01-21-2014 EDC Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Champion Report Template BUILDING A $ Resilient Theme Area: Connectivity Region Champions: Pam Mahling,Janelle Riley, Kevin Larson,Tad Erickson,Stacey Stockdill s. Date:January 14,2014 { What success have you had in moving your theme goals forward over the past year? :: Goal Connectivity Issue Goal #1 Connectivity:The number of households in the region served by high-speed internet-services rises from the current level of 40%to 95%served.The(region/rural areas)community is willing to invest to increase coverage.This will 1. include both public and private investment in service. Actions Taken on Our Recommendations 1 Rural Broadband Policy.Virtual Highway White Paper is helping to inform state and national public policy regarding 2 barriers to expansion of broadband infrastructure in rural places.Senator Paul Galzelka has forwarded a message to 5 his colleagues to focus on 2 priority issues:a)access to the armer towers and b) reimbursement for telehealth. http://www.resilientregion.org/cros/files/Presentin>_the Virtual Highway Project September 13 2013 new logo.pdf 3C Anchor Tenant Broadband Assessment was distributed.As of December 2,2013,there were 30 organizations who A responded: 17 schools,2 medical centers, 8 cities and 3 counties.This needs assessment used items from the Minnesota Connect survey.They have asked for our database. 1,2,5 Innovative Public/Private Partnerships.WTCA,CTC,Todd County Broadband Task Force,and the Leech Lake Telecommunications are beginning to work together to share information and to pursue strategies to reach the last mile in the five-county area. One example may be found at http:l/mcrecord.com/2093/12/30fiiber=ootics-is-comino to-little- falls/ 1 WTCA was recognized as a Smart Rural Community,providing opportunities to promote our region to attract high- 3A tech companies.They will be launching pilot projects to demonstrate the value of access to fiber. h u ://.A outube.co r 9v=5o I r r-tHU8&feature—.1 e Grants funded by Blandin Foundation: 4A 2 PC for People program which collects donated computers, refurbishes them with volunteers and distributes them to low 5 income families without.R5DC is transitioning this program to The Shop in Brainerd who administrate the program. Blandin Foundation Lightspeed Grant--Also a program to put technology into 11 fire departments for shared training sessions that allows the fire fighters to share the cost of instructors and stay in their own communities. What are you excited about around your theme for the coming year?.. Goal#1 Seeking $$now for tele-health,tele-work and online learning improved access, addressing policy issues(we have been invited to meet with new statewide broadband director, Danna MacKenzie), identifying demonstration projects to illustrate the power of fiber, and supporting The Shop as it takes over the PC for People program. I l creating a The Central Mnnesota - Resilient Region Sustainable Development Plan 1