As you might remember, I have been an advocate of increasing available broadband internet speeds to more Americans, especially rural folks and those on the Iron Range. (“A Little Less Hooey, a Little More Huey”). I see it not just as a more convenient way for e-commuters like myself to do our jobs, but as a valuable economic development strategy for places where it’s good to live but hard to find a job.
This looks to be a very interesting week on this topic for several reasons. First, check out this Minnesota Public Radio story from Monday. A broadband map of Minnesota is being created as we speak, showing the areas where broadband is available and strong and places where internet is slow and underused. They encourage you to test your own connection to help the project and check your service provider’s claims. This map will serve as a vital starting point for future tech infrastructure policy.
Secondly, it’s encouraging to continue to hear about high speed internet investment as part of the infrastructure portion of the ongoing economic recovery plan in Congress. Our own Iron Range Rep. Jim Oberstar (DFL-MN8), the House Transportation and Infrastructure chair, is playing a leadership role in this legislation. Let’s keep the fires burning!
(h/t Minnesota Voices Online discussion boards at forums.e-democracy.org)
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