First published in Blandin Foundation’s eNews…

I had the opportunity to briefly participate in the National Rural Assembly in St. Paul this week. I wish that I could have stayed longer.

It was interesting to hear the perspective of people from around the country. It was obvious that broadband availability in many rural parts of Minnesota is far superior to that of other states. We are lucky that we have the smaller independent telephone companies who have used the available federal programs and support mechanisms to build significant FTTH and FTTP networks in their communities and surrounding hinterlands.

Over the years, I have approached broadband as an economic development challenge, especially for rural communities. I have worked with community leaders to ensure broadband for business, education, health care and the general citizenry. I have recognized that broadband is critical for all people and promoted public access sites as a way to ensure widespread community access. I saw the need to focus on creating a business case to provide services in underserved areas as the primary focus of my work. The leadership groups with which I have worked have included the traditional community leadership circle – city officials, chamber of commerce, school superintendents, business, etc.

The attendees at the National Rural Assembly seemed to share a different perspective of ensuring broadband access, especially affordable access, as a social justice issue. Their leadership is centered on non-profits, advocacy groups, low-income residents and people of color. I plan to work to bring these often separate groups together around the broadband issue recognizing their shared end-goals – better and more affordable broadband that will enable rural people and their communities to thrive.

Bill Coleman helps communities make the connection between telecommunications and economic development. As principal in Community Technology Advisors http://tinyurl.com/3f4dx7g for ten years, he assists community, foundation and corporate clients develop and implement programs of broadband infrastructure investment and technology promotion and training. Bill is working with the Blandin Foundation on the MIRC Initiative http://tinyurl.com/2c6mhh4, Community Broadband Resource Program http://tinyurl.com/cseu7e and other broadband projects