Broadband Initiative Stimulus Partnership Meeting April 21, 2009

Blandin Broadband Initiative To ensure a high quality of life and a globally competitive future for its citizens, businesses and communities, Minnesota is committed to making the necessary investment to become a world leader in the universal deployment and use of ultra high-speed next generation broadband

Goals Increase understanding, capability and urgency of Minnesota’s leadership about the need to enhance Minnesota’s always-on, universal telecommunications network. Stimulate timely and effective public and private investment in rural networks and application. Maximize the value of Internet connectedness for rural residents, businesses and communities.

Increase understanding, capability and urgency of Minnesota’s leadership about the need to enhance Minnesota’s always-on, universal telecommunications network.

Stimulate timely and effective public and private investment in rural networks and application.

Maximize the value of Internet connectedness for rural residents, businesses and communities.

Pre-Meeting Survey Results Who’s Interested?

Pre-Meeting Survey Results Our Organization is:

Federal Broadband Stimulus Funds Three Key Programs Department of Commerce – NTIA $4.7 Billion $350 for mapping and community development Department of Agriculture – RUS $2.5 Billion

Three Key Programs

Department of Commerce – NTIA

$4.7 Billion

$350 for mapping and community development

Department of Agriculture – RUS

$2.5 Billion

NTIA – Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) $3.75 B for competitive grants for community oriented networking needs Unserved Underserved High value targets – schools, libraries, health care $200 M for public computer center capacity $250 M for “sustainable adoption of broadband service $350 M for broadband mapping and other activities

$3.75 B for competitive grants for community oriented networking needs

Unserved

Underserved

High value targets – schools, libraries, health care

$200 M for public computer center capacity

$250 M for “sustainable adoption of broadband service

$350 M for broadband mapping and other activities

USDA Rural Utility Service $2.5 B for: RUS Community Connect Grant Program Rural Development Broadband Loan and Loan Guarantee Program Rural Focus: 75% of area served shall be in a rural area w/o sufficient access to facilitate rural economic development

$2.5 B for:

RUS Community Connect Grant Program

Rural Development Broadband Loan and Loan Guarantee Program

Rural Focus:

75% of area served shall be in a rural area w/o sufficient access to facilitate rural economic development

Other Opportunities Transportation infrastructure funds Public housing infrastructure Energy efficient housing retrofits School construction Smart grid Health information

Transportation infrastructure funds

Public housing infrastructure

Energy efficient housing retrofits

School construction

Smart grid

Health information

Blandin Foundation Current Stimulus Thinking Goal Bring more federal BB resources to rural communities! Premise Build on our successful experience w/ proven programs Community Broadband Resources/Get Broadband LightSpeed Network Feasibility Studies Model Implement through partnerships to be determined

Goal

Bring more federal BB resources to rural communities!

Premise

Build on our successful experience w/ proven programs

Community Broadband Resources/Get Broadband

LightSpeed

Network Feasibility Studies

Model

Implement through partnerships to be determined

Blandin Commitment Blandin Foundation brings Match Grant management experience Broadband experience Prospective partner roles Match Staff capacity for regional/local implementation Project development

Blandin Foundation brings

Match

Grant management experience

Broadband experience

Prospective partner roles

Match

Staff capacity for regional/local implementation

Project development

Discussion

Next Steps