More broadband money?

The federal stimulus money for broadband is about to come to an end in the coming couple of weeks. The most intriguing question, in my mind, is whether any money will be awarded to bring high-speed Internet access specifically to the 6,000 or so homes and businesses in Cook County.

The county in far northeastern Minnesota is far and away the least well served in the state, according to the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Report last year.

But looking beyond the end of the stimulus program in his Labor Day address in Milwaukee on Monday, President Obama dropped a hint that there might be more money coming. A month ago, in a press conference, ag secretary Tom Vilsack said the $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus money was only a down payment.

In proposing a $50 billion public works plan Monday, Obama mentioned 150,000 miles of roads, 4,000 miles of rail lines and 150 miles of runways. He didn't have a number of fiber miles for high-speed Internet access but he did say, "We're talking about broadband Internet so that everybody is plugged in."

Congressional hurdles await, of course.

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