Jason Baker of the Star Tribune has a must read piece for anyone who uses the Internet (and if you’re reading this, that means you). When I talk about building a fast, reliable public/private high speed internet network on the Iron Range this is what I mean and this is why it matters so very much.
Unless Internet providers invest up to $55 billion in new infrastructure, the report warns, consumer and corporate use of the Internet could exceed capacity in as little as two years, potentially leading to brownouts and slowing the pace of e-commerce.
This report is not the harbinger of digital doom that many in the Twin Cities technology community fear. The Internet will not crash, and your employees still will be able to waste time watching Will Ferrell videos on YouTube. But our ability to profit from future Internet innovations could suffer, and that’s why Minnesotans need to be aware of this impending crisis — and demand concrete solutions from Internet carriers like Qwest and Comcast, and the legislators who can ensure that all Minnesotans enjoy the benefits of high-speed Internet access.
Just think, Iron Range Resources could invest in shoring up the Internet infrastructure on the Iron Range (indeed, preferably WITH the help of Qwest, Mediacom and other private companies) using it’s unique revenue stream from a currently flush mining economy. Then, when this statewide internet crisis hits WE are prepared, WE attract e-commerce business and telecommuters and WE diversify our natural resources economy. It’s called planning. And if our local and state officials could get past their personal relationships with those lobbying for the status quo, we could really do something.
I’m not advocating unfair business practices or unwise use of taxpayer dollars; only that we will need to address this anyway. Private and public interests working together can change this area for the better. This is not the kind of issue that voters will petition for, but it’s the kind of decision that our great-grandchildren will look back upon and regard as wise.
Aaron-
Wow. I think you’re a mirror of my lifes story. I was also raised in Hibbing and now live with my wife and daughters in Itasca County.(We moved away for a few years for college and work, so I’m not sure if I share that same move with you)
Great blog.
Good luck on your wishful thinking that the IRR will ever make a decision that benefits the citizens of northern MN, especially the Iron Range. They seem to make more headlines with their squabbles and trash talking than making the headlines for anything done to help those citizens their “supposed” to be serving. Remember Marvin Windows? I especially like it when Tommy and Mr. Bakk reference running for Governor. I find this funny because if they really want to keep a Republican in office, then keep doing what you’re doing and keep announcing that you’re going to seek office of Governor and people in the Twin Cities will continue to vote Rep.
The IRR sees no value in building an infrastructure for business. They are blind by their own selfish ambition, that they don’t understand that business’s expect to have something given to them when they relocate or build. Big business’s now expect to have a technology infrastructure built for them. The IRR will never move on investing anything into broadband infrastructure. We will have to depend on business to get it done, plain and simple. Business runs everything, sad to say in some circumstances, but it does.
Great post. Let me know how your IRR broadband spending dreams go. I would be interested to know how they turn out. 🙂
DS
Hi DS,
Thanks for the comment. Glad to hear there are others like us around. Stick around and see what you think. It’s less important that we agree on everything than it is that we agree that there’s a better future ahead if we work on it.
Thanks for reading,
AB
I couldn’t have said it better myself Aaron. As long as we agree that there is a great future in store for our children and this area, then yes we can accomplish much. Great point.
I am looking forward to seeing our generation getting more involved in politics and start changing the way politics is run in this state and area. Everything is so polar. Try reading “From Hope To Higher Ground”, by Mike Huckabee. While I am certainly not advocating that the Republican party is the best party to be involved with, Huckabee has a great theme to the book-get rid of the cynicism and open the doors for cooperation and hope.
The reason we haven’t had the job boom like northern MN should’ve had 20 years ago is beacuse of all the local legislators doing the same thing each year and expecting a different result. The same negative atmosphere, the same rhetoric, the same song and dance. Complaining, back-stabbing and one party versus the other. Whatever happened to golfing, talking and making deals for the public in an amicable fashion? It can still happen. It all starts with one.
Thanks again for your blog.