Agenda
Tentative Agenda
Please visit our webpage for the most-current information.
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration/Check-In
Coffee and a light breakfast will be provided
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Opening Welcome and Introductions
- Master of Ceremonies Kathryn de Wit, Project Director, Broadband Access Initative, The Pew Charitable Trust
- Commissioner Matt Varilek, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Keynote Address
9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Fireside Chat: The Office of Broadband Development Executive Director’s Reflections
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. American Connection Corps Lightening Round
The American Connection Corps
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities, Challenges, and Planning
Moderator: Teresa Ferguson, NRTC
- Brent Christenson
- Melissa Wolfe
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Fireside Chat: The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Reflections
This session will look at how the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband has helped to develop, support, and advocate for broadband over the years.
Past and Current Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Chairs:
- Rick King, Chairman | Metropolitan Airports Commission
Former Chair of the Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force
- Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Director of Public Works | City of Minneapolis
Former Chair of the Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
- Teddy Bekele, Chief Technology Officer | Land O’Lakes Technology
Chair of the Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Networking Lunch, Buffet Style, General Session Room
Attendees are encouraged to network with each other and discuss ways they can work together to expand broadband access and digital oppo in their communities.
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Minnesota’s Digital Opportunity Approach: Digital Connections Committees
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. How we achieved 100%. A county perspective
This panel will feature representatives from Rock, Lincoln, and Red Lake Counties sharing how they were able to achieve 100 % Broadband Coverage.
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Break
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Local Coordination: Blandin’s Communities
Moderator: Bernadine Jocelyn
3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. What’s next for Minnesota?
- Tom Karst, FPO
- Diane Wells, OBD
- Hannah Buckland, OBD
4:15 p.m. Closing and Thank You
- Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Overview
- 3/12/2024
- Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center
6155 Earle Brown Drive
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
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- The Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) is hosting the Connecting One Minnesota-Broadband Conference on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. This hybrid event will bring together critical partners in Minnesota from the federal, state, tribal, and local governments. Connecting all people in Minnesota to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet is critical to our economic stability and this event will provide an opportunity to discuss ways we can collaborate better.
There is no fee to attend this event, however, to ensure we are utilizing funds appropriately, please cancel your in-person registration by Friday, March 1, 2024, so that you aren't included in our final guarantee for catering. You may change your registration to attend virtually if this accommodates your availability.
We are committed to providing equal access to this conference for all participants. If you need alternative formats or other reasonable accommodations, please contact Christine.Pribbernow@state.mn.us by the close of business on Friday, March 1, 2024.
After creating a Salesforce account with MNIT, please be sure that you complete your registration for this event and have received a confirmation email. If you’re experiencing issues creating or accessing your Salesforce account, please email MNIT at Will.Granger@state.mn.us.
Registration Form is under construction........