WHETHER to embrace fiber optic cable and the high-speed, high-capacity
communications links it offers, especially Internet connectivity, but also
phone service. The issue was wrapped into discussions on whether county voters
should approve an optional 1 percent sales tax
Today, the picture is much different. Fiber optic cable is on its way, without
1 percent money, thanks to two federal stimulus grants. One grant, to the
Northeast Service Cooperative, will wire county schools, hospital, higher ed,
law enforcement, courthouse, library and others. The second grant, to Arrowhead
Electric Cooperative, will wire homes and businesses.
Moreover, the almost-completed merger of CenturyLink and Qwest means the county
soon will be served by one land-line telephone provider, and that should
eventually mean greater emphasis on broadband connectivity from CenturyLink as
well.
So the question has shifted to HOW Cook County will use its new connectivity,
and that's where a third stimulus grant will have an impact.
The Blandin Foundation, headquartered in Grand Rapids, was awarded a $4.7
million federal grant to work with rural Minnesota communities as they explore
opportunities made possible by their new fiber connections. The Blandin effort
is called MIRC, for Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities. Cook County is one
of 11 demonstration communities chosen by Blandin to be at the forefront of
this effort.
County residents should be prepared for an array of organizations descending on
its homes, businesses and institutions in coming months, all offering help as
part of the Blandin MIRC program. The help is free, and it could prove to be
invaluable.
Blandin is working with a local steering committee to administer and coordinate
the activities of numerous partners involved with this grant: University of
Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality; Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities; University of Minnesota Crookston; Association of Minnesota
Counties; Network of Care Mental Health; Intelligent Community Forum; Minnesota
Renewable Energy Marketplace; Minnesota Department of Economic Development
Workforce Centers; PCs for People, and Minnesotaโs nine regional development
commissions. Danna MacKenzie, county IT director, is the local steering
committee chair. Full disclosure: I have signed on as county coordinator for
the University of Minnesota Extension piece of the Blandin project. Extension's
task is to engage members of the county business community on ways it might
help make broadband most useful to them.
Blandin granted Cook County and the other 11 demonstration communities $100,000
each to help them learn how to apply broadband to meet local needs. A part of
that $100,000 will be used to fund projects that will demonstrate specific ways
we can use broadband here in Cook County. Project proposals are being reviewed
now with announcements expected during the first week of November
But that is just one of many efforts that are part of Blandin's activities in
Cook County. Very soon, county residents should expect to see folks from many
of the Blandin partners seeking meetings with community leaders and asking how
they might help make the best possible use of the coming improvements in
Internet connectivity.
Ultimately, having fiber optic cable in the ground and running along telephone
poles won't mean much unless it is put to good use for the benefit of county
residents. The potential is huge and has few potential down sides, so long as
county residents and elected officials remember that this is their project, and
they get to decide how the coming revolution in communications connectivity
will fit into the existing and highly valued fabric of life in Cook County.