5.4. ERMUSR 02-10-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DMML( IVIIVIWIJ Position Statement Broadband Background Access to 21st Century high- speed data is crucially important for local economies and the future of rural communities.Yet many rural communities are stuck with 20th century Internet � x capability. The Legislature has set goals for expanding s broadband access in Minnesota but is far from meeting those goals.Meanwhile the idea of local government involvement in providing telecommunications '1 access has received significant unwarranted and misdirected criticism.We in Minnesota Municipal broadband projects bring intense local involvement and scrutiny,as this picture finally need to stop pointing of a joint multi-city/township official and citizen meeting in Winthrop shows. fingers and aim our efforts together at solving the Wilson, N.C., petitioned the Federal Communications problem. Commission(FCC)to pre-empt state laws in their states that ban cities from expanding their high-speed Where service is lacking, communities must be able to networks. The cities'actions mark the first effort by offer their own solutions. Cities have proven capable of municipalities to enlist the FCC in challenging state providing a full range of telecommunications services laws that restrict local governments from offering over the years. Counties are providing cutting-edge internet service to residents. Supporters of the federal communications services.The Southwest Minnesota pre-emption note there are similar restrictions in 20 Broadband Services project(a consortium of eight cities) states. Minnesota is cited as one of these states, due to shows how ordinary people, working through their local its supermajority referendum requirement to build a governments, can provide high-quality voice, video and municipally-owned telephone exchange. data service at reasonable prices. It should not take federal intervention in order for In Renville and Sibley counties, broadband supporters Minnesota to remove economic development barriers worked hard and formed a fiber cooperative in an effort that stand in the way of long-term growth and stability to build out a fiber optic network. The project has been in Greater Minnesota. Our communities and businesses enthusiastically supported by rural and city interests need high-quality broadband to be competitive in alike. today's economy. It is essential for business growth that everyone in Greater Minnesota have access to fast, Where public-private partnerships are able to bridge reliable broadband service, regardless of who provides the high-speed digital divide, they should be encouraged the service. and pursued. A perfect example of public-private partnerships exists in the electric utility industry. MMUA Position Municipal, investor-owned and cooperative utilities Minnesota is lagging in meeting its broadband goals. jointly invest in capital-intensive projects on a regular The Border-to-Border Broadband Fund created by the basis. Utilities do this because they recognize the level of Legislature in 2014 with $20 million in competitive capital needed to improve service, and they realize that grants provided some much-needed help to public and an effective way to raise the needed capital is to focus on private entities in extending high-speed Internet to their common interests and partner with others seeking areas of rural Minnesota. Still many areas of the state to invest. Such partnerships have worked in the telecom continue struggling to get by at very low data speeds. field as well and serve as models for the cooperative MMUA supports further appropriation to the Border-to- spirit called for in order to connect all of Minnesota. Border Broadband Fund and the removal of barriers to Recently, city officials in Chattanooga, Tenn., and broadband expansion. 2015 State Position Statements/13