Live at the Speed of Light

In July, Blandin Foundation's Broadband Initiative released Live at the Speed of Light, a report that makes the case for Open Access Networks as a solution worthy of consideration for rural Minnesota communities that want to retain a competitive edge in the global economy. (Learn more)

Community Broadband Act of 2007

The Community Broadband Act of 2007 was introduced in the US Senate by Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) on July 24 and in the House by Rick Boucher (D-VA) on August 1. The act intends to encourage public-private partnership and an open playing field for providers. Visit the Blandin on Broadband blog for more information.

USDA Funding Opportunity

The USDA Community-Oriented Connectivity Broadband Grant Program is looking to fund currently un-served areas, on a "community-oriented connectivity" basis, with broadband transmission service for enhanced education, healthcare, and public safety services.  The Application deadline is August 20, 2007.

700 MHZ Spectrum Auction – Podcast with Mike O’Connor
The Blandin on Broadband blog has been following the Spectrum Auction. In short, spectrum will be made available in 2009 (or maybe a little later) as television shifts to DTV. The FCC will auction off this spectrum to broadband providers. Last weekend, we spoke with Mike O’Connor about the Spectrum Auction. The interview and a number of related resources are available on the blog.

Broadband is Good for Economic Development

The Brookings Institute recently published a report that finds that broadband has a positive impact on local economic development. The report also offers suggestions for policymakers to encourage further development with broadband. (Learn more)

Monticello

The City of Monticello has been working on a Fiber to the Premises project over the last year with the goal of creating a City owned enterprise to offer telephone, television and very high speed Internet services.  The City Fiber Optics Committee has set a date for a community referendum on the formation of a local telephone exchange that will take place on September 18th.  The outcome will be important for determining if the City itself will offer voice services.  For more information contact Lynne Dahl Fleming at 763 300 8118, Information and Education, City Fiber Optics Committee, or Milda Hedblom, consultant to the City Fiber Optics Committee, 651 645 5051.

Moose Lake

Moose Lake is entering phase II of their online public safety project, which means a shift from focusing on how the general public accesses information to how the first responders will access and use information.

New Ulm

New Ulm has almost completed their Local-e-Education classes. Originally, six classes were planned over a span of three days but the classes were so popular that more were scheduled; 11 classes were held over six days. The class topics included building a web site, promoting a web site and selling online. (Learn more on the Blandin on Broadband blog.)

New Ulm has also been meeting to implement a new Chamber of Commerce web site to promote and serve the area.

Red Wing

In the City of Red Wing, a City Fiber Task Force has begun work to prepare a recommendation to the City Council regarding the potential for a Fiber to the Premises project in the City.  The Task Force has a broad membership from important community groups as well as representation from Goodhue County.  It expects to conclude its work sometime in October.  For further information contact Myron White at 651 385 3897, Executive Director, Port Authority of Red Wing, or Milda Hedblom, consultant to the City Fiber Task Force, 651 645 5051.

Renville

With the help of local community education programs, the Fairfax EDA and Extension Education David Nelson, Renville is offering two eCommerce Classes this fall. The 2.5 hour class is the only one of its kind in the area; attendees will learn how the Internet can be the new tool for your business and your home. 

Renville is hosting a County Fair Booth where participants will be able to check out a video camera to make a video cast of 4H or FFA event or project. The videos will be shown at the booth during the Fair Aug. 15-17 in Bird Island. Renville residents have been learning about the various projects through the Community Messenger.

Todd County

Todd County has been reviewing the results of their one-on-one e-business consulting earlier this summer and is making plans to help business implement e-business strategies.

September 10-12 - Broadband Properties Summit (Dallas, TX) - 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.

October 14-17 - Rural Telecommunications Congress 07 (Springfield, IL) – will highlight broadband deployment strategies and applications that are improving lives in communities across the country.

November 7-8 – Community Broadband: Making the Right Choices (St Cloud, MN) –please save the date for this Blandin Foundation sponsored conference! More information will be available soon.

November 14-15 – MTA Fall Conference and Communications Seminar (Alexandria, MN)

February 21, 2008 – Megaconference Jr – an event for an by students of the world; the timing is good to get involved.

Working with communities on the Get Broadband program is great fun!  Last week, I traveled to Willmar and helped the Kandiyohi County team set their goals and develop their work program. They debated their goals and what was achievable; they then brainstormed a list of activities that would help them reach their goal.  When coming up with prospective partners, I think that the list reached 18 different community partners.  I am confident that Kandiyohi will do a great job.

Another recent highlight was reviewing the end of project survey results for both the City of Fosston and Benton County.  I think that Fosston had the best results of any community to date with big increases in broadband use and almost 25 percent of survey respondents indicating that they had participated in a Get Broadband activity.  One lesson learned is that while the grant money is a great motivator to get a community interested, it is less important in achieving results – and while many communities have the partners in place to promote broadband the trick is to bring them to the table, which is best accomplished with one or more community broadband champions leading the way.

Blandin Foundation is reviewing how to keep the momentum going in existing Get Broadband communities and get it moving in new communities.  Let us know what you think is important in establishing and maintaining a Get Broadband program for technology promotion, development and education. Look for announcements of future Blandin community support at the fall Broadband conference in November.  Blandin will help support your efforts to bring a team from your community to the conference, so spread the word. 

MN/DOT 511: www.511mn.org/about511.asp
511 helps commuters and travelers access information regarding weather-related road conditions, construction and congestion, via the web or phone