The Governor of Minnesota’s Task Force on Broadband released their annual report that includes recommendations for Governor Mark Dayton, the legislature, and other policymakers to consider during the 2017 legislative session.
The recommendations include providing $100 million in ongoing funding for the Border-to-Border Broadband Grand Development Program and $10 million in operating funds for the Office of Broadband Development within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) http://mn.gov/deed.
Minnesota’s universal access and speed goals updated in the 2016 legislative session specify that all businesses and homes should have access to high-speed broadband services at a download speed of at least 25 megabits per second and minimum upload speeds of at least 3 megabits per second by 2022.
By 2026, the recently adopted state speed goals provide that all Minnesota businesses and homes have access to at least one provider of broadband with download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 20 megabits per second.
Some other policy recommendations include:
- Establishing a legislative cybersecurity commission to share information, monitor workforce issues, and strengthen the infrastructure
- Amend building codes to require multi-tenant housing funded with public dollars to deploy cabling to support easier management of broadband connectivity
- Build computer donation partnerships between state agencies and community-based organizations
- Modify the State Telecommunications Assistance Program to better align with the national Lifeline program to subsidize the cost of broadband service for low income households
- Fully fund Telecommunications Access Equity Aid
Go to http://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/press-releases/?id=268870 for the full report.