Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Keynote from 2014 Broadband Communities Summit in Austin TX
Citation preview
Cool Things Rural Communities Are Doing
With BroadbandThe Minnesota Experience
Community Technology Advisors
Combining Knowledge in Broadband and Economic Development
Since Dial-Up
Rural Broadband Initiatives
By providing leadership development, technical assistance and funding, Blandin Foundation has helped rural communities
launch almost 200 broadband-oriented projects over the past four years.
This is RURAL!
From NW to SE, MN is 500+ miles
Our “communities” include: Cities Counties Regions Tribal governments
Our largest city has 20,000 people.
Our most rural counties have around 4,000 people.
Blandin Foundation Strategy
Targeted Communities
Select engaged communities
Organizational development
Strategic planning Project development Funding Coaching
Broadband Grant Programs
Robust Network Feasibility Fund
LightSpeed Digital Inclusion Community
Partnership Broadband Innovation
Intelligent Community Indicators
Community selection process as organizing tool Steering team formation and support Cross-sector community meeting Intelligent community benchmarking Assets/gap analysis Outcomes Project development and prioritization Funding
Planning Process
Improving Broadband Networks
Community organizing, feasibility studies, partnering and financing
Broadband
Success Stories
Networks
Built Cook County FTTH LqP County FTTH SMBS FTTH Cloquet Valley Wireless
In Process RS Fiber Todd County Redwood County Kanabec County
Critical Elements
Commonalities Leadership support Community organizing Feasibility studies
Differences Network owners Technologies Financing
Cook CountyARRA grant to Arrowhead Electric Association as new providerDirect county grant from county economic development sales taxResult of long–term effort on Internet –- from dial-up to fiber
Lac qui Parle CountyARRA grant to Farmers Mutual TelephoneDirect loan/grant from County EDA plus shortfall guaranteeOpportunistic initiative rewarded by stimulus
Eight communities in joint venture
ARRA funding
Partnering with an existing muni to deliver triple play over FTTH
Southwest MN Broadband Services
Newly formed
Initiative led by the area farmers’ co-0p
To be supported by private and public financing backed by area cities and townships
FTTH to the Farm
Cloquet Valley Internet InitiativeNine sparsely settled townshipsChallenging terrains with woods & hillsPartnership with Cooperative Power and Light, the electric co-op
700 Mhz wireless technology15 mile range7 Mbps
Growing a Knowledge Workforce
Creating, supporting and recruiting talent
Knowledge Workforce
Alternative Approaches
Cook County Higher Education “The Education You Need Where You Live”
Programs Local Online independent Group learning
Mentors, financial aid resources and more 90% completion rate for online courses
Encouragement of telework by: Partnering with local telecom to provide bandwidth and
tech support Marketing the community workforce to metro
businesses Providing job postings and local resources Creation of telework hotel Convinced State of MN to include a telework location
category Recognized by NTCA as Smart Rural Community for
their telework initiative
Courses Local Videoconferencing Targeting to new Americans and older adults
Open lab with assistance available Videoconferencing rental available
Innovation
Spurring InnovationNew companies, new processes, new products
A three pronged approach to spurring innovation and increasing broadband utilization in Itasca County
• Business technology assessments, strategy development and implementation via financing
Social Media Breakfasts
IT Pros Networking Brown Bag Lunches
Facilitating collaboration among area volunteer fire departments to improve and share training resources
Install videoconferencing capabilities in ten fire halls across five counties
Coordinate training offerings led by regional center community fire department
Enable streaming of past events for 24x7 viewing by new and current firefighters
Southwestern Minnesota Adult Mental Health Consortium
Bringing desktop and mobile videoconferencing to coordinate and share mental health resources across 22 rural counties. Care team coordination Staff meetings Direct care
Addressing Digital Inclusion
Providing a computing device, training and connectivity
Digital Inclusion
Turning trash to treasure for thousands of low-income families in Minnesota and now expanding into other states
Partnerships with:
• schools and non-profits to target eligible people
• government and business to source computers
• ISPs for discounted Internet service
Collected, refurbished and distributed over 7,000 computers in 2013, about half in rural communities
Set up local affiliate offices in three rural Minnesota locations, plus one additional independent project
With a mobile refurbishing lab, they collect, refurbish and distribute 100 computers in three days
Providing digital literacy training, computers and connectivity to new AmericansPartners with • PCs for People• Winona State University • St. Mary’s University of
Minnesota• Hiawatha Broadband
Communications
Marketing and Advocacy
Creating a tech savvy image for your community –
to attract talent and investment
Advocacy
Marketing/Advocacy Strategies
External marketing Fergus Falls as
Teleworking Capitol 60/90 Tech Corridor as
fiber- rich agriculture and manufacturing region
Mobile sites Cook County CVB Google Place business
initiatives
Internal marketing “What’s up in Foley?” “Finding Windom”
Public policy Blandin events 18 Legislative rural
listening sessions
FindingsThese elements are mutually reinforcing and bring together diverse stakeholders
Multiple small activities have more impact than one big activity
Cross-sector activities have the largest benefits
When in doubt as to “what to do”, just do something!
Bill ColemanCommunity Technology Advisors
Discussion
Resources:http://Blandinonbroadband.orghttp://broadband.blandinfoundation.orgwww.communitytechnologyadvisors.com
