January 10, 2012 MN Broadband Taskforce Meeting Notes

MVTV Wireless President, Dan Richter, is proud to be a part of the Minnesota Broadband Taskforce. If you have any specific questions or concerns please let MVTV know so that Dan can forward your information to the task force.

The next meeting is scheduled for January 24th at 10am and will be held at the TIES facility in Roseville.The task force will be reviewing and finalizing the Minnesota Broadband Plan Outline that is due to the Governor by January 31, 2012.

The following are notes from the January 10th, 2012.

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
TIES—Learning Center Conference Room
1667 Snelling Avenue N., St. Paul, MN 55108
January 10, 2012
10 AM – 2 PM

Task force members present: Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Bob Bass, Gary Evans, Matt Grose, Bernadine Joselyn, Steve Lewsader, Danna McKenzie, Keith Modglin, Daniel Richter, Andy Schriner (for Duane Ring), Dick Sjoberg, Bao Vang, Shirley Walz

Task force members participating by telephone: Maureen Ideker

Members absent: Steve Peterson (excused)

Others in attendance: Bill Hoffman, Diane Wells,  Dennis Ahlers, Dennis Fazio, Ann Treacy, Tony Mendoza,  Ann Higgins, Brent Christensen, Tim Johnson, Allyson Hartle, John Kaul, Mike O’Connor, Mike Martin

I. Greetings and Introductions

Chair Anderson Kelliher called the meeting to order shortly after 10:00. Dennis Ahlers, assistant commissioner at the MN Department of Commerce, was introduced. Dennis Fazio welcomed the task force to the TIES facility and gave a brief overview of the operations at TIES.

II. Minutes of November 29, 2011 Meeting

There was a motion by Danna MacKenzie and second by Maureen Ideker to approve the minutes from the December 19, 2011 meeting. Motion passed.

III. Public Comments

Ann Higgins from the Minnesota League of Cities read a prepared statement containing the results of a survey that the League conducted in conjunction with the Minnesota Association of Community Telecommunications Administrators (MACTA) of local cable franchising authorities regarding use of institutional networks (I-Nets).

IV. Presentations from Group Leaders

 The group leaders (Shirley Walz, Dick Sjoberg, Bernadine Joselyn) of the three work groups  reported back on the conference calls that the work groups held to discuss the review of the two previous broadband reports and ideas for the broadband plan outline due at the end of the month. There was discussion and questions by the task force.

Lunch break.

V. Discussion of Outline: Format and Content

Based on the discussion, Bill and Diane were asked to prepare a draft outline for the Task Force’s consideration. The draft will be sent out to Task Force members by next Thursday and members should be prepared to discuss and finalize at the January 24 meeting.

VI.Additional Public Comments

None.

VII. Other Business/Next Meeting Agenda

The TIES facility in Roseville will also be hosting the January 24, 2012 meeting.

Bill indicated to the Task Force that ConnectMN has made calculations to the availability data still using the 2010 household data but with an upload speed of 200Kbps for those interested in comparing the new data to the old data where an upload speed of 200Kbps had been used.

Margaret noted that Andy Schriner had substituted for Duane Ring today. She requested that if a Task Force member cannot attend a meeting and needs to send a substitute, to make that known in advance of the meeting and to make sure the substitute is from the same sector.

The meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m.