Online dance class for all ages with Kairos Live 3pm every day this week!

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Did you come to the Fall Broadband conference? Do you remember Kairos Alive, the fun folks who got us up cheering and dancing? Well they are hosting a Facebook Live party today at 3pm. Actually, they are hosting one every day this week at 3pm. It’s a great way to get your body moving, while adhering to self distancing!

And truth be told – it’s an even more perfect way to get your parent or grandparent up and moving. Or maybe you have a house full of kids who need to burn some energy. It’s like virtual recess for a whole community of people who need a shot of energy!

It’s today’s most fun use of technology to keep us healthy in body in mind!

And a quick intro to Kairos Alive from their website…

Kairos Alive! transforms lives through dance and story, and raises awareness of the importance of creative involvement across the lifespan for verifiable health benefits. Our Choreography of Care™ programs promote personal and community well-being through our Intergenerational Dance Hall™ public participation events, our Dancing Heart™ weekly programming, our Community Arts and Wellbeing™ Residencies, and other programs. We empower intergenerational and intercultural communities through participatory dance, music and story — with elders at the center.

NPR’s Marketplace looks at broadband with Chris Mitchell at Institute for Local Self Reliance

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You know broadband is bubbling up as a real solution when you hear about it on Public Radio. Today Marketplace featured Minnesota’s own Chris Mitchell talking about what it would take to get everyone online in light of the call to stay home to defend against COVID-19.

Chris mentions that people are signing up for connections in record numbers and providers need to find a way to meet those needs to help keep them at home…

Yes, that appears to be the case. I think this is even more important, because many ISPs — from the biggest companies to small, local companies — are finding ways of doing 60-day or 90-day free periods for low-income families to get signed up. I think that’s really important for families that right now might be having to leave their home in order to go to a community Wi-Fi spot. We don’t want people to leave the home unless it’s essential, so if we can get people connected in the home, that would be the ideal situation.

But they also talk about communities without broadband – how can we get broadband to communities faster? Chris answers…

One of the things we definitely need to do is to let communities deal with this in their own ways. There are many states that currently limit the ability of local governments to build their own networks. We really need to see those limits go away so that communities are free to expand internet access as rapidly as they can.

And recommends that in the mid-term states can streamline the process by getting rid of policies that slow it down…

The first is that the states themselves could change the laws. There are 19 states that limit local authority to build networks, partner with local companies, and they could decide tomorrow to get rid of those limitations. The other option would be for the federal government to strike them down in some manner. Congress could do that directly, or it could condition aid of certain kinds to those states to say, “If you’re going to limit broadband investment in your state, then we’re not going to give you federal dollars to expand the networks.” This is something that really gets to me, because we’ve spent billions of dollars on networks that are obsolete, and in fact, we still are through the remainder of 2020 writing checks to big companies that are delivering very slow DSL that does not qualify as broadband. Those big companies have all had their shot, and it’s time to have an all-hands-on-deck approach to expanding internet access.

Two great ideas: submit ideas to mitigate impact of COVID-19 & free broadband for all

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Sometimes two great ideas hit your email at the same time – like peanut butter and chocolate. After a morning of reading pleas on social media for everyone to stay home, someone sent me an article by Harold Feld from Public Knowledge – Want to Keep America Home? Give Everyone Free Basic Broadband. (Inherent in that idea is that everyone has a home – but that’s a larger topic for a different blog.)

Feld’s idea is straightforward…

Medical experts agree that the most important thing we can do to support the efforts against the COVID-19 outbreak is a medical protocol known by the acronym STHH, or “Stay the Heck Home.” To keep Americans home, we need everyone to have broadband. It’s really that simple. Without telework, the economy would shut down completely. We would lose half a school year without distance education. But the value of everyone having a residential broadband connection goes well beyond that in the current crisis. Want to keep people off the streets to flatten the curve? Make it possible for them to shop online? Want them to access forms to receive government aid during this economic crisis? Cut down on physical doctor appointments to avoid infecting others? Fill out the 2020 Census so we don’t need armies of Census Takers going door-to-door? That all takes broadband.

But most importantly, human beings are social creatures.

Deploying is pretty simple too…

As part of the coronavirus stimulus package, the United States government will cover everyone’s broadband bill for a basic connection capable of supporting two-way video (ideally 25/25 Mbps, but we may have to settle for the Federal Communications Commission official definition of broadband of 25/3 Mbps).

Everyone is eligible and business bills back (a set and sufficient amount) to the government. The idea makes sense – but as I’ve said so often in the last week – for areas that have access. It make existing broadband affordable. Perhaps this guaranteed take rate would help make a business case work to deploy in new areas, especially if there was state funding to offset construction costs – something like the MN Border to Border gran projects.

The second great idea to hit my in-box? The State of Minnesota is looking for our ideas to support the MN economy during the COVID-19 crisis. If you have a creative idea, it’s a great place to share. Or you may have heard of a good idea, like increase funding to broadband grants, and you could share that too.

EVENT: Broadband Leadership Webinar Series: Creating Successful Broadband Infrastructure Projects

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A message from the Broadband Team at Blandin Foundation…

The coronavirus pandemic has made it clear that access to broadband is necessary for everyone. Communities cannot merely hope that a comprehensive broadband solution will be delivered to their doorsteps; local leaders must take an active role to ensure their community’s long-term broadband needs are met — that broadband is an asset, not a constraint.

To help, Blandin Foundation is offering a new Broadband Leadership Webinar Series: Creating Successful Broadband Projects. Webinars will be offered every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 9:00 am beginning March 31, and will run for five weeks. Sessions will be recorded and posted to our website and the Blandin on Broadband blog for ongoing access. Registration is not required. Simply click the link to join the webinar.

Participants will learn about broadband infrastructure project planning best practices and tips for partnering effectively with ISPs and units of government, working with broadband consultants, and successfully applying for public funds.

  • March 31
    Series Overview
    A review of the entire broadband development process. https://zoom.us/j/607332007
  • April 2
    Setting the Vision
    The hows and whys of developing a shared community broadband vision to engage community leaders, citizens, and broadband provider partners. https://zoom.us/j/829313397
  • April 7
    Broadband 101
    An introduction to various broadband technologies highlighting capabilities, liabilities, and comparative costs of each. https://zoom.us/j/308862200
  • April 9
    Community Broadband Surveys
    An overview of broadband surveys including a comparison of random sample surveys and canvassing techniques, key questions, the importance of GIS mapping technology, and data ownership considerations. https://zoom.us/j/290569587
  • April 14
    Broadband Mapping
    An introduction to broadband mapping data sources, with demonstration of various GIS capabilities for data display and grant eligibility determination. Strategies for challenging broadband map data will be discussed. https://zoom.us/j/246328169
  • April 16
    Ownership Models and Provider Partnerships
    An overview of models concerning network ownership and operations providing options for working with existing and prospective partners. https://zoom.us/j/560434824
  • April 21 Feasibility Studies
    Presentation and discussion of the key elements of broadband feasibility study design, implementation, and use; including tips on selecting a consultant. https://zoom.us/j/480704463
  • April 23
    Federal and State Broadband Finance Programs
    An overview of existing and emerging broadband finance programs. https://zoom.us/j/287394948
  • April 28
    Local Broadband Finance Options
    An introduction to the finance tools available to cities, counties, and towns to assist in broadband development. https://zoom.us/j/822263677
  • April 30
    Making it Happen: Determining your Community’s Best Option
    Strategies for success. https://zoom.us/j/907531735

Le Sueur County selected for Blandin Community Broadband Program

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New Prague Times reports…

Blandin Foundation announced Wednesday, March 11, it selected Le Sueur County for an intensive, twoyear partnership to advance local broadband initiatives.

Le Sueur County joins Chisago Lakes, Otter Tail County, Red Lake Nation, and White Earth Nation in their successful bids to become Blandin Broadband Communities (BBC).

“Le Sueur County has been partnering with the Blandin Foundation since the Region Nine Broadband Summit in early 2018,” said Barbara Droher Kline, BBC steering committee member. “The expertise and support through this partnership has brought us huge success with a State of Minnesota Border to Border grant. We are working hard to get more communities connected and being a Blandin Broadband Community will help us get there.”

FCC is working on revised broadband mapping – MN is pilot state

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BroadbandBreakfast reports…

Andy Spurgeon, chief of Operations at NTIA’s “BroadbandUSA” brand, discussed how NTIA’s revived mapping efforts will work.

He emphasized leveraging FCC data that already exists. His team was specifically “asked not to duplicate the results of the FCC,” referring to the roundly-criticized Form 477 Data that overreports the number of Americans with access to broadband.

What sets apart NTIA’s National Broadband Availability Map apart from other government broadband maps is that NBAM comprises technology that actually makes maps, he said, as opposed to existing as a digital data heap.

NTIA will pursue in its mapping strategy through pilot states that form representative models. States such as Minnesota, Utah, and California provide NBAM with the data it needs to refine the FCC’s Form 477 Data.

The BroadbandUSA Team has had one year to implement its work since it was funded with $8 million in 2019.

Andy Spurgeon presented at the MN Broadband conference last fall (Oct 2019):

Home broadband access makes a marked difference to students – study shows

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Thanks to Doug Dawson for highlighting the Michigan State University’s Quello Center’s definitive study on the impact of lack of broadband on students…

The study showed significant performance differences for students with and without home broadband. Students with no Internet access at home tested lower on a range of metrics including digital skills, homework completion and grade point average. Some of the specific findings include

  • Students with home Internet access had an overall grade point average of 3.18 while students with no Internet access at home had a GPA of 2.81.

  • During the study, 64% of students with no home Internet access sometimes left homework undone compared to only 17% of students with a high-speed connection at home.

  • Students without home Internet access spend an average of 30 minutes longer doing homework each evening.

  • The study showed that students with no Internet at home often had no alternative access to broadband. 35% of students with no broadband also didn’t have a computer at home. 34% of students had no access to alternate sources of broadband such as a library, church, community center, or homes of a neighbor or relative.

One of the most important findings was that there is a huge gap in digital skills for students without home broadband. To quote the study, “The gap in digital skills between students with no home access or cell phone only and those with fast or slow home Internet access is equivalent to the gap in digital skills between 8th and 11th grade students.” It’s almost too hard to grasp that the average 11th grade student without home broadband had the equivalent digital skills an 8th grader with home broadband. Digital skills not only involves competence in working with technology, but also is manifested by the ability to work efficiently, to communicate effectively with others, and managing and evaluation information.

It’s hard to think beyond coronavirus right now – but I try to think of the positive long term impact that this disruption can have on society. One of the silver linings, I have mentioned repeatedly is the immediate and acute need for broadband to all areas if students are going to learn at all, if people are going to thrive economically, if we are going to provide healthcare access – from screening for coronavirus to mental health. And here is, as Doug days, definitive proof that it will make for more effective students going forward.

Mankato Clinic to Offer Telehealth Visits

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KTOE102.7fm in Mankato reports…

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mankato Clinic health care providers are offering telehealth visits to our patients. Telehealth is an effective strategy to safely delivery health care to people while following Minnesota Department of Health recommendations which require people to stay home and avoid contact.

“At Mankato Clinic, we are committed to caring for our patients and community now and always. Telehealth is an excellent way to deliver health care in this unprecedented situation. We are here to care for the communities we serve and we will continue to deliver necessary care to patients in the safest and best manner we can with the tools available,” said Dr. Andrew Lundquist, Mankato Clinic chief medical officer.

Telehealth care, also known as telemedicine, are health care provider visits conducted by phone or video. With more than 100 Mankato Clinic providers now offering telehealth visits to their patients, departments are contacting patients by phone to determine if this is a good fit. This week, Mankato Clinic physicians and providers conducted their first virtual visits with their patients. The response and experience has been positive for both providers and patients who can complete visits from the safety of their homes.

I am impressed that they are proactively calling patients to see if telehealth is a fit. This really is a process that can continue after COVID-19 – such a time saver and a way to keep healing people away from sick people!

PCs for People bring to computers to people who need them

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The Blandin Foundation has been working with PCs for People for 10 years, since the days of MIRC (Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities). It’s been fun to watch them spread from Mankato to the Twin Cities to several states now! And now it’s fun to see them taking the lead in getting computers to the people who need them in order to face social distancing due to coronavirus.

Turns out they are seeing requests for anywhere from 20 to 40,000 computers in a single order as school districts plan to implement distance learning. And they have a system for making the computer donation and distribution process safe for everyone. It’s a park at the curb process similar to what restaurants are doing for take out and/or they have been working with schools that are distributing food to families that need them. CEO Casey Sorensen talked about cars pulling into the parking lots and being asked – are you here for food, computers or both? Way to make the most of a bad situation!

But they are realizing that meeting the increased demand at a price point funders and families can afford will take a substantial public, private collaborative effort. They have received numerous, how can we help, messages. They are asking you to contact them if your business or a business you know wants to help PCs for People. They can arrange freight services for larger donations of desktops, laptops, tablets, and accessories. They pay the cost of freight, organize logistics to our warehouse, refurbish and distribute back to school kids in all 50 States.

Contact us if you want more information on donating (Schedule a Pickup) or email recycle@pcsforpeople.org or if you know someone in need, please direct them to findpcs.com

Minnesota already reimburses for many telehealth services

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Let’s recognize that Minnesota is ahead of the game when it comes to telehealth. The Center Square (of Florida) has an article talking about the benefits of telehealth and need for reimbursement…

With doctors’ offices among places to avoid in dodging COVID-19, proponents are lobbying Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida health officials to promote telehealth as a way to get more people to see more physicians in virtual settings.

Among unresolved obstacles: disparities between reimbursements for telehealth services and those delivered in-person.

Minnesota is lifted as one of six states that does reimburse…

There are three types of telehealth services: live video, store and forward (S&F) and remote patient monitoring (RPM).

Only six state Medicaid programs – Alaska, Arizona, Maryland, Minnesota, Virginia and Washington – reimburse for all three types. All state Medicaid programs, including Florida, reimburse for live-video services.

AT&T Creates $10 Million Fund to Support Parents, Teachers & Students Throughout COVID-19 School Closures

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Here is how AT&T responds to COVID-19…

AT&T is creating a Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund to give parents, students and teachers tools they need for at-home learning. The fund also will provide resources to maintain meaningful connections and bonding opportunities for those isolated from family and friends.

“Our country is grappling with an unprecedented challenge,” said Randall Stephenson, chairman and CEO of AT&T Inc. “Now more than ever before, connecting people with the resources they need to maintain a sense of normalcy is paramount. For students and teachers, that means creating the best digital learning environment. For families, that means simply staying connected to loved ones. Over the coming weeks and months, we’re committed to standing alongside the communities where we live and work, as we navigate through this trying time.”

The $10 million Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund is launching today with its first contribution of $1 million to Khan Academy. This collaboration will improve and expand online learning resources to meet growing demand from parents, teachers and students, including those who rely on free resources and need Khan Academy the most. It will also support the development of new resources designed specifically for COVID-19 school closures.

Available in more than 40 languages, Khan Academy offers educational practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empowers students to study at home. Khan Academy also offers free tools for teachers and parents to help them track student progress. Learn more at KhanAcademy.org.

With an estimated 47 million students now learning from home in the U.S. alone, Khan Academy is meeting a critical need. Our collaboration comes alongside a $1 million contribution from Google.org for this online learning initiative, as we both commit to support distance learning.

“AT&T and Google.org have been committed supporters of Khan Academy,” said Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy. “We’re grateful that they’re helping us respond quickly to school closures so everyone can keep learning at home.”

As circumstances surrounding COVID-19 change daily, so too does the impact on our communities. To best allocate resources from the Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund, we’re working alongside families, educators and community leaders to understand the challenges they will face in the days and weeks to come.

“These donations are important because they will help students and families maintain some normalcy as our communities respond to the outbreak of this virus,” said Sindy M. Benavides, chief executive officer, League of United Latin American Citizens. “It is important that people are able to continue their education as they cope with this rapidly changing environment. We thank AT&T for acting swiftly and for their leadership.”

“Members of our communities face many challenges amid the COVID-19 outbreak, and they need the ability to continue to learn and bond,” said Marc Morial, president, National Urban League. “Everyone is in this together.  We are proud to see companies like AT&T helping provide their resources so that people can continue their education and connect with their families and friends.”

Keeping Communities Connected

AT&T recognizes that staying in touch with your family, friends, school and work has never been more important.  To provide further support, AT&T announced:

Unlimited AT&T Home Internet – All AT&T consumer home internet wireline customers, as well as Fixed Wireless Internet, can use unlimited internet data.  Additionally, we will continue to offer internet access for qualifying limited income households at $10 per month through our Access from AT&T program. We’ve expanded eligibility to Access from AT&T to households participating in the National School Lunch Program and Head Start. Additionally, we’re offering new Access from AT&T customers two months of free service.

Rep Ecklund lives the broadband gap as his work moves increasingly online in light of COVID-19

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Mesabi Daily News reports…

For Ecklund, living in a rural city along the Canadian border, his district is a hotspot for the broadband discussion because of its lack of access and, well, community hotspots. He can think of four people within a couple of miles of his home struggling to work from their apartments and houses because of internet service.

“We’re using it everywhere we can,” he said in a phone interview Thursday. “A lot of people are using it from home. It definitely shows our border to border broadband is not sufficient.”

On the Iron Range and rural St. Louis County, broadband gaps are commonplace.

It’s estimated that hundreds of families lack internet connection at home and a statewide survey in 2019 show nearly two-thirds of Minnesotans underserved or not served by internet providers.

Expanding broadband access in Greater Minnesota was among the top campaign priorities of Gov. Tim Walz, and in May 2019, he signed a $40 million grant program to improve access over the next biennium.

They also provide an update…

Ecklund said Thursday the $30 million he proposed for broadband funding this year may not be possible as the Legislature’s focus remains on the coronavirus response and bonding, but said another dose of funding is still possible.

MinnPost looks at what broadband providers are doing to facilitate life ongoing online during a pandemic

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MinnPost takes a look at what broadband providers are doing to keep us online during the coronavirus pandemic slow down. They start with an introduction to the Keep Americans Connected Pledge…

What is called the Keep Americans Connected Pledge promises to not terminate internet service to residential or small business customers because of failure to pay for reasons connected to the crisis. It also calls on providers to waive late fees and open any wifi hotspots to all users.

The article looks at specifics of a few providers…

Jill Hornbacher, the director of external communications for Comcast in the Twin Cities, said the company is pausing its data caps and offering its Xfinity wifi hotspots free for everyone. And since it is also a cable provider, it has added news content as well as providing grade-level education programs for parents with students at home.

The company is also increasing access to its lowest cost internet service, Internet Essentials, which has been available to low-income users for $9.95 a month. New customers will receive 60 days of service without charge; the company is also increasing speeds for all customers on the plan.

Xfinity’s Internet Essentials plan also comes with a modem, access to hotspots and a basic laptop computer for $150. …

Other providers have increased service offerings as well, including Mediacom, Spectrum/Charter Communications, Midco, CenturyLink and Arvig Multiwav. …

Anna Boroff, executive director of the Minnesota Cable Communications Association, said all members of the trade group are following the FCC pledge and many are offering help to low-income users and to families trying to access e-learning during school closures.

I’m also working on a list of what local providers across the state are doing. If you know of any other deals, please let me know.

MVTV Wireless response to COVID-19: free hotpot access, low cost service

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It’s not quite fair to say MVTV’s services are in response to COVID-19; they had some deals in place long before now. But here’s what I’ve heard this week.

MVTV partners with PC’s For People; anyone that qualifies for their program is eligible for our PC’s For Please discounted plan – 6 Mbps for $29.99. (To receive technology from PCs for People a potential recipient must be below the 200% poverty level or be currently enrolled in an income-based government assistance program. You can read more about eligibility and about the documentation required by clicking here.)

MVTC covers over 25,000 square miles of Southwestern and Central Minnesota, as well as parts of Iowa and South Dakota. You can check out their coverage maps.

Also MVTV has free hotspot access in some areas:

Kandiyohi County

  • Pennock Community Center
  • Blomkest Community Center
  • Lake Andrew Township Hall

Nobles County

  • Bigelow City Hall
  • Dundee City Park
  • Emmanuel Presb. Church, Rushmore
  • Leota Township Hall
  • Little Rock Township Hall
  • Rushmore City Hall
  • Seward Township Hall

Thanks MVTV for the heads up and for the generous services!

AcenTek COVID-19 response: free broadband and WiFi to new customers

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La Crosse Tribune reports…

AcenTek has announced it will offer free broadband and WiFi internet access through June 1 to homebound students and teachers in southeast Minnesota who do not have internet service with the company.

Installation fees will also be waived for the new customers living within its service area. According to the company, students, both K-12 and college, and teachers facing the effects of the shutdown, will now have access to free internet to learn, work and communicate remotely.

The company serves 22 communities in southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa.