Lt. Gov. Tina Smith convened a meeting in Becker last Friday focusing on the importance of ensuring that Minnesotans have reliable, affordable broadband internet access.
In 2015, the City of Becker received a $152,000 broadband grant to provide high-speed connections to 21 underserved businesses in the Becker Industrial Park. Despite this progress, a 2016 study found that nearly 60 percent of all businesses in Sherburne County would like faster internet connections than are currently available to them. In addition, nearly four in 10 businesses in the county believe slow speeds put them at a competitive disadvantage.
The Lt. Gov. was joined by Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer, Rep. Jim Newberger of Becker, Eric Graning of ComLink, Dan Weber from Sherburne County, Robb Feldhege from Becker Furniture World, Jane Leonard from the state Office of Broadband Development, Laura and Albert Kangas of Palmer Wireless, Michael Tate of Great River Energy, Amanda Othoudt of Elk River and Rep. Nick Zerwas of Elk River were part of the roundtable discussions held in the showroom of Becker Furniture World.
About 40-50 guests were in the audience to listen, including County Commissioners Ewald Peterson, John Reibel and Felix Schmeising, Becker Mayor Lefty Kleis, Big Lake Mayor RaeAnn Danielowski, Becker City Council Members Tracy Bertram and Rick Hendrickson and City Administrator Greg Pruszinske.
To help businesses and families like those in Sherburne County and all across Minnesota, Gov. Dayton and Lt. Gov. Smith have proposed a $100 million state investment to expand rural broadband internet access this year. This funding would leverage additional local and private resources to significantly expand access across Minnesota.
“Broadband isn’t just nice, it’s necessary if we want Minnesota's economy to work for everyone, everywhere in Minnesota,” said Smith. “We need the bandwidth for Minnesota's regional centers and rural economies to support innovation and entrepreneurship.”
“In partnership with communities and broadband providers, we can make progress for Minnesota,” she continued. “If we don’t, 244,000 Minnesota households will continue to lack basic access to high-speed internet. We can, and must, do better than that.”
Expanding Minnesota’s broadband internet infrastructure to ensure border-to-border access for every Minnesotan could cost an estimated $900 million to $3.2 billion. The Governor and Lt. Gov.’s $100 million investment would jumpstart the state’s expansion efforts to move Minnesota towards an innovation economy that works for everyone, everywhere in our state. And based on past grant funding, this investment would leverage at least $100 million more in private and local sources.
Smith credited the work of Palmer Wireless, who recently completed part of a project to bring 3.4 miles of fiber passing 21 underserved businesses in the Becker Industrial Park as well as to 12 vacant city-owned lots covering 70 acres.
“We had to deal with some problems along the railroad tracks but we got the project done and it fits the criteria from the state,” Albert Kangas said. “Twenty-one businesses in the industrial park are now capable of getting broadband. We are glad and fortunate to be part of such a big project.”
The community and economic development impact means the are will see superfast broadband performance and enable new businesses to emerge and encourage flexible working patterns.
“Minnesotans have a proud history of innovation,” said Smith. “Ensuring that all Minnesotans have access to high-speed broadband Internet is critical to unleashing the next generation of dreamers and innovators. These new infrastructure investments will help Greater Minnesota communities compete in the global economy.”
With the proposed $100 million investment from Smith and Dayton, 35,000 additional homes, businesses and institutions across Minnesota could gain broadband internet access. Unfortunately, 244,000 homes (estimated) across Minnesota lack access to broadband internet at speeds recommended by the Governor’s broadband tax force.
“Minnesotans from across the state talk about the importance of broadband access and the great lengths they go to get it,” said Smith. “In the Central Lakes area, a cancer doctor told about how he drives from his home to a McDonald's parking lot in town, just so he can download patient x-rays. While a commodities trader, living near Fergus Falls, said he was able to run a global trading business from a farmhouse once owned by his wife's grandparents because he does have access.”
“And the Roseau schools superintendent told me about a Wi-Fi-enabled bus they use to help students finish their assignments because they lack access at home,” she said.
“Stories like these underscore the importance of high-speed Internet access to our state's economy and quality of life.”
