Federal stimulus project delivers internet service to un-served and underserved communities in southwest Minnesota

In March 2010, MVTV Wireless of Granite Falls, MN was awarded federal stimulus funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  Since then MVTV has been hard at work upgrading and expanding their system in accordance with the stimulus project.

According to MVTV Wireless President, Dan Richter, “Only about 8% of the population of the United States does not have high-speed Internet, but it’s almost all in rural areas. We were awarded this funding through ARRA because rural areas in southwest Minnesota were deemed un-served or underserved.”

“Now, the terms un-served or underserved does not mean there aren’t Internet service providers out there, what’s happening is people need higher speeds.” Richter said. “Our goal is to give customers more choices by providing better service. We’re excited to help make high-speed Internet more accessible for people in southwest Minnesota.”

There are 3 main sections to the MVTV ARRA stimulus project.

• Upgrade the current system: MVTV Wireless has completed all 11 upgrades to areas within their existing system. The upgrades have quadrupled backhaul capacity.
• Expand service coverage: The plan calls for 34 new sites to be built in communities that were previously un-served or under-served. As of today MVTV Wireless has completed the required expansion and continues growing with a current total of 39 new access locations added.
• Service new customers: Lastly the ARRA project calls on MVTV to add an additional minimum 1500 new subscribers within the expansion area. So far MVTV Wireless has completed 500 qualified installations and continues to grow rapidly, completing 100+ new installs per month.

One of ARRA’s main objectives is to stimulate economic growth through job creation. Due to the expansion, through the ARRA project, MVTV has grown to employ 16 full-time positions. To meet the needs of a growing customer base MVTV has added 5 new service technicians, 2 new customer service members and an operations manager in the last 12 months.

While so many funded projects have yet to get off the ground, MVTV Wireless is excited to say they have fulfilled almost all of the ARRA expectations and hope to finish by the end of 2012, well ahead of its original end date of May 31, 2013. Most of all, MVTV Wireless is proud to have the opportunity to expand broadband coverage to help serve more of rural Southern and Southwestern Minnesota.

More information about MVTV Wireless can be found on their website, www.mvtvwireless.com or by calling 320-564-4807.

There really is an app for everything!

I now keep my grocery list (and any other list) on my phone thanks to Grocery IQ, I have turn by turn instructions from MapQuest, the latest weather from The Weather Channel and of course I can keep up with everyone through the Facebook app. There are apps for fitness and weight loss as well as recipe apps like Big Oven, for new ideas. I found educational apps that our 6 year old grandson loves and believe it or not there are apps for my cat to play with!

Now when my husband and I have a question about something we usually end up saying “I bet there’s an app for that”, and sure enough there usually is an app for this or that. It makes me laugh, but then again, I can’t believe I ever lived without my smart phone.

Tell us what your favorite apps are…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
Unisys, 3199 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55121
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Today Dave Peters at MPR’s Ground Level looks at wireless in rural areas. He asked folks on different sides of the issues about the role that wireless does and potential could play in rural areas. Here’s a Readers Digest version…

Verizon – plans to provide service…

Verizon earlier this month announced its HomeFusion product, offering rural wireless Internet access faster than many urban residents have today and riding on the company’s expanding 4G network. You stick a bucket-sized antenna on the side of your house and pay $60 a month and, presto, you allegedly get downloads speeds of up to 12 megabits per second and upload speeds up to five megabits per second. That’s faster than a lot of people get in the Twin Cities.

I just heard someone talk about using Verizon’s MiFi as an alternative to her not-so-great broadband in a suburb of the Twin Cities. I’m a fan of MiFi – but as I learned on a recent road trip, you can hit the data caps pretty quickly. I wouldn’t want to worry about that each month. And as MVTV Wireless points out in the story, Verizon may not be serving the smaller towns (or space between towns) any time soon.

MVTV Wireless (a local wireless provider) is providing wireless service to rural homes now…

MVTV is upgrading its service steadily, now covering almost 20,000 square miles. It’s residential service offers speeds of 2.5 megabits but the non-profit company is preparing for 4G and faster service. He says he’s adding about 100 customers a month.

But he’s not really trying to compete with wired services. “We want to go where people aren’t,” he said. Most of his customers are rural and are switching from satellite service or dial-up service or getting Internet access for the first time. “Wireless is just one piece of the whole puzzle,” he said, but he cautioned people not to rule out the long-term potential of wireless speeds.

Some folks feel that wireless is a Band-Aid that sort of distracts consumers and prohibits providers from investing in fiber…

“Most Americans don’t know what they’re missing” with slower speeds and data caps, said Christopher Mitchell, who follows telecommunications issues for the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and who is a big proponent of community-built fiber projects. …

Still, Mitchell notes how wireless service can make the economics more difficult for those pushing for high-speed fiber networks.

And yet others feel there is room for both…

“Most tech futurists would say we need them both” said Bill Coleman, who runs the broadband and economic development consulting firm Community Technology Advisors. Simply put, for some people at least, wireless works, he said

- The recent February 14th meeting minutes have been posted for review.

- The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 am, Tuesday March 27th, 2012 at Independent Lifestyle in Sauk Rapids.  Proposed meeting agenda.

 We invite the general public to join in the task force discussions. If you cannot attend a meeting and would like to comment, please feel free to drop us an email at mvtvpostmaster@mvtvwireless.com. Dan Richter, MVTV Wireless President, will be happy to review you comments and share them with the task force at the next meeting.

We all get a good laugh when we hear an excuse like this but it’s not all that farfetched. Taking customer care calls for MVTV Wireless; I’m surprised at how often we deal with chewed on or unplugged internet cables. Whether it’s outside or inside, dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits and other animals seem to have a taste for the delicacy of internet cables and other electrical cords.

There are a few things that can be done to minimize animal related issues:

Organize – bundle and tie up cables and cords neatly with small zip ties, twist ties or cable ties.  Tying up cables can help keep a cord from getting snagged and unplugged if your new puppy or kitten gets behind your desk.

No chew deterrent – there are a variety of commercial no chew sprays on the market. These sprays leave a bitter taste in the animal’s mouth which deters chewing; in a pinch you can also substitute Tabasco sauce or hot sauce as well. Lightly coat all internet and electrical cords with the no chew spray, repeat as needed.

For outdoor cables – if an internet installation requires a cable run across the yard the homeowner is responsible for burying the cable. Bury the cable immediately if possible. It’s also best to encase the cable in conduit. Any cable left above ground can be treated occasionally with a no chew deterrent. This will keep both underground and above ground pests from damaging the cable.

Taking a few precautions and watching our pets can save costly repair bills and downtime.

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.

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.

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.

Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, iPod

Android devices