Capitol Comments, by Shannon Savick

This past week, the House returned from its Easter/Passover break to continue our progress this session. During these next few weeks, conference committees will begin to meet to hammer out the differences that might exist between bills passed in the House and the Senate.

In the conference committee for the supplemental budget, one issue in particular could be very significant for our area: expanding broadband Internet access.

A recent study done by Department of Employment and Economic Development and ConnectMN found that only 46 percent of households in Greater Minnesota have access to high-speed Internet. In the Twin Cities metro area, it’s 93 percent. That disparity is simply unacceptable.

At a press conference earlier this week, students and principals from a rural school district talked about how they can’t assign certain homework assignments because the students living outside of town don’t have the Internet access to get the project done. When those projects do end up getting assigned, some students drive 30 minutes into town to do school work at a friend’s house.

We would never expect people to drive an hour round trip every time they needed something like drinking water or electricity. We shouldn’t expect that they do it for Internet access.

That’s why the House included $25 million in funding for broadband development in our supplemental budget bill. That legislation would expand broadband infrastructure in underserved areas while continuing the process of mapping the existing infrastructure that we have to work with. The House also included $5 million in aid to help Minnesota school districts pay for their Internet costs.

But the benefits of high-speed Internet access aren’t just felt in our schools. When new businesses are looking to set up shop in our communities, the two most-common questions they might ask are, “What kind of workforce do you have?” and, “What kind of broadband access is available?”

Businesses rely on high-speed Internet to connect to vendors and customers on a daily basis. New businesses aren’t going to put down roots in a community that lacks the resources they need to be successful.

Some folks in our area are fully aware of this problem. Dan Dorman, the former executive director of the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency and a former state representative, now heads up the Greater Minnesota Partnership. It has been working tirelessly alongside representatives from Greater Minnesota to make sure the Legislature makes much-needed investments in broadband expansion.

It’s estimated that it will take hundreds of millions of dollars to get high-speed Internet access to every corner of Minnesota. We’re not suggesting that we take on that burden all in one bite. But investing $25 million this year would be a great first step.

Expanded high-speed Internet access will help create jobs, it will help support students, and it will help level the playing field for communities across the state.

 

Shannon Savick, DFL-Wells, is the state representative for House District 27A.