Last Call for Light Speed Grant Applications
The application deadline is July 20 for Blandin Foundation’s Light Speed Grant Program, whichwill fund new bandwidth intensive applications. 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.

Iron Range Community FiberNet
The Iron Range Community FiberNet recently launched a new web site that tracks the progress towards planning and implementing Fiber to the Home (FTTH) in the Iron Range region. We recently had the opportunity to talk with consultant Dick Nordvold about the project, the goals, and their progress. The interview is posted on the Blandin on Broadband blog.

Speed Matters Report
The Communication Workers of America, through Speed Matters, have recently published a report on the average Internet speeds by state. Visitors to the Speed Matters web site were asked to test their speeds on the Speed Matters web site and provide information on location. While not entirely scientific, the findings are interesting. Visit the Blandin on Broadband blog for more information.

Big Ten Network Debuts in August
The Big Ten Network is a new national cable/satellite programming service dedicated to covering both the athletic and academic content of the Big Ten Conference, including the University of Minnesota. Select Big Ten Network content will also be made available through alternative media platforms such as the Internet, iPods, cell phones and/or other emerging technologies.

Free Wi-Fi for AT&T Users
AT&T is giving residential and small-business high-speed broadband Internet customers free access to the company's nationwide Wi-Fi network. That means customers will be able to access the Internet at nearly 10,000 Wi-Fi "hot spots" throughout the country, including airports, McDonald's restaurants, Barnes & Noble bookstores, select coffee shops and sporting venues.  (Learn more.)

Cohasset
Cohasset has decided not to extend the Get Broadband Project Round II.  The Final Report has been submitted to the Blandin Foundation.  All that remains now is the last survey. Good news was received last month; it sounds as if the local ISP is expanding outside the city limits of Cohasset maybe as early as this summer.  

Five Small Towns
Five Small Towns has identified online business development resources and is working on an online presentation that will introduce those resources. They are currently researching the options for online curriculum. Five Small Towns has also been distributing technology-focused articles to the local newspapers and plans to start an e-newsletter this fall.

New Ulm
On June 26, New Ulm held a meeting to introduce e-commerce projects and upcoming courses, such as the Tech Tuesday series scheduled for July. More than 50 people attended, and more than 30 people signed up for at least one of the three the Tech Tuesday courses, which focus on building a basic web site,  online marketing, and selling online. Visit the Blandin blog for more information.

Renville County
Renville County is promoting access to the Internet by supporting wireless hot spots and computers for public use in public places, such as coffee shops. Master's Coffee Shop in Olivia and Handi Stop in Renville have each been approved for a $500 grant toward support to establish Wi-Fi for their patrons. More grant applications are expected.

Computer/Internet Library classes have been successful in Olivia and Bird Island and will begin in July at the Renville public library. The classes are small and assume no prior experience with computers. Attendees’ lives are changing in many ways, for example some attendees establish emails to keep in contact with children and grandchildren, which is especially meaningful for immigrant families who have relatives far away. Bi-lingual classes will soon be offered at the Renville Library.

Rushford
The Senior Techie classes were a great success. Seniors learned basic computer skills, emailing, word processing and some digital camera techniques. There were 38 participants within the age ranging from 57-85; more classes are planned for this fall.

The Get connected with everyone everywhere project is up and running. The local nursing home has a computer with a webcam and email capability for the residence to use.

Rushford has talked to area businesses about web development classes as many seem interested in maintaining their own sites. Finally, there have been discussions on setting up kiosks or wireless hot spots for public users.

Todd County
With the help of Minnesota Technology, Todd County provided one-on-one consulting to four businesses. Each is at a difference stage of using the Internet but all are enthusiastic about moving ahead to use it more. Visit the Blandin blog for more information.

Wadena
Wadena is working with the college and committee members on planning training sessions for the general public to promote broadband use. There will also be a session to help local business owners with websites and promote more online sales and broadband use.

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

July 31 – Minnesota Digital Government Summit (St Paul, MN) - will focus on the priority IT management issues of both the enterprise and our individual entities, and will seek answers to the common challenges.

July 31 - Meadowlark Project dialogue (Little Falls, MN) - a provocative discussion that will help you shape and inform your community’s planning efforts based on the Meadowlark Project scenarios.

September 10-12 - Broadband Properties Summit (Dallas Texas) - focusing on the necessity of being able to deliver digital services to customers in multi-density properties such as apartments, universities, senior housing, greenfield and master planned communities.

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

The introduction of the iPhone has created a loud buzz in the wireless world and Apple's robust marketing budget has kept the nifty device in everyone's view.  The iPhone is certainly unique in its ability to tap both Wi-Fi and cellular wireless networks. It also reinforces the idea of 24x7 connectedness.

On a recent trip to tour mountain state colleges with my son, I was surprised by my ability to receive and send emails on my new Blackberry.  I know that Blackberries are not new, but the idea of having Internet service in the car in eastern Montana or in Yellowstone National Park still amazes me.  As a sole proprietor, it was great to be able to stay on top of client needs while on vacation.  The downside is the inability to get away from it all.  An article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune this weekend pointed out that U.S. residents get less time away from work than any other western nation and that this trend can have a negative impact on health. We have to ask whether the Internet enables us to take a vacation or does it ruin the short vacation time that we have?

Shifting wireless technologies and business models complicates community technology planning.  Lots of cities are examining the feasibility of municipal Wi-Fi networks, usually in partnership with the private sector. Some community leaders are asking me whether they should consider municipal wireless networks.  I tell them that the community must ask itself which problems they are trying to solve - affordable broadband, enhanced broadband coverage, mobile municipal communications, tourist Internet access or public safety?  It is only then that good decisions can be made.  We have seen that municipal Wi-Fi network deployment is not simple and that most operators have needed some extra time to reach the reliability expected by customers.

Gentle reminder: The deadline for the Blandin Light Speed Grant Program is July 20th. See the Blandin Foundation web site for the RFP.

Happy 4th of July!

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.