Grand Rapids, MN – The Minnesota Legislature has approved $250,000 to advance rural broadband development through Blandin Foundation’s Get Broadband initiative.

According to the legislation the $250,000 is a one-time grant, which must “be matched equally by non-state funds and is available until expended. Blandin Foundation, which set up the fund, itself has contributed $250,000 and has raised an additional $10,000 to date.

“All combined the broadband fund has $510,000 to help communities develop demand for broadband,” said Bernadine Joselyn, the Foundation’s director of public policy and engagement, who is responsible for the initiative. “This is simply wonderful and means so much to our effort. We are especially grateful to the authors of the legislation and the many, many people throughout the state who are involved in this exceptional initiative.”

Legislative authors were Sen. Dallas Sams (DFL-Staples), Rep. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont) and Rep. Andy Westerberg (R-Blaine).

Sams said “Broadband telecommunications is critical to rural communities as they try to gain access to the knowledge economy. The State of Minnesota needs to continue to support initiatives like Get Broadband.”

Gary Evans, president and CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Communications of Winona said “The telecommunications industry has invested heavily in broadband infrastructure, but it is not utilized anywhere near its full capacity. Get Broadband will help more people realize the benefits that broadband will bring them and also make it easier to upgrade our broadband infrastructure in the future.”

Dr M. Sue Collins, Provost, Vermillion Community College and Ely Get Broadband steering committee member said “Ely appreciates the Blandin Foundation's investment in our community through the Get Broadband grant program. It is amazing how our community leaders have "rallied around" the concept of raising awareness about the advantage of using broadband for personal and business use.”

According to Joselyn the vision for the initiative is “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, through public-private partnerships, to become a world leader in the universal deployment and use of ultra high-speed next generation broadband.”

“Our objective is that by 2010 affordable gigabit broadband will be available to all Minnesotans,” she said. “The goal of Blandin Foundation’s Broadband Initiative is to improve the economic competitiveness of Minnesota’s communities through support for rural telecommunications market and infrastructure development.”

According to Joselyn, the Foundation is partnering with others to:

Increase awareness about the need to enhance broadband telecommunications utilization and services

Increase rural business and residential utilization of broadband capacity

Increase public and private investment in rural broadband capacity

Get Broadband: Keeping Communities Competitive Program

Get Broadband is a community-based program to increase the use of broadband based technologies to make communities and their residents and institutions more productive, efficient and competitive.

The new global “knowledge economy” has make distance irrelevant and technology essential. Advanced telecommunications services can bring to rural communities quality benefits and services they need to survive and thrive into the future. High-speed, always-on broadband-based internet applications and services help communities:

Attract and retain higher paying jobs

Make entrepreneurs and traditional industries more competitive and productive

Improve the efficiency of community services

Improve our quality of life

But Minnesota’s rural economies are not taking full advantage of these opportunities. Community leadership is necessary to advocate broadband’s public value – economic development, health care, education, governmental services – and to identify strategies to develop it. This program is a tool to get that important work done.

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