Scholar visits Minnesota telcos to learn more about broadband.(Reprint)

Some industry experts contend that the United States lags behind the world in the deployment of fiber optic cable and the use of high-speed broadband. They have cited some high-speed penetration per capita rankings that place the United States 15th among nations. But, if the United States--and by extension, Minnesota--is so far behind, then why did Japanese researcher Yoko Kawai, Ph.D., whose country is one of the leaders in the percent of broadband provided over fiber optic cable, travel to Minnesota to learn from rural telcos?

That's exactly what she did last year, leaving "deeply impressed" by the close ties between state telephone co-ops and their communities. She also said that rural Minnesota compares well with rural Japan in fiber deployment, and that rural Japanese communities seeking to develop their economies would be well served in creating something like the state's telco cooperatives to aid in that process.

Kawai was researching how and why fiber optic and community intranets were introduced; whether fiber networks are coordinated with community and economic development; how the networks are used and maintained; and if they have significant effects on residents' lives.

Site Visits

Following initial research to determine which sites to visit, Kawai, a principal of Penguin Environmental Design who currently resides in Hamden, Ct., found that rural Minnesota seemed to have the highest concentration of local fiber deployment of any state. "We wondered why Minnesota is ahead, and how we can bring this information and Minnesota's example to Japanese rural communities," she said.

During her trip to Minnesota, Kawai visited Benton Cooperative Telephone Co. (Rice), Consolidated Telephone Co. (Brainerd), Federated Telephone Cooperative (Chokio), Park Region Mutual Telephone Co. (Underwood) and Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative (Bemidji).

As part of the research, she met with telephone company executives to discuss their decision that led to the deployment of fiber. She discussed with city officials how their communities are taking advantage of fiber optics in economic and community development. And, finally, she visited with customers, such as educators and health officials, who are benefiting from the fiber network. She also had an opportunity to meet U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar while visiting Consolidated Telephone Co.