Broadband Roundtable: Internet Access and Speed Are Key to Economic Growth, Business Vitality, Health and Education
April 6, 2021
St. Paul – Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove and DEED's Office of Broadband Development Executive Director Angie Dickison were joined by seven industry and community advocates from broadband coalitions and nonprofit groups for a discussion on March 30 about the importance of broadband access to economic growth, business vitality, health and education.
This roundtable was part of a broader series of discussions the agency is hosting called "The Next Minnesota Economy," focusing on inclusive economic growth, reskilling our labor market and creating good jobs.
Currently in Minnesota, about 92% of households and businesses have access to internet service that meets or exceeds the minimum definition of broadband (download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least three megabits per second). But that percentage drops to 83% in rural Minnesota. The state has a goal of ensuring that all Minnesota businesses and homes have access no later than 2022 – and access to even higher speeds by 2026.