EXCERPT: “Area lawmakers say broadband funding will be a crucial issue in this year’s legislative session, but no one is certain just how much the state will spend. COVID-related regulations and lockdown efforts exacerbated Greater Minnesota’s need for better internet access over the past year, giving urgency to the Capitol’s annual debate over broadband infrastructure. Democrats and Republicans have argued over broadband funding levels in recent years, as well as what type of broadband technology to use. Democrats generally favor spending more money on fiber optics cable infrastructure, which experts say is more expensive but ultimately more stable and will adapt better to higher future internet speeds. Republicans generally favor spending less money on targeted wireless technology, which experts say costs less but doesn’t stabilize internet connections as well as wired connections.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/3qP8CKH
