Broadband Discussion Series

Blandin Community Broadband Program webinars and discussion groups are designed to provide rural Minnesota leaders with information and resources they can use to help transform their communities into tech savvy places to live, work and visit. Communities serious about attracting new businesses, entrepreneurs, young people, and tourists must consider technology and Internet access as an essential amenity for community economic growth and vibrancy.

Blandin Broadband Lunch Bunch
A virtual series for 2021, Blandin Broadband Lunch Bunch will take place the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month from noon-1:00 pm. Click here to view upcoming topics and report-outs from recent sessions on the Blandin on Broadband blog. Meetings will alternate between Broadband Infrastructure and Digital Use and Equity. The idea is to get colleagues in a shared space, introduce a topic, and talk. We may include some experts to get the ball rolling.
2nd Wednesdays	Broadband Infrastructure – register here
4th Wednesdays	Digital Use and Equity – none scheduled. Check out past sessions here.

Webinars are recorded and archived on the Blandin on Broadband blog (with the exception of Lunch Bunch). Click the links below to access the webinars.

Broadband Leadership Roundtable Discussions:

During the summer of 2020, weekly roundtable discussions were held on a variety of broadband-related topics with the goal of increasing the ability of local broadband leaders to solve their local broadband puzzle. Participants were invited to ask questions, promote broadband partnership opportunities, share positive experiences, and express frustrations. Host Bill Coleman had topics in mind, but participants could steer the conversation and initiate conversation around other topics.

Broadband Leadership Roundtable Discussions

August 25 – CARES Funding to Further Broadband Access

August 18 – Public Engagement in Broadband Network Development with Christopher Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self Reliance (www.ilsr.org)

August 11 – MN Rural Broadband Coalition and the Statewide Speed Test

August 4 – Partnership for a ConnectedMN

July 28 – Data and Broadband Investment with Michael Curri of Strategic Networks Group

July 21 – MN Rural Mental Health and Telehealth with the MN Rural Health Association, NAMI Minnesota, and MN Dept of Health

July 14 – 5G with Brian Pickering of Nokia

July 7 – MN Children’s Press with Anne Brataas, Director

June 30 – Small-Scale Economic Development Strategies with social media experts Ann Treacy and Molly Solberg

June 23 – Telehealth Response to COVID-19 with Bois Forte Band, Tri-County Health and GPTrac

June 16 – Social Media for Community Broadband

June 9 – Polco’s Civic Engagement Platform

June 2 – Broadband Funding Available From the Federal EDA with Robin Weiss and Jay Trusty from Southwest RDC

May 26 – Community Efforts to Spur Broadband Adoption and User Sophistication

May 19 – Selecting the Right Private Sector Broadband Partner

May 12 – Speed Tests: The What, Why, and How

May 5 – The FCC’s Rural Development Opportunity Fund

Special Webinars:

Meetings in the Time of Coronavirus: Tips and Tricks of Online Meetings – April 8
Broadband and Education in the Time of Coronavirus – March 26

Broadband Leadership Webinar Series: Creating Successful Broadband Infrastructure Projects

The coronavirus pandemic has made it clear that access to broadband is necessary for everyone. Communities cannot merely hope that a comprehensive broadband solution will be delivered to their doorsteps; local leaders must take an active role to ensure their community’s long-term broadband needs are met — that broadband is an asset, not a constraint.

The series addressed broadband infrastructure project planning best practices and tips – from partnering effectively with ISPs and units of government, to working with broadband consultants, to successfully applying for public funds.

Topic	Description
Series Overview – March 31	A review of the entire broadband development process.
Setting the Vision – April 2	The hows and whys of developing a shared community broadband vision to engage community leaders, citizens, and broadband provider partners.
Broadband 101 – April 7	An introduction to various broadband technologies highlighting capabilities, liabilities, and comparative costs of each.
Community Broadband Surveys – April 9	An overview of broadband surveys including a comparison of random sample surveys and canvassing techniques, key questions, the importance of GIS mapping technology, and data ownership considerations.
Broadband Mapping – April 14	An introduction to broadband mapping data sources, with demonstration of various GIS capabilities for data display and grant eligibility determination. Strategies for challenging broadband map data will be discussed.
Ownership Models and Provider Partnerships – April 16	An overview of models concerning network ownership and operations providing options for working with existing and prospective partners.
Feasibility Studies – April 21	Presentation and discussion of the key elements of broadband feasibility study design, implementation, and use; including tips on selecting a consultant.
Federal and State Broadband Finance Programs – April 23	An overview of existing and emerging broadband finance programs.
Local Broadband Finance Options – April 28	An introduction to the finance tools available to cities, counties, and towns to assist in broadband development.
Communicating to Achieve Your Community Broadband Vision – April 30	A strong messaging plan is essential to building citizen and elected official support for broadband projects. Learn how to plan your messaging strategy.

Learn More

Broadband 2020: Connected We Stand

Online · October 6-29

Blandin on Broadband Blog | Blandin Foundation

Contact Us

Your feedback strengthens our broadband programs. Contact us to share your thoughts. You may also subscribe to our mailing list, or contact the following Broadband team members.