ABSTRACT
The state of Minnesota has been a leader and long-time champion of rural broadband development with supportive policies and dedicated actors across all levels of government and civil society. A number of states have modeled their programs on Minnesota’s successful effort. Through examination of various Minnesota communities’ efforts to deploy broadband infrastructure, this chapter showcases the opportunities and challenges associated with rural broadband development in the state. The case studies show that local actors play a big role in initiating projects. Partnerships between local governments, cooperative Internet service providers, and individual community leaders create opportunities to pool resources. However, overlapping state and federal authority over issues such as funding and mapping hinder localities’ ability to deploy broadband.
