The document discusses broadband access in Minnesota. It provides context about supporters of broadband expansion efforts and recaps discussions from sessions on developing a shared broadband vision. Key points discussed include: 1) Networks need both fiber and wireless components to be high-speed and provide universal access. 2) Tools like state funding, policies, and collaboration are needed, as well as political will, business buy-in, and communication strategies. 3) Incentives for investment include empowering local communities, public-private partnerships to reduce costs, and funding sources like grants and loans coupled with promoting adoption. 4) Decision-makers should consider access that is symmetrical and long-term, eliminates disparities, and coordinates

1. Welcome!
Connect, Learn, Recharge.

2. #mnbroadband

3. #mnbroadband

4. Conference Supporters
• Arrowhead RDC
• Association of MN Counties
• Economic Development
Association of MN
• Fiber to the Home Council
• Greater MN Partnership
• Headwaters RDC
• Initiative Foundation
• League of MN Cities
• MN Association of Community
Telecommunications
Administrators
• MN Association of Townships
• MN Rural Health Association
• Northland Foundation
• Northwest MN Foundation
• Region Five Development
Commission
• Region Nine Development
Commission
• Resilient Region Virtual Highway
Taskforce
• Southern MN Initiative
Foundation
• Southwest Initiative Foundation
• Southwest RDC
• West Central Initiative

5. A starting place for our work today
Vision statement developed by our Strategy Board in 2004:
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.

6. Developing our Shared Vision
A Broadband Vision for MN Session I
• What words in this vision statement do you
like?
• What would you add?
• What would you take out?
• What’s missing?

7. Our Vision Statement
All Minnesotans will use world class
universal broadband networks that enable
us to thrive in our communities and across
the globe now and into the future.

8. Bringing our vision to life
A Broadband Vision for MN Session II
• What is your reaction to the draft Vision
Statement?
• What do we need for networks?
• What tools do we need? (ex: state funding,
legislative actions, policies, forums to
promote/facilitate collaboration)
• What do we need to do to incent the investment
we need?
• What key questions or principles should decision-
makers keep in mind?

9. Q1 Sumarry: What do we need for
networks?
• Fiber… plus wireless
• Both kinds of networks: Human and Technical
• Speed/bandwidth
• Funding sources

10. Q2 Summary: What tools do we need?
• All of the above! State funding, legislative actions,
policies, forums to promote/facilitate collaboration
• Political will through regulations that promote fiber
sharing, campaign finance laws, state financing and
guaranteed loan programs
• Big business buy-in
• Dig once
• Money
• Communication Tools
– Success stories / Case studies / models / Community
education, clear sound bits – universal messaging

11. Q3 Summary: What do we need to do
to incent the investment we need?
• Give more power to counties/communities to
move forward to get better broadband
• Encourage public-private to work together to
streamline efforts and costs to lower barriers to
deploy broadband (Dig Once, Streamlined
permitting)
• Provide funding (Grants, revolving funds, loans,
tax credits)
• Support adoption to build a business case to
improve service by increasing take rate and
promoting greater interest

12. Q4 Summary: What key questions or
principles should decision-makers keep
in mind?• Connection speeds must be symmetrical
• Think long term
• Economic development, health and education all require
broadband
• Government must be involved
• Eliminate the digital divide for all groups facing disparate access
• Wired and wireless service are interdependent, not substitutes
• Dig once, coordination and planning across infrastructures are
essential
• Why are other countries beating us?
• High prices for broadband are like a tax on innovation.

13. Reviewing our work from Session II
• What stands out to you among these ideas?
– How do you make people from all sectors work
together?
– No longer asking “What is broadband?” We are now
trying to figure out how to get it!
– When there is a sense of urgency, things can be
improved/implemented quicker than normal.
– Could we follow in other countries’ footsteps? Which
ones?
– Other countries may have better access to BB because
they have a “global perspective.” We need to change
our perspective.

14. Reviewing our work from Session II
• What surprises you or concerns you?
– There is a wall present--not a lot of interest or much discussion in the public
sector surrounding BB
– Lack of a sense of urgency
– The thought/idea that BB is not an important topic/subject to put money into-
again, no sense of urgency.
• What excites you?
– The new maps!
– Excited to see people from all corners of MN, especially county people-so the
word can be spread to local legislators,etc.
• What’s missing?
– Getting politicians to recommit-- dealing with the realities of political ups and
downs is worth talking about.
– The discussion needs to get outside this room-spread the word!