Evansville-based MetroNet acquires MN-based Jaguar Communications

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Inside Indiana reports…

Evansville-based MetroNet Holdings LLC is adding to its portfolio. The parent of fiber optic communications provider MetroNet has announced plans to acquire Minnesota-based Jaguar Communications, though financial details were not disclosed.

Jaguar provides fiber-based voice, video and high-speed broadband services to residential and commercial customers in southern Minnesota. MetroNet did not specify whether any jobs would be affected by the acquisition.

The deal is expected to close in the coming months. MetroNet says more information will be released once the acquisition receives regulatory approval.

Senators question FCC restrictions on broadband funding in areas that have state funding

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Benton reports on Vox‘s story about the senators’ (including Sen Amy Klobuchar) letter to the FCC…

The Federal Communications Commission’s latest plan to expand high-speed internet access across the country has come under criticism by Members of Congress who fear over $20 billion in funding might not make it to the communities that need it most. Two dozen senators wrote to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai denouncing the FCC’s new Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). According to the senators, money won’t be made available to communities that have already been awarded funding through the US Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect program or other broadband development or subsidy programs run by the states themselves. “This decision by the FCC sets a dangerous and counterproductive precedent that discourages states from investing in rural communities,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. “This order could be devastating to rural New Yorkers and rural communities around the country,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

At a Senate Appropriations hearing, Chairman Pai said, “If a state has said to a broadband provider, ‘here’s funding to provide 25 megabit per second service,’ I do not want the FCC coming over the top and double-funding that company, or finding another company to do the exact same thing.” Still, the senators fear that the limitations that the FCC has rolled out for RDOF could send a “discouraging message” to states that are considering establishing their own broadband programs. “Your agency should be incentivizing states to take action,” the senators said in the letter.

OPPORTUNITY: Government Experience Awards 2020 Call for Entries

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OK Minnesota – it’s time to flood the market and let them know how we shine…

The Center for Digital Government (CDG) invites nominations for its GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE AWARDS 2020, where we celebrate achievements and learn best practices from U.S. states, counties, cities, and federal agencies/departments. We will recognize communities that have gone beyond simply using the web to radically improve upon the experience of government and are pushing the boundaries of how services are delivered.

Submission Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2020.

For more information and entry forms, visit www.govtech.com/cdg – click on the GovX banner/Call for Entries.

Webinar March 12: We are providing a webcast this year to assist you. Listen to CDG Co-Directors Teri Takai and Phil Bertolini, along with e.Republic’s Chief Innovation Officer Dustin Haisler.

Register here (no cost) to attend the webcast.

Overall Experience Awards
All U.S. state, county and city governments may nominate their jurisdictions’ experience for the Overall category:

Award categories:
State Government
County Government
City Government

Project Experience Awards
U.S. state and local governments and their individual agencies and departments, and U.S. federal agencies/departments may nominate their projects for the Project Experience Awards.

Award categories:
City
County
State
Federal

Top government jurisdictions, agencies and departments will be honored at a celebratory, high-energy Experience Academy and awards event this fall, Sept. 24, 2020 in New Orleans.

Broadband related MN bills introduced: easements, social media, data and telecom definitions

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This is part two of a list of bills in the world of broadband. These are bills I hope to keep an eye on, but less likely to attend meetings on them. Please give me a shout if you have an update on any of these bills or seem one I missed.

HF4268,/ SF4198 A bill for an act relating to rural broadband; allowing existing easements held by rural electric cooperatives to be used to provide broadband service; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 308A.201, subdivision 12.
Authors Reps: Ecklund ; Lueck ; Heintzeman ; Lislegard ; Sundin
Authors Sens:
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Greater Minnesota Jobs and Economic Development Finance Division.

HF3588,/ SF2996 A bill for an act relating to commerce; establishing a social media platform registration fee; establishing a social media impact fund; requiring reports; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325O.
Authors Reps: Edelson and Xiong
Authors Sens: Chamberlain ; Benson ; Rest

HF3869,/ SF3880 A bill for an act relating to crime; including the unauthorized copying of data stored in computers as computer theft; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, sections 609.87, by adding a subdivision; 609.89, subdivision 1.
Authors Reps: Moller
Authors Sens: Hall

HF4083,/ SF3965 A bill for an act relating to telecommunications; modifying the definition of local government unit to include school districts; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 237.162, subdivision 2.
Authors Reps: Tabke
Authors Sens: Pratt
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

HF4084, A bill for an act relating to elections; providing for election technology and cybersecurity assessment, maintenance, and enhancement; requiring certain election security notifications; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, sections 201.022, subdivision 1; 204B.27, subdivisions 5, 10; 206.57, subdivision 6; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 5; 209
Authors Reps: Nash
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

HF4085, A bill for an act relating to public safety; establishing the crime of unauthorized access of critical state information technology systems; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 609.891, subdivision 2.
Authors Reps: Nash
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Division.

Could emergency coronavirus preparedness funding boost telehealth?

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The Brainerd Dispatch reports…

Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith voted to secure $8.3 billion in emergency funding for coronavirus preparedness and response efforts, including support for state and local health agencies, vaccine and treatment development, and low-interest loans for small businesses affected by the outbreak.

Included in the bill was an additional $500 million to expand telehealth services for seniors in small towns and rural areas who receive Medicare benefits. The emergency funding also includes at least $40 million for tribal health entities to ensure tribal communities have the resources needed to respond to the virus outbreak.

According to a news release, the state of Minnesota is expected to receive at least $10 million as part of this emergency funding.

On a related note, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota announced coverage updates on Friday afternoon in an effort to combat the spread and impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Part of their plan is to expand access to telehealth and nurse/provider hotlines.

Anoka County working with Blandin on broadband improvement projects

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I’ve been looping back with counties to see how things are going. Great to get an update from Anoka County…

Anoka County Regional Economic Development is currently participating in the Blandin Foundation’s Community Broadband Resources program to receive technical assistance from Bill Colemen to help the cities of East Bethel, Columbus, Nowthen and Linwood Township with their broadband improvement projects.

City of Nowthen, East Bethel and Columbus are looking to partner with one or more providers to build out the last-mile fiber network to all those unserved our underserved in their community (residents and businesses).  These communities are all considering a variety of strategies and funding to solve their broadband issues.

Linwood Township is partnering with Midco to connect a 50+ single family development to broadband services.  Linwood will also be considering options to improve fiber connections in other unserved or underserved portions of their community.

Rep Colin Peterson running again – broadband is hot topic

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Minneapolis Star Tribune reports on Rep Peterson’s decision to seek re-election. Broadband makes his short list of focal points…

The 15-term congressman was first elected in 1990 and chairs the House Agriculture Committee. On Friday, he said that in addition to agriculture, he wanted to focus on “helping our rural health care facilities, lowering interest rates on student loan debt, taking care of our veterans, and making sure we have good roads and good broadband access across rural Minnesota.”

Midco’s plan for fixed wireless in Yellow Medicine County

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I’ve been looping back with counties to see how things are going with local broadband. Yellow Medicine County had a whole PowerPoint presentation to share.

As you may recall, Yellow Medicine was ranked 78 out of 87 for ubiquitous access to 2026 speed goal speeds of 100/20. But in 2016, Midco got a grant to build better broadband from Canby to Marshall. Midco also has CAF funding to help build out fixed wireless – in fact they have $2.3 million for Yellow Medicine.

According to the slides, Midco is already serving Canby. The long haul fiber from St Joseph to Canby was expected to be completed Fall 2019. And they are proposing 10 vertical assets from which to provide fixed wireless: 5 assets in the county and 5 outside the county that will serve the county.

Sherburne County – installing conduit and becoming Telecommuter Forward

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I’ve been looping back with counties to see how things are going. Great to get an update from Sherburne County…

In the past few years, the Sherburne County Public Works Department has been installing conduit in strategic areas throughout the county as part of several road projects that are included within our 5-year county road improvement plan. The County’s goal in installing this conduit infrastructure is to “dig once” and facilitate the expansion of broadband service for County residents, businesses, institutions and public facilities.

An RFP for the fiber optic conduit was released in 2018 and Arvig was awarded the contract to fill several portions of the conduit. The County has continued to install additional conduit since that time and we hope to work with additional providers to improve the broadband service throughout the County over the next several years.

The County has also recently been accepted into DEED’s Telecommuter Forward program and we look forward to working with DEED’s staff to promote telecommuting options to our residents and business owners.

I look forward to hearing more about the Telecommuter Forward program as that gets off the ground.

Telehealth – a gift to therapists and patients with broadband

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Live Wide Open in West Central Minnesota reports…

Tiffany Voigt is a regional therapy manager for eLuma, a teletherapy company. She works out of her country home outside of the city of Ottertail.

In a sign of the times, she might not be living there at all if it weren’t for technology. Fast technology.

The home office window view is like working outdoors. But the snow today is bright.

“We worked with Arvig, a local Internet service provider, to be sure fast internet was available” on the land they were about to purchase in rural Otter Tail County, she said.

Having broadband access paved the way for Tiffany’s family to move from Fargo.

“I think having the opportunity to have a job and work online is big for moving to a small community,” she said. Telemedicine, or in her case teletherapy, is one solution for accessing and/or offering services in a rural area. “This online job has allowed me to pursue my career goals. It has led me to a director’s role.”

Tiffany supervises several people from her home office and the company’s services are provided in 30 states. “We help people who might not have access to therapists,” noting that much of their work is offered in schools. “I’ve actually had clients from Africa to California,” she said.

Broadband listed as tool to help close equity gaps

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The Duluth News Tribune reports…

Lawmakers in the Minnesota House and Senate on Friday took up efforts to bridge the state’s opportunity gaps for students and weighed a series of plans designed to close those the divides.

Legislative leaders from both chambers have said it’s one of the top issues facing the Legislature this session. And both chambers have said they must take steps this year to reduce disparities in educational outcomes.

Education experts, students of color, advocates and others on Friday proposed a variety of plans aimed at boosting achievement among Indigenous students, students of color and low-income students around the state. They said broader representation of teachers of color and Indigenous teachers, better access to early childhood education, wider access to broadband in Greater Minnesota, more equitable school discipline procedures and possibly a constitutional right to “quality public education” could even the playing field.

Mt. Iron-Buhl – Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County)

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The Blandin Foundation recently published an inclusive assessment of the last cohort of Blandin Broadband Communities. Including a segment on Mt. Iron-Buhl…

The IRBC group in Mountain Iron-Buhl (MIB) was led by the school district. During the first round, several of the team’s projects were school-based, including instillation of Wi-Fi on buses; procuring equipment for a new journalism class and Makerspace classroom; and bringing technology to outdoor classroom opportunities.

Other projects supported by the MIB BBC team included: • New web-presence for Great Scott Township12

• upgraded technology at the government buildings in Great Scott and Kinney;

• upgraded Wi-Fi at Mt. Iron City Hall, the Library, and other public spaces around town

• hosted technology breakfasts and technology training classes, and

• offered marketing audits for area businesses.

During the second round, the MIB BBC team continued with projects to support the use of enhanced technology in the school forest by acquiring twelve GPS units, geocaching container, a weather station, and a community greenhouse. The school aspires to attract even more users of the forest through enhanced environmental learning, and to open up the STEM Lab and technology offerings to the public. The school has sought and received additional funding that will allow instructors to develop curricula, programming and other opportunities for community members to interact with the technology. Participants will learn about graphic design, CAD, web design, video editing and publishing, and engineering. The school also is establishing a community journalism program and opening its journalism program to community members.

Other community-generated projects that received MIB’s BBC support include:

• An upgrade to the Open Y software program and upgraded technology at the Mesabi YMCA, including offering Wi-Fi throughout the building

• A new ap developed for the City of Mountain Iron to provide information to residents

• Improved Wi-Fi at Mountain Iron Community Center

One self-described “direct” result of the work of the MIB BBC team that required no funding, but did require leadership, was the decision by the Range Area Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) to create, host, and manage a website to serve as a central shared location for all of the documents related to broadband projects on the Iron Range, including feasibility studies, public presentations, fact sheets, and media reports.  Fulfilling this information management function is a key component of the civic infrastructure necessary to support collective impact, according to Kania and Kramer of FSK and Harvard’s Kennedy School. Claiming and executing ownership of this project undergirds the enhanced role RAMS has begun to play as an advocate for the broadband needs of its members since joining BCBP.

Hibbing – Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County)

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The Blandin Foundation recently published an inclusive assessment of the last cohort of Blandin Broadband Communities. Including a segment on Hibbing…

The Hibbing IRBC effort was led by the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce. During the first round the team focused on projects to raise the the technology skills of local businesses and entrepreneurs. The Digital Marketing for Small Businesses project was so successful they selected an additional sixteen businesses after the initial round of seven.

The Hibbing team also prioritized digital inclusion-focused projects, including:

• Purchase of twenty mobile Internet hotspots for library check-out.

• New public Wi-Fi hotspots in the community. • One hundred refurbished computers distributed to income-qualifying families, seniors and the disabled through PCs for People.

• Helped Hibbing Community College host a Technology Career Fair for students in grades 9-12.

Continuing with their business focus, in the second round the BBC team worked with TechTank to host for the Hibbing business community a series of free-to-attend monthly meet-ups with paid facilitators on topics such as entrepreneurship, financial management, and marketing.

Second round projects also help community anchor institutions maximize community benefits from the internet. They include:  • Helping Access North Center for Independent Living implement an aging-in-place initiative, using smart home technology to allow seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible.

• Partnering with Fairview Range to supply devices for use by residents at Serenity House, a residence used by cancer patients, allowing patients to access medical care records and to stay in touch with families and friends.

• Creating a mesh-network to provide low-cost internet service to sixty low income apartment units at the local public housing complex.

• Purchasing devices to connect eleven area emergency vehicles with the Fairview Range Emergency Room.

Grizzlies (Bois Forte, Cook, Orr) – Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County)

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The Blandin Foundation recently published an inclusive assessment of the last cohort of Blandin Broadband Communities. Including a segment on Grizzlies (Bois Forte, Cook, Orr)…

The Grizzlies is the mascot for North Woods School, which was opened in 2012 when the schools in Cook, Orr and Bois Forte were consolidated; and now the name for the IRBC effort within the school district’s boundaries.

Broadband access and use are both key concerns for this sparsely populated area. The region’s long-standing efforts to partner with existing providers began to pay off in 2020 when Bois Forte Tribal Government received Border-to-Border Broadband grant funding to connect ten unserved and 468 underserved locations throughout four sectors of the Bois Forte Reservation. (see page xx for details)

Other first round projects that address both access and use included adding public hotspots to the Cook Library and the Orr Center; upgrading computer labs in Nett Lake, the Orr Center, and at the Cook Library; purchasing five mobile hotspots for checkout at the Cook Library; and hosting a wide variety of technology trainings throughout the three communities.

For the second round, the Grizzlies are continuing with adult education classes and technology support at the Orr Center and the Cook Library. They’ll also expand on the QuickBooks training classes that were offered to small business owners during round one.

The Bois Forte Reservation acknowledges that its heritage, language, and culture are at risk. To help preserve and document for future generations existing cultural knowledge and practices the tribe will use second round project funds to establish a video creation, collection and archiving program of culturally relevant materials.

Finally, when looking at project ideas to unite the three communities that now share a school, the IRBC team agreed that creating a sports blog and website would fulfill that goal. Students and community members will contribute content to the site, which will include a journalism education component. Plans for the site include development of video and radio broadcasting capability through Bois Forte Reservation’s KBFT Radio.

Ely – Blandin Broadband Community Reflection (St Louis County)

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The Blandin Foundation recently published an inclusive assessment of the last cohort of Blandin Broadband Communities. Including a segment on Ely…

Ely completed a variety of projects during the first round of IRBC work, including: a feasibility study of better connectivity throughout the school district; opening of a thriving coworking space, ”Ten Below”; creation of a showcase regional marketing website, the Elyite10; support to local businesses and entrepreneurs through technology and social media consulting, training, and meetups; and a broadband use and business development survey to support community efforts to recruit better broadband services.

The second round of projects developed by the Ely BBC team leverage the power of the internet as an engine of economic development and quality of life.  They include creating a complete Google Local Listings on behalf of all businesses in Ely, which will make those businesses more visible online. Ten Below coworking space will facilitate free professional development “skillshares” workshops for local business owners on leveraging the power of the internet and social media to drive engagement and sales year-round.

Hak Ely will utilize the Meetup.com event-marketing and scheduling platform to allow organizations to input their own events into a shared marketing platform. Proximity marketing is another fun way to engage park visitors and generate greater awareness about scheduled events and activities; Bluetooth enabled beacons will push notifications to visitors’ devices. A video series will further engage residents, visitors, and potential visitors by highlighting stories of the unique characters found within the community.

The arts is a major asset in Ely, and another project will create an internetbased directory that will link artists, art consumers, and materials providers in an easy to access and maintain website.