2019 Blandin Broadband Conference, Still Time to Make it to Nisswa, Minnesota

The Blandin Foundation will be holding its 2019 Broadband Conference in October at Grand View Lodge, Nisswa, Minnesota. This year, the title of the event is “Innovation - Putting Broadband to Work.” The event will start on October 8th and will end on the 10th.

From Blandin on Broadband:

Broadband access today is as varied as communities across Minnesota. Some enjoy a gig, others are working hard for any service, and the rest are somewhere in between. This conference is for all communities, regardless of where they are on the spectrum – because we’ve learned that having broadband isn’t enough. It takes inspiration, encouragement and guidance to reap the full benefits. We’ll be talking about how to make the most of what you’ve got and/or get more.

Join us, along with presenters from local governments, cooperatives, and the private sector such as:

  • Intelligent Community Forum

  • Telecommunications and Information Applications, National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA)

  • PCs for People

  • Finley Engineering


The conference will start with a presentation from the Co-founder and Board President of Intelligent Community Forum, John Jung. Jung will discuss examples of effective intelligent community approaches and review best practices.

The event will be filled with panels and presenters that offer the latest in research and practical applications. Panel discussions will include:

  • Fiber and wireless technologies as complements
  • Establishing benchmarks to measure progress
  • Cooperatives' growing role in local deployment
  • Education, healthcare, and the last mile
  • Closing the digital divide and panels on cultural awareness training

Join our very own Director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative Christopher Mitchell, in his panel "Local Solutions for Globally Competitive Connectivity."

As we wait, destined for disappointment, for the next infrastructure week with hopes of new federal money to expand broadband access, we should reflect on the solutions that have led to communities in the upper Midwest being some of the most connected rural regions on the planet. Not only is great Internet access possible in all of Minnesota, we are well on our way and have all the models we need to achieve border-to-border high-quality Internet access. The question is what local leaders can and will do in 2020 and beyond to take advantage of current opportunities. 

Check out the full agenda here [PDF], and register online now.

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