Recent reports from Akamai indicate that Minnesota is not achieving world class broadband speeds or access. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Legislature is hesitant to provide incentives or create a broadband fund to increase deployment. They are however looking at an Office of Broadband Development; questions remain on the appropriate place for the Office.
In the last month, the Blandin on Broadband blog highlighted several stories on policy, business and impact of broadband:
MAX4G in Eden Prairie recently filed a SEC disclosure indicating intentions of raising $1.95m in equity capitalization, with the first sale yet to occur.
Founded in 2008 by “a small, but tightly focused group of system engineers and developers,” MAX4G is focused on developing high performance NLOS backhaul for small cell 4G deployments, increasing availability within dense environments.
Recent reports from Connect Minnesota indicate that broadband adoption is up six percent from last year, a considerable leap from growth in the previous couple of years.
78 percent of Minnesota households subscribe to broadband service, although the news isn’t as good for infrastructure, at least not high end infrastructure.
Research from Broadband Communities Magazine indicates that only 2-3 percent of Minnesota has access to fiber — 20Mbps down & 10Mbps up on average.
That compares with 10 percent in South Dakota, 22 percent in North Dakota and a national average of 8 percent. That is how the broadband industry seemed to sway in March, some good news, some not-to-good news and a lot of waiting on policy.
In the last month, the Blandin on Broadband blog highlighted Minnesota’s Broadband developments:
By Leslie Brooks Suzukamo, St. Paul Pioneer Press
“Comcast is doubling the download speeds of some of its most popular Internet broadband services in the Twin Cities, the cable giant said Monday, March 25.
The faster speeds for its three most popular residential service tiers — Performance, Blast and Extreme 50 — became effective at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, March 26, and the increases won’t cost more, officials for the nation’s largest cable provider said.”
At the monthly Minnesota Broadband Task Force meeting, Task Force members heard about the role that broadband could, maybe should, have in helping the Department of Human Services provide health care services to older Minnesotans in a way that keeps them in their homes longer.
It seems to have set off a trend in several sectors; broadband is infrastructure that can help businesses make money and help other sectors save money. In the last month, the Blandin on Broadband blog highlighted several stories related to Minnesota broadband policy and the business of broadband.
As Minnesota gears up for the legislative session, policy continues to be a theme in broadband trends. In December, the Minnesota Broadband Task Force released broadband recommendations.
Throughout January, members of the Task Force have been meeting with legislators in both the Senate and House and with local business to promote their recommendations. The Task Force emphasizes the need for intervention if Minnesota wants to reach broadband goals of 10 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps up by 2015. They also support Governor Dayton’s recommendations for a Broadband Development Office, which is a recommendation that comes directly from their December report.
In the last month, the Blandin on Broadband blog highlighted several stories related to policy and business of broadband:
Via News Release
“MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Atomic Data, Minnesota’s premiere private cloud and IT solutions provider, announced today that Faysal Abraham has been appointed as Chief Operations Officer.
Abraham will focus on ensuring Atomic Data’s continued growth and efficiency; working closely with CEO Jim Wolford on improving both the operational controls and reporting procedures. He will also be responsible for the operational and strategic leadership of Atomic’s engineering, development, and service professionals.”
By Chris Newmarker, Finance and Commerce
“MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Chaska officials have scored another win as they seek to turn their city into a Twin Cities data center mecca: M.A. Mortenson Co. is proposing a 115,000-square-foot facility for Dallas-based Stream Data Centers.
Officials at Golden Valley-based Mortenson would like to break ground on the data center this year, with plans for a second, 82,500-square-foot data center later on, said Chaska City Administrator Matt Podhradsky.
Last Wednesday, the Chaska Planning Commission approved a building plan for the first data center, and the City Council is expected to take up the project on Jan. 28.”
The Minnesota Broadband Task Force report was released in December 2012. Subsequently, broadband and telecommunications are expected to be hot topics with the Minnesota Legislature this year. The impact will have an effect on businesses and communities alike as broadband is expected to be a hot political topic.
In the last month, the Blandin on Broadband blog highlighted several stories related to policy and business of broadband:
Via Wadena Pioneer Journal
“Arvig Enterprises, Inc. of Perham yesterday announced the completion of its acquisition of Arrowhead Communications, Eagle Valley Telephone Company, Felton Telephone Company and Loretel Systems.
These four Minnesota-based companies are being spun off from Hector Communications Corporation, which is jointly owned by New Ulm Telecom, Inc., Arvig Enterprises, Inc. and Blue Earth Valley Communications, Inc. The three owner/shareholder companies of Hector Communications entered into a spin-off agreement under which Hector agreed to distribute its independent local exchange company subsidiaries to its three owners/shareholders.”
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