Minn. gets $1.7 million for broadband initiatives

[ccharles000]

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota is getting $1.7 million from the federal stimulus to map broadband Internet access and plan for service improvements.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

It will go to Connect Minnesota, a nonprofit collaboration between the state Department of Commerce and Connected Nation, a national nonprofit that promotes increased broadband access.

Connect Minnesota will use $1.2 million for mapping and data collection and another $500,000 for planning over five years. The group will feed the state mapping data into a national broadband map, set for release in 2011.

Connect Minnesota says it also plans to start a new mapping tool called BroadbandStat to help plan broadband expansions.

http://www.startribune.com/local/80159482.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

[Bitwit1234]

1. Don't worry the places that need it like northern Minnesota and

the Iron Range won't get the money for fiber optic and upgrades. As per usual it will all be spent on the already overloaded with everything Minneapolis/St. Paul area.