ST. PAUL – Rep. Mark Anderson, R-Lake Shore, issued the following statement regarding a recent announcement from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development regarding new broadband access for Fairview Township in House District 9A:
"I frequently hear from constituents regarding the need for better broadband for business, education, farming, health care, and many other important areas," Anderson said. "Some parts of Greater Minnesota, including parts of our district, have been left behind due to the high cost of providing reliable Internet access in less-populated areas. Therefore, I am pleased to see efforts such as this improve service for this important portion of our infrastructure."
Fairview Township worked with Consolidated Telephone Cooperative (CTC) to provide broadband service, in part, to better handle disasters. In 2014, CTC utilized a $2 million grant through DEED’s Border-to-Border Broadband grant initiative to extend broadband throughout Cass, Crow Wing, and Morrison counties.
Last summer, storms caused widespread disaster throughout the Brainerd Lakes area. During the storm, Fairview Township was forced to rely on radio and phone communication to inform residents of the pending emergency.
"The events of last summer really brought this issue to light," Anderson said. "This is a communications-based world we live in and many people in our area are at a disadvantage in that regard, including where it pertains to public safety."
According to DEED, the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program has awarded $30 million of grants to expand broadband access in Greater Minnesota.
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