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<br />Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br />To Item Number <br /> <br />Mayor and City Council 8.3 <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br /> <br />General BusinessJanuary 19, 2016Amanda Othoudt, EDD <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br />Support for the Minnesota Broadband Vision Cal Portner, City Administrator <br />Reviewed by <br /> <br /> <br />Action Requested <br /> <br />Adopt, by motion, a resolution in support of the Minnesota Broadband Vision created by attendees that <br />participated in the Minnesota Boarder to Boarder Broadband Conference, sponsored by the Blandin <br />Foundation. <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br /> <br />The resolution supports the overall broadband vision for the state, developed by conference attendees at <br />the Minnesota Boarder to Boarder Broadband Conference: <br /> <br />“Everyone in Minnesota will be able to use convenient, affordable, world-class broadband networks that enable us to survive <br />and thrive in our communities and across the globe.” <br /> <br />Staff attended the conference, participated in the discussion, and supports the efforts to increase <br />broadband connectivity throughout the city of Elk River and the State of Minnesota. <br /> <br />The State of Minnesota recognizes that broadband is a powerful economic development tool and is <br />required to successfully cultivate new industries, attract new business, and retain existing industry. <br />Without broadband, communities like Elk River will be forced to compete against communities that <br />already have the infrastructure in place. <br /> <br />The speeds outlined in the resolution represent the remote areas of Minnesota that lack access to federal <br />broadband standard of 25/3. Portions of northern Elk River represent speeds less than the federal <br />standard. (diagram attached) <br /> <br />It is essential for Minnesota and Elk River to build on the region’s strengths to encourage affordable, <br />high-capacity broadband networks that will provide businesses with the size, speed, and reliability of <br />connection needed to grow and thrive in the digital economy. <br /> <br />By adopting the Minnesota Broadband Vision, the City of Elk River encourages the Minnesota <br />Legislature and Governor to provide sufficient leadership, resources and the legal framework to ensure <br />that the State of Minnesota achieves this vision by 2020. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br /> <br />None <br /> <br />