Paul, MN 55103
Agenda:
Introductions
Session Overview
Interim Plan/Next Session
Organizational Future
Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
Please RSVP by replying to this email or Emily Murray to indicate attendance or absence.
Feel free to extend this invitation to other interested stakeholders.
Reminder: All dues paying members are able to vote at this meeting.

Sanford-TytoCare and Best Buy partner to bring more telehealth service to the home

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Home Healthcare News reports…

TytoCare — which recently announced a retail relationship with Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) and also has multiple health system partnerships across the country — is just one example of telehealth’s steady evolution.

With its U.S. operations based in New York, TytoCare is the maker of an FDA-cleared telehealth device capable of carrying out a long list of medical tests in the home setting, including comprehensive heart and lung evaluations, as well as ears and throat checkups.

Through the company’s software platform, that biometric data can then be sent to the company’s health care provider partners, whose physicians can subsequently diagnose and even treat patients’ conditions remotely.

Here’s what it means to the consumer…

TytoCare’s consumer-focused telehealth product — TytoHome — is available to Best Buy shoppers for roughly $300, with virtual visits conducted by American Well’s LiveHealth Online costing less than $60 each.

But more than 50 health care organizations have teamed up with TytoCare by using its enterprise-focused offerings, branded as TytoPro and TytoClinic.

And the health care facilities…

The Sanford Health system includes 44 medical centers, 482 clinics, more than 200 senior living facilities, providing health care services across parts of North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. Its flagship home health division — Sanford Home Health — provides services in and around the Sioux Falls area, in addition to Luverne, Minnesota.

“With the exam capabilities this device has, I could see potential use cases being follow-up on post-surgical patients or chronic disease management,” Crabtree said. “I think that could fit with our home care population.”

 

Maine looks at tighter data privacy, shining a light on MN policy

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The Governor of Maine is looking at enacting the tightest data privacy law. But in looking at the issue the Mondaq News provides a nice outline of the laws here…

Nevada and Minnesota have enacted similar laws. The Nevada statute (Nevada Revised Statutes section 205.498) makes an Internet provider’s disclosure of confidential information a misdemeanor and provides for a fine between $50 and $500 per violation. The Minnesota law (Minnesota Statutes sections 325M.01–09) requires ISPs to take “reasonable steps to maintain the security and privacy of a consumer’s personally identifiable information” and allows for civil actions by consumers, but not class actions. The Minnesota law prohibits the disclosure of personally identifiable information except as incident to the ordinary course of business of the service provider, in response to a court order, subpoena, or warrant, to another Internet service provider under certain circumstances, or by authorization of the consumer.  Under an exception created by another Minnesota statute, cited in the privacy statute, personally identifiable information may be disclosed to law enforcement if it qualifies as contents of electronic communications “that appear to pertain to the commission of a crime” and that “were inadvertently obtained by the service provider.”

Technology makes it easier for seniors to stay at home in Northeastern Minnesota

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Thanks so much to Don Brunette from Access North Center for Independent Living of Northeastern Minnesota for collecting stories from two clients who have used technology (Echo Show) to make their lives easier…

G.G. is in her 90’s and her vision is fast failing. She was having a tough time even being able to use the phone. Her family found a phone with very large numbers, yet G.G. still had a tough time using it.  I set up Echo Show and with this device G.G. no  longer even needs to use the phone. She can just ask Alexa to call a person and the Show will do that for her.  I think this feature is one of G.G.’s favorite features–her smile was HUGE!

We added an Echo Spot now that lives in the Metro area in her family’s home. They are close however, do not get to see each other very often.  Now, with the 2 devices G.G. can just ask Alexa to drop in on (family) or (family) can drop in on her. We also set up G.G with the Philips Hue lighting for her living room and TV room.  This can be very helpful; G.G just asks Alexa to turn on requested light. She doesn’t need to get up to turn on anything and/or the lights can come on; also lights can be on before she even enters the room so that G.G does not walk into anything or trip.

We also set up the Alexa Fire for her TV. Now G.G can ask Alexa to turn on and off her TV, change channels and change volume as needed. No more multiple remotes with tape over some of the buttons so G.G. couldn’t hit the wrong button and switch the source instead of changing the channel. When that used to happen, a family member would need to go over and get the TV back to the correct source for watching TV.

Now we’re waiting for installation of Nest Thermostat and also Ring doorbell.  These devices will add extra security and safety to consumer home for her.

L.S. wanted some smarthome technology for leisure as well as to stay connected to family. We installed the Echo Show into her home. Now L.S. can listen to her music. She loves asking Show for some jokes and she loves getting the news rundown every morning.  She also enjoys being able to ask Show for the weather report and recipes.  L.S. even asked Show for some ideas to help her granddaughter with a school report. L.S is very close with her adult granddaughter now in Duluth for college. We equipped the granddaughter with the Spot so that the two can drop in on each other any time they like!

We also set up the Philips Hue so that L.S can turn the lights on and off without getting up. L.S is also going to be getting a Ring doorbell installed by Access North staff very soon.  L.S is very excited for this as living alone she cannot wait to be able to see who is at the door before she gets up to go and answer or yell – come in.

Stearns County recognizes the one-two-three public punch at broadband expansion

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St Cloud Times writes about broadband in the nation…

The Democratic senator and presidential candidate has championed several bills on the issue including one to map broadband coverage and one to measure the economic impact of broadband access.

State…

Minnesota lawmakers added $40 million to the state’s Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program in the budget approved a couple weeks ago.

And County…

And the Stearns County Board will review a new Broadband Feasibility Study on Tuesday that explores how to improve internet service to the southwest corner of the county.

“The whole western part of the county is unserved,” Stearns County Administrator Michael Williams said.

The county’s moving toward broadband service with download and upload speeds of 1,000 megabits per second, also referred to as one gigabit service, according to the new feasibility study.

It highlights what most communities that are un- or underserved today need to do. They need to get support from all levels (federal, state, local) in terms of policies that make it easier to deploy broadband and funding.

Rep Marquardt recognizes good work of Office of Broadband Development

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Rep. Paul Marquart of Dilworth, who chairs the House Taxes Committee recognizes the positive impact of the MN Office of Broadband Development when talking about recent $40 million for grants from Legislators. As posted in DL-Online…

The Legislature also approved $40 million for rural broadband expansion. “The Minnesota Broadband Office has really done a good job,” working with broadband providers with a minimum of red tape, Marquart said.