WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama says broadband is crucial to the future of the nation's economy. He also supports "net neutrality" which is the principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content regardless of the source. He has called to end laws that harm competition and remove regulatory barriers so communities that want to pay for it can have highspeed broadband.
In Minnesota, the state legislature in 2010 set a goal for universal access to broadband throughout the state by 2015. This goal has not been met. Windom has one of the most advanced networks in the state. They built their own network after the telephone company did not invest in the community, according to broadband advocates. Minnesota ranked 27th in the country in cyber speeds in 2013, according to the National Broadband Map.
On net neutrality, Sen. Al Franken has been an outspoken proponent of the issue and is co-sponsoring legislation this year to push net neutrality.
