Here’s the news from our latest newsletter. It’s mostly a compilation of Minnesota-related stories from the blog in the last month – but sometimes it’s nice to have it compiled.
Blandin Awarded $4.7 million
The Blandin Foundation is pleased to report that their ARRA broadband application to the NITA was successful. http://tinyurl.com/yd82d9d The NTIA awarded Blandin and their 19 partners $4.7 million for broadband adoption, focused in 11 communities but creating networks that will serve the entire state. The local and national response has been humbling. http://tinyurl.com/yfznde3
Minnesota ARRA Broadband Funding Recipients
The following Minnesota initiatives also received ARRA funding in March:
- Mission Economic Development Agency received $3.7 million for public computer centers in several states, including Minneapolis, Minnesota. http://tinyurl.com/yg8jc69
- Northeast Service Cooperative received a $21,749,110 loan and a $21,749,110 grant to provide middle-mile, dark fiber, wavelength services to private-sector providers. It will pass through the following counties: St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Koochiching, Carlton, Pine, Itasca and Aitkin. http://tinyurl.com/yk9baaa
- Minnesota Valley Television Improvement Corporation received a $562,776 loan, a $562,776 grant, and $281,388 of private investment to provide a two-way broadband internet network to unserved and underserved areas of west central and south central Minnesota including the following counties: Pope, Swift, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns, Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Redwood, Renville, Sibley, Watonwan, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln and Yellow Medicine. http://tinyurl.com/yk9baaa
- Halstad Telephone Company received a $3,277,500 loan and a $3,277,500 grant to provide FTTP broadband in five towns in Norman and Polk Counties using 320 miles of fiber optic cable and providing those locations with broadband capability up to 100 Mbps. http://tinyurl.com/yahokvw
Minnesota Broadband Bill
The Minnesota Broadband Bill has been making its way through the legislature. http://tinyurl.com/yg63rxz It draws from highlights of the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Task Force recommendations http://tinyurl.com/yl3zs3t. The bill has passed in the House and is expected to come up in the Senate this week.
Minnesota Telecommunications Bill
The Senate is currently discussing a bill that as introduced would have made it easier for local governments to provide telecommunications services by requiring only a simple, not super majority vote of approval from the community. http://tinyurl.com/yl3k78b The bill has been changed significantly since being introduced; stipulations have been added to the simple majority requirement. http://tinyurl.com/yfy2dof
Klobuchar introduces Broadband Consumer Protection Bill
Senator Amy Klobuchar filed the Broadband Service Consumer Protection Act, a bill requiring Internet Service Providers to accurately advertise their delivered broadband speeds. http://tinyurl.com/yfe4jzx
Minnesota Cable Bill
Rep. Sheldon Johnson has sponsored a bill that would make it easier for telephone companies to offer “triple-play” services — voice, video and Internet — by letting cities grant cable franchises to companies that already provide phone services. http://tinyurl.com/yh6qcjm
National Broadband Plan
The FCC unveiled the National Broadband Plan in mid-March. It includes six major goals starting with 100 million U.S. homes with actual download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and actual upload speeds of at least 50 Mbps. http://tinyurl.com/yh3tcmj.
Google Fiber Communities
Google invited local governments and residents to express their interest in being a part of Google’s fiber optic trial. At least ten Minnesota communities applied http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m; Duluth/Twin Ports was one of the earliest communities in the US to decide to participate and received great notoriety for their efforts. http://tinyurl.com/yhpk5sn
Libraries Help Bridge Gap
Research indicates that public libraries provide broadband services to a wide range of patrons. Patrons come even when they have broadband at home because of improved access and technical support provided at the library. http://tinyurl.com/ygxwcuc
Local Minnesota News
Apple Valley
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m
Austin
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yfocsup
Bemidji
Bemidji local newspaper supports the National Broadband Plan. http://tinyurl.com/yfe87tt
Blaine
Blaine opted out of a countywide ARRA broadband application in Anoka when the City Council voted down the option to participate in the proposal. http://tinyurl.com/ylpwjzj
Burnsville
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m
Dakota County
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m
Duluth/Twin Ports
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yhpk5sn
Eagan
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m
Grand Rapids
Senator Amy Klobuchar visited with Blandin Foundation staff to talk about the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) projected recently awarded $4.7 million by the NTIA. http://tinyurl.com/ykw4gm8
Falcon Heights
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m
North St Paul
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m
Northfield
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m
Ramsey County
Ramsey County made ID Insight’s Fastest 25 Broadband List, which ranks cities in the US. http://tinyurl.com/yglx6cv
Red Wing
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m
St Paul
The St Paul City Council authorized the Office of Technology and Communications to submit an ARRA NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant request. http://shorl.com/dragrahistydrydo
(Many stories are gathered from local online newspaper. Unfortunately each newspaper has a different policy in regards to archive news and therefore we cannot guarantee access to all articles cited.)
Coleman’s Corner
Receiving word from NTIA that the Blandin Foundation BTOP grant had been approved was an exciting moment. As you can imagine, the reality of the commitment quickly begins to set in and you ask yourself and your team, “How are we going to implement this project so it makes a real difference now and into the future?”
Blandin Foundation’s operational theory of change is “Framing x Social Capital x Mobilization = Healthy Community.” This formula seems especially relevant to our Demonstration Community project component. We are asking:
How can we infuse the broadband discussion with local relevance?
How can we identify and recruit the right blend of the local social capital?
How do we mobilize the community with a bias towards action rather than excessive deliberation?
To be successful, our NTIA BTOP broadband project must spur increased broadband adoption and enable new and improved useful applications of technology that will enhance greater Minnesota as a place to live and do business.
