Blandin eNews Monthly Recap January 2013 ? Blandin on Broadband

News from the Blandin on Broadband Blog

2012 Minnesota Broadband Task Force Report The Minnesota Broadband Task Force released their recommendations to the State to help Minnesota reach the 2015 broadband goals (5-10 Mbps upload/10-20 Mbps download), emphasizing the fact that something needs to happen if Minnesota is going to make those goals.?http://wp.me/p3if7-22Q?One suggestion is to establish an ongoing, post-Task Force resource within state government for high-speed broadband-focused efforts.?http://wp.me/p3if7-22Q

We?re Number 19?TechNet State Broadband Index rates states on indicators of broadband adoption, network quality, and economic structure. Minnesota comes in at 19. The results reinforce the Broadband Task Force opinion that Minnesota needs to make a concerted effort to reach the 2015 broadband goals to be a broadband leader.?http://wp.me/p3if7-22g

Assessing your Broadband Provider Connect Minnesota released a report on customer satisfaction with broadband providers. Surveys indicate that customers are pretty happy about reliability of service; less happy about price. That reflects the fact that Minnesota service tends to be a little faster than average but also more expensive than average.?http://wp.me/p3if7-23QWondering how your specific provider ranks? Netflix is now publishing monthly rankings of major ISPs based upon their actual performance across all Netflix streams. (Focus is on larger providers.)?http://wp.me/p3if7-23v

What?s Broadband worth to a non-adopter?? Connected Nation released a report that determines the optimal subsidy to offer non-adopters to encourage them to get broadband. Nationally, a monthly price that seems acceptable to most non-adopters is $21. The average cost of broadband is $46.30. So to encourage new subscribers Connected Nation promotes subsidies of $25.30. In Minnesota, the average monthly cost is $49.46; an acceptable monthly price is $20 so the subsidy required is $29.46.http://wp.me/p3if7-22j

Policy Topics:

• The FCC is asking for comments on unserved areas on the National Broadband Map for Connect America. Correct maps will help the right areas get support.?http://wp.me/p3if7-24N
• Open Technology Institute looks at the impact of broadband data caps (wired and wireless) on innovation.http://wp.me/p3if7-23K
• Does the tech industry discriminate? The facts indicate that it?s a question worth asking. Response to the article also backs up the assertion.?http://wp.me/p3if7-23k
• The Nation Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) asks the FCC to think about how to support and promote the transition from TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) technology to all-IP (Internet Protocol) infrastructure.?http://wp.me/p3if7-23h
• After seeing the impact of limited public pay phones during super-storm Sandy, New York is making strides to reinvent pay phones of the future as public access communication centers.?http://wp.me/p3if7-22K
• Senator Klobuchar asks the FCC to look into call completion issues, especially with online voice service providers who seem hesitant to complete calls that might results in a termination fee. This is a greater issue in rural areas.?http://wp.me/p3if7-22C

Thanks to Gary Evans Earlier this year Gary Evan announced his phased ?retirement? from Hiawatha Broadband Communications. Gary has been a broadband leader and innovator in Minnesota, including being on the Blandin Broadband Strategy Board since its inception.?http://wp.me/p3if7-23B

Local Broadband News

Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine Counties?Community leaders from Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine Counties discuss opportunities for region-wide broadband access.?http://wp.me/p3if7-22y

Cloquet Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe, one of the new Blandin Broadband Communities, talks about their goals for broadband expansion.?http://wp.me/p3if7-24p

Farmington & Rochester?Arvig is installing fiber from Farmington to Rochester and create more digital infrastructure for this part of the state.http://wp.me/p3if7-22c

Kanabec County?Kanabec County, one of the new Blandin Broadband Communities, talks about their goals for broadband expansion.http://wp.me/p3if7-235

Lac qui Parle County?Superintendent Renae Tostenson tells a heartwarming story about PCs for People recipients around Christmastime.http://wp.me/p3if7-24c

Mankato Artist Brian Frink demonstrates how powerful social media can be for artists in rural areas.?http://wp.me/p3if7-24m?

Mille Lacs?Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, one of the new Blandin Broadband Communities, talks about their goals for broadband expansion.?http://wp.me/p3if7-238

Minneapolis Best Buy and Target increase Twitter use over the holidays.?http://wp.me/p3if7-23V

Furniture company, Blu Dot, finds an innovative way to market via Twitter.?http://wp.me/p3if7-22v

Southwest Minnesota Southwest Minnesota Broadband Group, one of the new Blandin Broadband Communities, talks about their goals for broadband expansion.?http://wp.me/p3if7-24h

St Paul?HealthEast plans to spend $135 million over five years on a new electronic health record system for its St. Paul-based network of hospitals and clinics.?http://wp.me/p3if7-23Y

Twin Cities Open Twin Cities, a group for civic hackers, innovative government employees, and concerned citizens, code a local edition of Adopt-a-Hydrant, which allows residents to claim a fire hydrant to keep clear of snow so that fire fighters will be able to fight fires more effectively in emergencies.?http://wp.me/p3if7-23o

US Bank website experiences several rounds of security issues.?http://wp.me/p3if7-22Z

Events

January 11: Discussion on the Governor?s Broadband Task Force Report?(Minneapolis)?http://wp.me/p3if7-24K

February 26: Women Leading in Technology?(Minneapolis): MHTA Event?http://tinyurl.com/b67fjlk

March 25-27: Minnesota Telecom Alliance Annual Conference?(Minneapolis)?http://tinyurl.com/4696vm6

April 30: MHTA Spring Conference?(Minneapolis)?http://tinyurl.com/7t6oner

Looking for more events? Check out TechDotMN?s calendar?http://tech.mn/events/. Many events are based in the Twin Cities but it is a comprehensive list. (If you have an upcoming event, consider submitting it.)

Stirring the Pot

As the year winds up, I would like to express my gratitude to the many leaders who are working so hard to improve their community?s access to and use of broadband. ?It is great to see the progress that they are making on the many facets of community broadband ? all for the purpose of securing a more prosperous future for their area.

Thanks for working to overcome infrastructure and service shortcomings across your regions, your counties, cities and rural townships. ?For those putting the final touches on new ARRA?funded FTTH and wireless networks, I offer congratulations! ?For those who are pursuing better services without the benefits of the stimulus programs, I offer encouragement to continue your efforts in spite of the current lack of legal and financial models. ?Let?s spend the new year convening people who are really interested in making things happen and figure out a new model that brings the strengths of all parties to the table.

Thanks to those who are working on the adoption and increasing sophistication side of the broadband model. ?We all know that networks without users and value generating applications have limited impact on the economic well-being of our communities. ?The success of the MIRC?Demo Communities and the MIRC statewide partners shows that by creating models and tools, we can move our institutions, businesses and residents upward on the ladder of tech sophistication. ?The result is that our communities are better positioned for today and tomorrow.

Finally, thanks to all whom I have worked with over the past year. Your positive energy and resulting success has made it a fun and exciting initiative of which I am proud to have played a part. ?I am looking forward to the new year and continuing to support the work of such great community leaders! Thanks for the opportunity!!

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Source: http://blandinonbroadband.org/2013/01/01/blandin-enews-monthly-recap-january-2013/

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