Light Speed Grants Deadline July 20
The application deadline is July 20 for Blandin Foundation’s Light Speed Grant Program, which will fund new bandwidth intensive applications. Grant applications for the Open Network Feasibility Fund will be accepted on an ongoing basis until funds run out. Visit the Blandin Foundation web site for more information.

Broadband Data Improvement Act
In May, Senator Inouye (D-HI) proposed a bill to the US Senate that would require the FCC to reconsider what bandwidth rates qualify as broadband and to create a $40 million, five-year matching grant program for organizations engaged in efforts to identify barriers to broadband adoption in their state. It would also require the Small Business Administration to evaluate the impact of broadband speed and price on small businesses. The bill has been praised by organization such as the Open Internet Coalition. (Learn more.)

YouTube CEO Speaks to Congress
Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) interviewed YouTube CEO Chad Hurley after Hurley’s appearance testifying in front of the Legislature. In the 7-minute video Hurley says that an open Internet was instrumental in getting YouTube started; he talks about how candidates can use YouTube effectively and the impact YouTube has had on the Internet and communication in general.

PacketFront Approved by USDA
PacketFront’s Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) solution has attained Technical Acceptance by the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS), this means that projects that receive RUS funding can choose PacketFront’s FTTH solution. (Read more).  The Blandin Foundation has been impressed with PacketFront’s business case model for open networks. (Learn more about their open network business case.)

Online Autopsies via Internet2
Earlier this spring, seniors at Moorhead High School  watched an autopsy being performed at Ohio State University Medical Center while a retired forensic pathologist talked about what was going on via interactive TV. The class was one of six around the country to participate. To learn more visit the Blandin on Broadband blog.

Extended Article -- What is MiMax?

Lately the Blandin on Broadband blog has had a great infusion of knowledge on WiMax, in the form of an active reader and commenter, Jamie Gilchrist. I want to thank him for pointing me to a number of great articles on the topic.

WiMAX (short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) provides wireless broadband access to voice, video and data through the IEEE 802.16 standard, which is different than the popular 802.11 home-network (WiFi) type standard.

WiMax stretches across longer distances than WiFi and works with both fixed location use and mobile access. Where WiFi generally connects a user to a network that might include access to the Internet, WiMax uses licensed or unlicensed spectrum to deliver a point-to-point connection to the Internet from an ISP to an end user. Wikipedia uses a good analogy: WiMax is like a cell phone; WiFi is like a cordless phone.

More communities are looking at WiMax to provide last mile access to the Internet. WiMax for phone service is already available in Central and Eastern Europe. Computer manufacturers are starting to embed WiMax chips into laptops. (Learn more on lap top access.) It is a technology that is already here and growing.

Jamie is currently working with an organization called Wildcom WiMax services. They are interested in providing WiMax to the area. (For more information, please contact us and we can connect you with them.) For more information on WiMax, check out the WiMax Forum

Benton County
On May 9, Benton County threw a Get Connected party. Taking advantage of technology, Bill Coleman attended via teleconference to talk about possible next steps for the community to continue their technology efforts. Besides the wonderful presentations, great food, and socializing there was a drawing for a $500 technology grant – won by Foley Elementary School who plans to use it to invest in additional technology training for staff.

Cohasset
Cohasset is considering a Round II extension and will make a decision by the end of June. Regardless of formal situation for Cohasset, program coordinator, Conrad Feldt, is personally dedicated to staying active. He feels he has made solid and beneficial connections through the Get Broadband program.

New Ulm
New Ulm is planning a free training session on June 26 to introduce upcoming e-commerce courses, the Tech Tuesday series scheduled for July. New Ulm is researching options for template-built web sites for e-commerce class attendees. Articles on e-commerce will be published in local publications.

Renville County
Renville County has been working on a range of training opportunities such as ecommerce training, broadband demonstration of web cams and podcasts, and general Internet/computer classes at libraries in Renville, Olivia, Bird Island and hopefully Hector and Fairfax.

There is a digital camera available for schools and local businesses to produce videocasts. The Renville County fair booth will features a video created by students.

Grants are available to establish Internet cafés or public computer access with wireless Internet signage. Educational broadband articles and events have been printed in Renville County newspapers.

Todd County
Todd County is working with Minnesota Technology Inc to provide one-on-one services with four key businesses in the area. Depending on their level of need, the businesses will receive web site assessment or web site strategic planning support.

June 7-8 – Broadband Policy Summit III (Arlington, VA) - will tackle the tough broadband questions plaguing lawmakers, regulators and business executives.

June 18-20 – Digital Storytelling (St Paul MN) – showing teachers how to use digital storytelling in the classroom.

June 18-20 - WiMAX Forum Member Conference (Spain) – for members only, but a great conference if you are interested in WiMax.

June 27-28 - Minnesota e-Health Summit (Brooklyn Park, MN) - a unique opportunity to learn firsthand from the national and state leaders about the current progress and future directions for e-Health in Minnesota.

July 16 – Keeping Up with Kids and Internet Security (for teachers) (St Paul, MN) - with the resources available in this workshop, you will have time to work with others from your district to write a school or district plan for professional development.

November 7-8 – Blandin Broadband Conference (St Cloud, MN) – please save the date! More information will be available soon.

After nine-plus years of working with communities on technology assessment and planning, I am more convinced than ever about three items. 

First, there is no "one" approach that is right for all communities; each community has to find its unique path based on community assets, existing providers, geography, potential partners, financial capabilities and other considerations. 

Second, a community had better be paying attention, because world class telecommunications systems rarely just fall into place without their participation in some way.  That role may range from cheerleader to convener to provider, depending on some of the factors noted above.

Third, ensuring world class telecommunications services is a complex and confusing task for community leaders, involving choices about technology, business models and the appropriate role of government. Developing consensus on one or all of these factors is an incredible challenge to leadership.

Our Blandin Broadband team's goal continues to be to help community technology leaders, no matter where they are in the analysis, strategy development or implementation process, to find a path that will lead to world class telecommunications services for their area. 

Achieving this goal will be the focus of the upcoming November 7-8 Blandin Broadband conference. Notify your community technology team and put the dates on your calendars.  Multiple attendees from a community will receive discounted registrations. Please send program suggestions to bill@communitytechnologyadvisors.com and we will use them to complete the conference agenda. 

UStream – www.ustream.tv
UStream is a platform that provides live interactive video for anyone with a camera and an Internet connection who wants to broadcast to a global audience. This may be a case where technology surpasses content but it does bring Internet broadcasting to the masses.