Roberto Gallardo and Brian Whitacre haver released a new research report: An unexpected digital divide? A look at internet speeds and socioeconomic groups. It tracks broadband adoption across most of the US based on speeds and compares to census data. Most of their findings are similar to what we’ve been tracking for the last 20+ years, but there was once surprise… This study attempted to see if existing disparities among demographic groups in terms of home broadband adoption remained when examining performance or internet quality – measured by average download and upload speed tests from Ook ..read more

WDIO reports on broadband expansion in Northern Minnesota. Funding comes from CARES Act and local funding… Broadening broadband called for a golden shovel moment on the Range on Tuesday. The Northeast Service Cooperative is proud to be adding 136 route miles of fiber to their network. They’ve been working on this project for years. It will mean expanded fiber to places like Kanabec and Pine County, and upgrades to Hibbing and Virginia. Money for the $4.25 million dollar project is coming from the CARES Act and matching local money. Lake States Construction is the contractor. Work could take t ..read more

A little bit off topic but, ArcStone is a Minnesota company, and I know many readers have a connection to a nonprofit organization, and I’m just one day off Earth Day – so here’s info on a grant for website development. Good luck! ArcStone partners with nonprofit organizations and thoughtful brands to drive missions forward. As a demonstration of our commitment to growing the impact of organizations that care, we are proud to launch the Unleash the Good Grant program. Through this grant, we aim to support nonprofit organizations to enhance their online presence and achieve their mission throu ..read more

Today’s session on BEAD funding regulations by the Office of Broadband Development focused on… Session provides an overview of Minnesota’s two primary statutes governing archaeological resources: the Private Cemeteries Act (Minnesota Statute 307.08) and the Field Archaeology Act (Minnesota Statute 138.31-42); a discussion on licensing, including qualifications needed to work in Minnesota; and a consultation with MIAC regarding American Indian cemetery sites, the licensing process, and work standards. You can check out the session: Links shared: Link for the Office of the State Archaeologist ..read more

Session Daily reports... Courthouse security, both physical and in cyberspace, plus pay boosts for courtroom interpreters and those who do mental health examinations in civil commitment and criminal proceedings are the main items set to benefit from a $36 million proposal. Sponsored by Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL-Roseville), HF5245, as amended, was approved by the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee Thursday and sent to the House Ways and Means Committee. District courts would be the largest beneficiary at $32 million for the 2024-25 biennium; the Supreme Court ..read more

Connectivity Trends for Senior Living in the United States (2024-2029), a report by Maravedit, reports… The U.S. population continues to age rapidly, and this aging boom has a multifold impact on the senior housing industry. Baby Boomers make up an increasingly large share of the senior population and they are living longer and healthier lives than the generations before them. After the heavy drop experienced during the pandemic, senior housing occupancy rates are back to healthier levels. The National Investment Center estimates over 600,000 additional units will be needed by 2029 to maintai ..read more

From the Institute for Local Self Reliance... The Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) Community Broadband Networks Initiative and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) are gearing up for the second installment of the Building for Digital Equity (#B4DE) event this year, and encouraging digital equity practitioners to save the date. The popular (and free) virtual gathering will be held June 10, 2024 from 3 to 4:15 PM ET and will feature an Internet Affordability theme: Pathways to Affordable Connectivity You can register for t ..read more

Happening tomorrow (April 18)… Governor’s Broadband Task Force/Senator Putnam Thursday, April 18, 2024 2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. Room Number: Minnesota Senate Building, Conference Room 3237 95 University Ave. W. Saint Paul, MN 55155 2:00 p.m.-2:05 p.m.    – Call to order (Chair Bekele) 2:05 p.m.-2:06 p.m. – Welcome and introductions 2:06 p.m.-2:50 p.m.  – Discussion on legislative bills 2:45 p.m.   –  next steps 2: 50 p.m.  – Adjourn *** Governor’s Broadband Task Force opening meeting rules apply for meetings of a quorum ..read more

Minneapolis Star Tribune reports… Minnesota cities won’t impose fees on internet providers meant to help pay for some government programming and improve broadband access after legislation failed to clear the state House. The Minnesota House DFL dropped the plan, which sparked heated debate with the telecom industry about whether this would help or hurt broadband efforts, from an omnibus bill earlier this week. Democrats who control the House initially included the legislation in a package of bills the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee advanced. But DFLers cut the franchise fee policy befo ..read more

Broadband Breakfast follows the reasons and realities behind the FCC’s decision to quit using Weiss ratings for banks’ letters of credit of RDOF, CAF II winners for one year…  In January, Consolidated Communications notified federal regulators about a financial issue that had cropped up, could do harm to hundreds of broadband Internet Service Providers, and frustrate the effort to deliver high-speed Internet service to rural America. In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, Consolidated said the bank from which it had received a letter of credit (LOC) – a require ..read more