AITKIN-Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative testified Monday at the Senate Committee Hearing on Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy on broadband funding for rural Minnesota. Stacy Cluff of MLEC spoke in support of increasing funding for broadband grants available to rural areas; changing grant terms by reducing the required match and determining funding amounts for a two year period, a MLEC news release said.
"MLEC is committed to investing in our members and community; however we are unable to undertake the level of financial risk of extending fiber to all our rural members without financial assistance," Cluff said in her testimony.
Without broadband, rural communities do not have the same access to educational opportunities, health care options, and employment and economic development opportunities. Our communities need broadband to attract and retain people, grow businesses, educate our children and adequately care for our seniors, the releases said.
For rural areas like Aitkin and Mille Lacs County, the grant program is extremely important, the release said. Increasing the funding available and reducing the match would allow MLEC to plan and pursue additional projects.
"Let's hope history can repeat itself by cooperatives connecting rural Minnesotans to broadband, just as they connected them to electricity 75 years ago," Cluff said.
