Minnesota's Blandin Foundation

1. Broadband Legislative Issues
The Community Perspective

2. Rural Broadband Advocacy
• Rural advocacy groups convening
• Developing and sharing a unified message
– Broadband is important to all as platform for
economic development and service delivery, but…
• We lack an identifiable advocacy group
• Rural broadband needs are varied
• Coalition members have additional priorities
• March 15 – Broadband Day At The Capitol

3. Community Priorities
• Messaging the importance of rural broadband
• Office of Broadband
– Fund the Office
– Fund the Fund
– Fix the Fund
• Rights of Way

4. Broadband Fund Goals
• Adequate, long term funding
• Flexibility to meet community needs
• Fund long-term broadband solutions
• Reform challenge process

5. How Can You Participate?
• Stay informed
– Blandin on Broadband blog
– MN Broadband Coalition
• Reach out to your legislators
– Organize your community
– Social media campaign
• http://tinyurl.com/hgtnwrn
– Volunteer to testify
– Broadband Day on the Hill
• March 15