Governor’s Task Force issues preliminary outline for border-to-border broadband

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

For Immediate Release

January 31, 2012

Outline will guide ongoing work of Task Force on Broadband,
lay groundwork for comprehensive plan

ST. PAUL, MN – The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband today issued a preliminary report that will lay the groundwork for a comprehensive broadband action plan. The Minnesota Broadband Plan Outline issued today will guide the continuing work of the Task Force as it develops specific recommendations for achieving border-to-border broadband access and adoption in all Minnesota communities – urban, rural, and suburban.

Established by executive order, the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband – which represents a diverse balance of broadband interests including consumers, businesses, residential users, educational and health care institutions, traditional telephone and cable companies, wireless providers, and local units of government – has worked collaboratively over the last several months to develop this initial outline. The goal of this document is to provide an initial roadmap that will:

· Move the state aggressively forward in efforts to meet the statutory broadband goals and Governor Dayton’s desire for ubiquitous broadband in Minnesota

· Establish a Task Force work plan and timeline for 2012 and beyond

· Ensure broadband stakeholders and policymakers are aware of how Minnesota is doing in its efforts to meet the state’s broadband goals

· Introduce a set of recommendations that the Task Force believes will help to ensure Minnesota meets our broadband goals and becomes a national leader in developing the economic and social benefits of ubiquitous broadband

Included in the outline is an appendix that establishes a timeline for Task Force deliverables throughout the year, including the creation and submission of an Annual Report to be completed by December 10 of each year for the duration of the Task Force’s work. That Annual Report will consistently provide the state an ability to benchmark Minnesota’s efforts toward achieving our 2015 goals as established by statute.

“The future of a student in Duluth, the vitality of a small business in Luverne, and the ability of a hospital in Burnsville to meet the needs of its patients will rely in part on the work we do together to tangibly achieve Minnesota’s statutory broadband goals,” said Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman, who oversees the state’s Broadband Development Office.

“Representing a broad spectrum of interests, the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband is carefully reviewing the challenges and opportunities facing Minnesota in that effort. This constructive partnership will give Minnesota a roadmap forward as this administration works aggressively to attain Minnesota’s broadband goals.”

More information about the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband and the state of broadband in Minnesota can be found on the Minnesota Department of Commerce website.

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Matt Swenson

Director of Communications

Minnesota Department of Commerce

(O) 651.296.6485

(C) 763.464.0042

(F) 651.297.1959

matt.swenson@state.mn.us

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Visit our website at http://mn.gov/commerce

Connected Nation Again Among Best Places to Work in Kentucky

Nonprofit makes winner’s list in consecutive years

LEXINGTON, KY – For the second year running, Connected Nation, a leading national nonprofit technology services organization, has been selected as one of the best places to work in Kentucky.

The honor was announced today by the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management in conjunction with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Connected Nation, with a footprint that spans more than 30 states and territories from Alaska to Puerto Rico, manages programs that help communities take advantage of the economic opportunities afforded by broadband. With its core operations in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Connected Nation was named one of the “Top 28 Best Places to Work in Kentucky” in the small/medium-sized employer category (those employing 25-249 U.S. employees).

“These consecutive awards affirm our belief that the talent of our employees and a positive corporate culture that recognizes their efforts pays dividends,” said Connected Nation President and COO Tom Ferree. “We continuously strive to attract and retain great people because we know that their success and growth is vital to our mission of empowering people through technology.”

Connected Nation has employees across the nation working with public and private stakeholders to expand broadband access, adoption, and use. The award is based in part from surveys of the Connected Nation employees based in Kentucky.

“Our policies are based on providing not only great service for our clients, but also a rewarding work environment where our employees thrive,” said Tracie Rotermann, Connected Nation’s human resources manager.

The selection process, managed by Best Companies Group, is based on an assessment of the company’s employee policies and procedures and the results of an internal employee survey. The competition is a multi-year initiative designed to motivate companies in the Commonwealth to focus, measure, and move their workplace environments toward excellence. Numerous studies show a strong correlation between profitability and creating a good place to work. The Best Places to Work in Kentucky initiative is based on FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” list.

Connected Nation was ranked number 8 in the final 2011 rankings, the second highest ranking ever for a first-time winner.

Connected Nation will be honored along with the other winners at the Best Places to Work in Kentucky 8th Annual Awards Dinner at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville on Thursday, April 19, where the final rankings will be announced.

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Connect Iowa, Iowa Economic Development Authority Launch New Advisory Committee on Broadband

New advisory committee kicks off intensive community broadband expansion program

Des Moines, IA – This week, Connect Iowa and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) convened the first broadband advisory committee meeting, kicking off a new community engagement effort to expand broadband access, adoption, and use across the state. Community leaders from around Iowa are now joining forces to oversee the expansion of high-speed Internet to every corner of the state. Connect Iowa’s new broadband advisory committee includes elected officials, public service agency representatives, providers, educators, librarians, and business people. Their common goal is to support and guide the Connect Iowa initiative.

During the meeting broadband stakeholders discussed the history of broadband expansion in the state, and the plan for bringing broader access to Iowa communities in the coming year. The meeting was a great success and set the groundwork for how diverse broadband stakeholders can work together to further progress across the state in 2012.

“The inauguration of our broadband advisory committee marks an important step for Connect Iowa and signals our commitment to closing the digital gap that persists in our communities,” says Connect Iowa Program Manager Amy Kuhlers. “We are excited to be bolstered by the support of key stakeholders representing all areas of economic interest. Connect Iowa, with the support of the advisory committee, is undertaking the important work of building grassroots regional planning to grow and expand technology use in communities across the state.”

The closing of the digital adoption gap in Iowa will have a significant impact on the way citizens learn, work, and live their daily lives. According to Connect Iowa’s latest broadband availability research from the 2011 Iowa residential and business surveys:

• 37% of Iowa households still do not subscribe to broadband at home
• 45% of Iowans living in rural areas do not subscribe to broadband service at home
• 23,000 Iowa businesses are still not using broadband despite the fact that Iowa businesses that use broadband make an average of $259,000 more in annual revenue than businesses without

“The first meeting of the advisory council was really interesting because there were so many people representing different pieces of the broadband puzzle around the table,” said committee member and Iowa State Librarian Mary Wegner. “I am excited that we will be working together to improve broadband adoption in Iowa, improve the speed, and get more Iowans using broadband. The most important part, and the part where libraries really come into the picture, is to help Iowans really understand the limitless opportunities and what they can do when they have access to high-speed Internet.”

Connect Iowa, in collaboration with the Iowa Economic Development Authority, is working with broadband providers and other public and private partners to speed up the expansion of broadband in unserved and underserved areas. The organization is pinpointing remaining gaps in Iowa’s broadband availability and supporting the development of a statewide plan for the deployment and adoption of technology that promises economic development and better quality of life for Iowa residents.

The committee’s first meeting kicked off a week of intensive training for a new grassroots program that Connect Iowa will be unveiling next week. The committee expects to meet quarterly with the next meeting planned for April.

If you have suggestions regarding how technology can be improved to better serve your community, Connect Iowa wants to hear from you. To submit comments, ideas, or gain access to the initiative’s many online tools and resources, please visit www.connectiowa.org or contact Amy Kuhlers at akuhlers@connectiowa.org.

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