1. Governor’s Broadband
Task Force Update
ASSOCIATION OF MN COUNTIES
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

2. Introduction and background
 One of 15 members of the taskforce representing
public and private points of view
 Rural
 Started work on rural internet access in 1994!
 Member of the AMC Futures Task Force
 Blandin Broadband Strategy Board since 2005
 Appointed to task force in 2011 until 2015
 2011/2012 Humphrey Public Policy Fellow
 Represent counties, particularly rural

3. What is the Job of the Task Force?
 Assist the State in meeting statutory broadband
goals:
 Border to border highspeed broadband
 Top 5 states for fastest speeds available
 Top 5 states for universal access
 Rank comparable to top 15 countries for application and use
 Develop policy recommendations that promote
universal cell-phone coverage.

4. Work to-date by current Task Force
 Getting organized – Working groups include:
 Meetings and Outreach
 Coordination Across Government Levels
 Best Practices and Incentives
 State of Broadband – Survey, Research, Data
 Monitor/Understand FCC & PUC Decisions ; Cost of Broadband
 Mobile issues
 Reviewing research from previous task forces
 Monitor and research what is happening nationally
 Laying the ground work for policy and action work in 2013

5. Status Report & Policy Recommendations
 Review ROW/Permitting mindsets at state, county, and
municipality levels for opportunities to entice service
into unserved areas.
 Applications and Use of Broadband – How are we
leveraging the broadband we already have?
 Digital Literacy and Accessibility –How are we closing
the gaps?
 Incentives

6. Incentives
 Funding for public schools and libraries for computers and internet
access.
 Scholarships for broadband to students who meet federal poverty
guidelines
 Redefine existing Education Tax Credit to include broadband services
 Tax credits or grants to providers for building to unserved areas.
 Sales tax exemptions for equipment and cable for broadband
deployments.
 Coordinate highway construction projects and the installation of conduit
to save on costs of building back-haul to unserved areas.
 Build a database that allows those constructing broadband lines to know
when other projects are being done and facilitate shared construction
costs.
 Provide incentives for rural telehealth collaborations.
 Distribution of free or discounted computers to disadvantaged K-12
students.
 Support digital literacy programs.

7. Coverage Map

8. What is the view from where you sit?
 Are you one of the counties identified as least
served? Are you doing something about it?
 Are you one of the 63 counties where less than 50%
of your households do not have access to service at a
level necessary to run the next generation of health,
education, and government services?
 Do you feel you have what you need to advocate for
your community?
 Where are your gaps?
 What could the task force or others do to support the
counties?

9. For more information
 Opportunities to learn more and provide input:
 State Broadband Conference – Nov. 13-14, Duluth
 Blandin Community Broadband Program – Up to $100,000 in
support for community broadband activities.
 Sessions at December annual conference
 Check the Connect Minnesota maps at http://connectmn.org
for your county. Do you agree with their assessment?
 Have you responded to the Task Force/Connect Minnesota
county broadband survey ? (I have copies)
 Provide formal feedback on the task force publications.

10. Closing
Thank you!
For more information, contact:
Danna MacKenzie, IT Director, Cook County
danna.mackenzie@co.cook.mn.us
218-387-3662