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Presenting the Virtual Highway: Update September and October 2013 <br /> within the region; however,Representative Ward and his staff want to continue to work <br /> with us on other options. <br /> b. Commissioner Tingerthal is arranging for a meeting with the Resilient Region partners <br /> and other Commissioner Zelle(MNDOT)and Commissioner Sieben(MNDEED)to talk <br /> about ways to expand broadband infrastructure. <br /> c. We also have begun to identify a number of other state-wide studies(in other states)that <br /> are helping us begin to identify the outcomes/value proposition from broadband <br /> infrastructure. <br /> 2. Bill Coleman has helped us make connections with 2 other broadband Initiatives: a)Leech Lake <br /> Broadband,and b)East Central Broadband Initiative. Stacey will be meeting with Bill and the <br /> coordinator of the East Central Broadband Initiative on September 16 to determine common goals <br /> and next steps.Kim Nagle,Director,Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Economic Development and <br /> Stacey are working to find time to meet in Little Falls with their technical advisor Madonna <br /> Yawakie,Turtle Island Communications,Inc. <br /> 3. Don Hickman connected us with the Northland Connect Broadband group. Stacey and Cheryal <br /> will be meeting with them on Tuesday September 24. <br /> 4. Sue Boehland from the Central Minnesota Carl Perkins Consortium talked with Stacey about the <br /> struggles a number of schools within the consortium are having with connectivity(Parents saying <br /> they cannot afford to have internet at home,homework often being required where children must <br /> find an internet connection.One young mother is driving at night to her mother's house so her <br /> daughter can gain the access so she can complete her homework assignments). We are planning <br /> to put together with the help of CTC a survey to better understand what infrastructure/equipment <br /> exists as well as to better identify the needs for K-12 students within the five-county area. <br /> 5. Larry Lundblad wrote, "NJPA in Staples took the lead in developing a RUS USDA grant with the <br /> Freshwater District and CLC to provide resources to link(10 or 12)high schools. Six are up and <br /> running for this fall. CLC will be delivering college classes to the districts which will expand <br /> options for students in these small rural districts.Wanted to give you a heads up that USDA is <br /> invested in this region through this and other projects.Good luck. Larry" <br /> 6. The University of Minnesota is providing us with a CURA/CAP student. Merritt Bussiere <br /> prepared the application and we are excited to announce that we have found and hired a local <br /> Little Falls Master's Candidate in Applied Economics—Yuri Hupka! Stacey and Yuri met this <br /> week and will continue to meet face-to-face on a weekly basis for the next few weeks. Yuri will <br /> help us with the Rural Broadband Impact Assessment. (It will use some of the pieces from the <br /> BCBS HIA framework we learned about.)We are planning to have this student focus on these <br /> areas: <br /> Does Broadband = Economic Development in Rural Areas? <br /> a. Increased jobs? <br /> U. Gem,at, VV tU. .J,.:..L L.JJL.J?(.V:L.-.L r) U 1 JUU.L;1.1 ) <br /> c. Encourage entrepreneurship within rural places? <br /> d. Retain businesses? <br /> `'' VIRTUAL HIGHWAY UPDATE:10/17/2013 ■ <br />