Highlights from the report

Last update: November 5, 2009 - 11:54 PM

Some recommendations of the Ultra High Speed Broadband Task Force:

• Use state tax incentives and bonds to expand broadband coverage to areas that aren't served today or are underserved by slow Internet speeds.

• Set a statewide goal of providing download speeds of 10 million to 20 million bits per second and upload speeds of 5 million to 10 million bits per second by 2015.

• Aspire to be in the top five states in the nation for broadband speed and availability.

• Create a Broadband Advisory Council for Minnesota to help meet these goals.

What the task force doesn't recommend:

• It does not recommend the state do anything about the affordability of broadband service.

• It does not recommend that cities build their own broadband networks, which the task force considers "the option of last resort."

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