ST. PAUL, Minn. – A bill authored by Rep. Julie Sandstede (DFL – Hibbing) to greatly expand broadband infrastructure in Minnesota received its first committee hearing today. HF 841, which was considered by the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Committee, would invest $100 million into the state’s Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program.
“The Border-to-Border grant program has been wildly successful, but to date, investments simply haven’t kept up with the demand,” Rep. Sandstede said. “Access to broadband service on the Iron Range and many other areas in greater Minnesota isn’t anywhere near what it should be to compete in a global economy, and this bill makes the bold investment necessary to put us on the path toward reaching 100 percent connectivity.”
The Border-to-Border Broadband program provides competitive matching grants to internet providers, leveraging private capital to expand broadband infrastructure. Since the program’s creation in 2014, Minnesota has invested $65 million in expansions, which has helped connect 10,000 homes and more than 1,000 businesses.
In pushing for $100 million for the coming budget cycle – the amount recommended by the Governor’s Broadband Task Force – Rep. Sandstede argues that students, families and businesses in greater Minnesota can’t wait any longer to get connected, and the incentives in the Border-to-Border grant program will create progress toward reaching established connectivity goals.
“The ability to access the internet isn’t negotiable anymore for many families; it’s a necessity for a 21st century way of life,” she said. “As I’ve said previously, 'If we don't build it, they won't come,’ as we look to attract businesses, expand opportunities for entrepreneurs, and create new jobs on the Iron Range and in other rural areas, any potential economic growth will go elsewhere if we can’t make sure everyone has quality, dependable internet access.”
Roughly 22 percent of homes in Greater Minnesota lack Internet connectivity at basic speeds and reliability necessary for home-based business or telecommuting, learning opportunities or telemedicine. Rep. Sandstede shared an example of parents needing to drive their children several miles from home to connect to the internet at a library or other location with access just to do homework.
The bill was “laid over” for possible consideration in a larger Jobs and Economic Development bill later in the session.