Below is a press release of note to fans of rural broadband expansion. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is convening a broadband roundtable this morning. It’s good to see a northern name on the list in Bill Coleman from the Blandin Foundation of Grand Rapids. The Blandin Foundation is working to expand internet infrastructure and use in northern Minnesota which is vital to our economic future here. It seems that broadband infrastructure will be a part of the Obama stimulus plan. If northern Minnesota, particularly the Iron Range, misses the opportunity to expand its tech infrastructure in this economic environment, it is making a huge mistake.

Sen. Klobuchar to Convene High-Speed Broadband Roundtable

Broadband Infrastructure Expected to Be Part of Obama Stimulus Plan

WHAT:

Officials with President-elect Obama’s transition have indicated that investments in broadband communications infrastructure will be part of the economic stimulus and recovery plan expected in early 2009.

In anticipation of these infrastructure investments, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar will convene a roundtable discussion to identify key priorities for high-speed broadband Internet access and service in Minnesota, so the state can have a top-quality “21st century information infrastructure.”

Klobuchar serves on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has authority over telecommunications issues.

Roundtable participants include:

• State Representative Brita Sailer (Park Rapids)
• Tony Mayer, West Central Telephone Cooperative (Sebeka)
• Tim Rice, Lakewood Health System (Staples)
• Jeff Hunt, Park Rapids Area Schools– ISD 309 (Park Rapids)
• Bill Coleman, Blandin Foundation (Grand Rapids)
• Tim Lovaasen, President, Minnesota Communications Workers of America (Minneapolis)
• Dawn Hegland, Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission (Appleton)

WHEN:

10:00 a.m.

Monday, December 29

WHERE:

Room 125

Minnesota State Capitol

75 Martin Luther King Boulevard

Saint Paul