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million saved and 804 million fewer pounds of CO2 emissions each year as a result of teleworking. Minnesota economic developers are recognizing that telework will be an important component of our work force in the coming years. Fergus Falls has established a telework initiative called Forward Fergus Falls8 to provide employers and employees with information on telework opportunities. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Telehealth: Connecting Health (DEED) has added a location field on its Care and Patients across the State workforce website to enable employers to list jobs as telework positions. The Minnesota Telehealth Network is A Consumer and Civic Benefit part of Essentia Health, Minnesota's largest provider of rural health services. Essentia spans from Duluth into Current research illustrates that individuals Northwestern Wisconsin and across reap a consumer economic benefit from Northern Minnesota to Fargo and into broadband.According to the Internet North Dakota. The Minnesota Innovation Alliance, an average U.S. Telehealth Network was established in household could save over$8,000/year via late 2011 and in just 15 months the lower online prices, discounts and coupons.9 network has grown to include 21 These are savings that could be used in Essentia Health hospitals and clinics and numerous ways to benefit the Minnesota 45 specialty providers. These services economy. reach out to patients via state-of-the-art videoconferencing technology, high The presence, or lack thereof, of broadband speed broadband connections and a secure Virtual Private Network. Four impacts the civic lives of Minnesotans as well. hospital based ro n rams are in place: As noted by Pew10, broadband has an emergency medicine, hospitalise, evolving role in modem political campaigning toxicology and stroke care. Eight clinic and how citizens get their political news and based programs are offered: cardiology. information on candidates and issues. dermatology, psychiatry. nephrology, Resources such as"E-Democracy"and their medical weight loss management. "MY Ballot"web site allow individuals to dietician services, medication therapy access information on local, state and national management and wound care. elections. More government at all levels in The program development has been Minnesota is available online, either live or taped; and the National Broadband Plan implemented in areas where there is a high level of specialist interest but specifies Civic Engagement as being a priority a scarcity of available services use of enhanced broadband service across Telehealth increases access to specialty the country. The Task Force recognizes the care for rural populations. It also role broadband does and will play in stretches limited provider resources and Minnesota's civic life and will continue to focus allows for more patient contact time and on these issues in future work. attention. The patient and family satisfaction is excellent. Essentia plans Similarly, in a recent U.S. Chamber of to continue to expand telehealth services Commerce study on the impact of broadband by adding new programs and sites 11 across Minnesota, North Dakota and on education , it was stated that the technologies enabled by broadband can Wisconsin. redefine the traditional notions of education but are dependent on the wide availability, 8 http://www.ferausfalistelework.com/ 9 http://www.intemetinnovation.om/bloq/entry/cost-savings-2012/ 10 http://www.pewintemet.ora/topics/Politics.aspx?NpeFilter=5 11 http://www.uschamber.com/issues/technolocy/broadband-publications