[MNASIS-L] OneGig initiative

[Janet Arth]

Message from Margaret Ostrander (margaretostrander at hotmail.com) to 
spread awareness in the library & information science communities 
about the OneGig initiative, the High Speed Bill being introduced 
into the Minnesota legislature that calls for 1GigB to each Minnesota 
home by 2015.  Margaret would welcome any ideas you may have about 
how to reach the LIS community with this information.

What could be more important to librarians than increased access to 
information? That's exactly what the High Speed MN bill proposes to 
do by calling for 1GigB to each Minnesota home by 2015. More info at 
www.gigggroup.org.

HIGH SPEED Minnesota Bill

One GigaBit. That's the speed called for in a policy that the State 
of Minnesota should adopt. In order for Minnesota to maintain and 
enhance its leadership position in high technology business growth, 
we'll need the speed. The goal is by 2015. Studies show that economic 
development is greatly enhanced by having a high speed infrastrucutre 
in place. This public policy has gone forward on two fonts: First, 
Rep Sandy Masin (DFL- Eagan) has introduced legislation to create a 
statewide broadband policy and to set a goal (1GBit to each home by 
2015). She will be holding field hearings in Eagan on Oct 17. Second, 
proponents of the bill are working with the Commerce Department, the 
agency charged by the Governor's Office to support not only the 
broadband policy but to create some pilot projects.

There is way too much to say about this in a short post. Go to the 
web site www.giggroup.org <http://www.giggroup.org/> to learn more 
about the benefits of such a policy to all of us. This is an 
important issue for libraries & information centers and each of us as 
citizens. Come out and support the creation of the statewide policy.