Broadband task force proposed

Widespread broadband technology in Minnesota is one step closer to fruition after a bill to establish the High-Speed Broadband Task Force was approved by the House Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee on March 18 and sent to the House floor.

HF2107/SF1918*, sponsored by Rep. Sandra Masin (DFL-Eagan) and Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon (DFL-Duluth), would create a High-Speed Broadband Task Force to develop a broadband deployment goal for the state and a strategy to achieve it. The Senate passed the bill 55-2 March 17.

Masin described the bill as something that would bring Minnesota into the 21st century by asking the governor to appoint the task force to make legislative recommendations regarding the creation of a state high-speed broadband goal and a plan to implement that goal.

“It attempts to create a balanced representation of metro and rural perspectives,” Masin said.

The governor would appoint 19 members to the task force, in addition to four appointed by the Legislature. A report and recommendations would be due from the task force by Nov. 1, 2009, that:

• identifies a level of broadband service, including connection speeds, reasonably needed by 2015;

• describes a set of policies and actions needed to achieve that goal, and estimates the costs of doing so;

• identifies areas in the state that lack infrastructure necessary to support broadband service; and

• evaluates strategies and financing mechanisms used elsewhere to support broadband development.

The task force would expire on March 1, 2010.