{"id":650966,"date":"2013-04-02T16:28:29","date_gmt":"2013-04-02T20:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blandinonbroadband.org\/?p=8445"},"modified":"2013-04-02T16:28:29","modified_gmt":"2013-04-02T20:28:29","slug":"blandin-broadband-enews-april-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/650966","title":{"rendered":"Blandin Broadband eNews April 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BBC<\/a>Minnesota Broadband Adoption up Six Percent; FTTH not as good<\/strong><\/p>\n

Connect Minnesota surveys show that broadband adoption in Minnesota is increasing; 78 percent of households subscribe to broadband service, up from 72 percent in 2011. Six percent may not sound like a lot, but in a steady market and a demographic that many have suggested will be difficult to coerce into adopting, it\u2019s a welcome trend.http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2aW<\/a>\u00a0In terms of high end access, research from Broadband Communities Magazine indicates that 2-3 percent of Minnesota has access to fiber. That compares with 10 percent in South Dakota, 22 percent in North Dakota and a national average of 8 percent.\u00a0http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2ax<\/a><\/p>\n

Wired vs Wireless<\/strong><\/p>\n

A recent survey by Connect Minnesota indicates that 51 percent of adults in Minnesota use the Internet on their cell phones or subscribe to mobile wireless service for a laptop or tablet computer; that percentage is up from 39 percent last year.\u00a0http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2bJ<\/a>\u00a0A recent Pew Internet and American Life report promotes the growing use of smartphones by teens; 78 percent of teens now have a cell phone, and almost half of those own smartphones. That translates into 37 percent of all teens who have smartphones, up from just 23 percent in 2011.\u00a0http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2aZ<\/a>\u00a0A recent survey in Telecompetitor indicates that broadband users in the UK would give up mobility and video before losing their wired connection.\u00a0http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2bU<\/a>\u00a0Other recent examples indicate that mobile works well for consumer activity, but perhaps less well for more engaged activities.http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2aQ<\/a><\/p>\n

Telecommuting is Strong in Minnesota<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last month, telecommuting took a hit when both Best Buy and Yahoo decided to rein in telecommuting in their own businesses. A host of Minnesota locals have come to defend telecommuting, including Minnesota Telecom Alliance\u00a0http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2bG<\/a>, the Minneapolis Star Tribune\u00a0http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2b5<\/a>\u00a0and Fergus Falls Journal.http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2be<\/a><\/p>\n

Libraries and Broadband<\/strong><\/p>\n

On March 21st, Connect2Compete\u00a0launched EveryoneOn, a 3-year national public service campaign to promote digital literacy. The key message of the campaign is to encourage limited or non-Internet users to learn how to do \u201cone thing better online\u201d. Libraries have jumped on the opportunity making programs and materials available to everyone.http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2bz<\/a>\u00a0Tangentially, a library in Providence has begun to offer mobile hotspots for check-out, so patrons can try broadband at home.\u00a0http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2bq<\/a><\/p>\n

Broadband Means Better Economy in Rural Areas<\/strong><\/p>\n

The National Agricultural & Rural Development Policy Center\u00a0released a report that indicates that low levels of adoption, providers and broadband availability were associated with lower median household income, higher levels of poverty and decreased numbers of firms and total employment.\u00a0http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2bj<\/a><\/p>\n

Update on Policy Broadband-Related Bills<\/strong><\/p>\n

There have been some interesting broadband discussions at the state and national levels. The TISP Forum early in the month included a lively discussion on policy.http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2av<\/a>\u00a0On a national level, the USDA is looking at changing the definition of rural, which may have an impact on future broadband funding and incentives.http:\/\/wp.me\/p3if7-2aE<\/a>\u00a0Several specific bills have come up as well:<\/p>\n