Blog
January 10, 2012 MN Broadband Taskforce Meeting Notes
January 23, 2012
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.
December 2011 MN Taskforce Meeting Notes
January 9, 2012
We wanted to share with you the December 2011 meeting notes for the Minnesota Broadband Taskforce. The next meeting is scheduled for January 10th at 10am. Location is the TIES facility in Roseville.
Also released is the final Task Force report due to Governor Mark Dayton’s office.
Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
Bloomington City Hall, 1800 West Shakopee Road
December 19, 2011
10 AM – 2 PM
Task force members present: Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Matt Grose, Maureen Ideker, Bernadine Joselyn, Steve Lewsader, Danna McKenzie, Keith Modglin, Steve Peterson, Daniel Richter, Duane Ring, Dick Sjoberg, Bao Vang, Shirley Walz
Members absent: Bob Bass and Gary Evans (both excused)
Others in attendance: Bill Hoffman, Diane Wells, Will Seuffert, Heather Rand, Ann Treacy, Mike Martin, Tony Mendoza, Ann Higgins, Andy Schriner, Brent Christensen, Emmett Coleman, Allyson Hartle, Katie Topinka, John Kaul
l. Greetings and Introductions
Chair Anderson Kelliher called the meeting to order shortly after 10:00.
II. Minutes of November 29, 2011 Meeting
There was a motion by Matt Grose and second by Steve Peterson to approve the minutes from the November 29, 2011 meeting. Motion passed.
III. Public Comments
None.
IV. Review of Draft December 30, 2011 Report
Task force members reviewed page by page the draft report.
Lunch break.
V. Comments of Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman
Commissioner Mike Rothman, Minnesota Department of Commerce, briefly addressed the group and answered questions.
VI. Discussion of Content and Assignments for January 31, 2012 Report
There was a discussion of how to prepare the January 31, 2012 report. Task force members will be divided into three work groups. The group members and more specific instructions will be distributed by email.
VII. Other Business/Upcoming Meetings
The TIES facility in Roseville will be contacted for hosting the two January meetings.
A second opportunity was provided for any public comments. There were none.
There was a motion by Danna MacKenzie and a second by Dick Sjoberg to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at approximately 1:45 p.m.
Setting up your MVTV email on your smartphone
January 6, 2012
Today more than ever people are turning to smart phones and tablets for their wireless needs. These portable devices are so handy and easy to carry. Although they are generally easy to use and program, we do often get questions about setting up an MVTV Wireless email.
Here are some instructions for both the Apple based and Android based devices that will hopefully make it easier to get your email set up.
MN Broadband Task Force Meeting Schedule
December 7, 2011
For those who would like to stay informed, here are the 2012 MN Broadband Task Force Meeting dates. These meetings are open to the public. Location of each meeting will be determined at a later date and updated information posted.
December 19th, 2011 – Bloomington City Hall – 10:00am
2012 Meetings
January 10 AND 24th
February 14th
March 27th
April 17th
May 8th
June 12th
July 17th
August – NO MEETING
September – Both the 11th and the 25th have folks who cannot attend either – TBD.
October 9th
November 13th
December 4th
First meeting of the new MN Broadband Task Force
December 2, 2011

Tuesday November 29th was the first meeting for the new Minnesota Broadband Task Force. Dan Richter was in attendance and is excited to be a part of this committee. Ann Treacy of Blandin on Broadband posted these notes on the first meeting.
The task force would really like to hear from you. They’d like to know more about current success and/or the need of broadband high speed internet. Please take a moment and tell us what broadband has meant to you. We will gladly share your comments with the task force in upcoming meetings.
photo credit: Generationbass.com

