Governor Walz Touts Progress on Broadband Expansion in Southern Minnesota Visit

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Governor Tim Walz visited BevComm, a broadband provider in Blue Earth on Thursday, to highlight the state's efforts to expand high-speed internet access to underserved areas.

Walz announced that over the past year, enough funding has been provided to bring broadband to 46,000 Minnesota homes and businesses that previously lacked connectivity.

State Making "Consistent Progress" on Broadband Goals

"The momentum behind our work to expand high-speed broadband access across the state is connecting more Minnesotans to their jobs, their businesses, their health care, and their friends and family," said Walz. "We're helping our network of providers expand this critical infrastructure to thousands of homes and businesses, improving quality of life for Minnesotans, making businesses more competitive, and connecting folks to critical services."

The governor's office cited recent broadband expansion grants, including $100 million announced in December for 61 projects reaching 33,000 homes and businesses and $67 million last June for 30 projects benefiting 13,100 homes and businesses.

An additional $100 million was signed into law last year, with another $50 million in grants expected to be awarded next month.

Broadband Seen as Vital Infrastructure

Walz has made broadband access a priority, framing it as critical infrastructure needed for economic development, healthcare, education and more in rural parts of the state.

The visit to BevComm allowed the governor to see firsthand how state investments are helping close the digital divide.

More progress is still needed, but the administration expressed optimism that its broadband agenda is successfully connecting more Minnesotans across the state.

Source:

https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/index.jsp?id=1055-606471