National view: Minnesota will get it right on broadband

[Commentary] With all of Minnesota’s 201 legislators up for re-election November 2016, the debate is intensifying over how to best promote economic growth and expanded opportunity across the state, particularly in Minnesota’s rural communities. A cornerstone of this debate is the important role broadband plays in fueling future economic growth and connecting Minnesotans to vital opportunities in health care, education and the global economy. I’m glad to see Minnesota doesn’t want to be left behind and is considering legislation to codify current policy to avoid a patchwork of potentially duplicative and conflicting rules for VoIP services.

But economic growth and opportunity do not come from wired broadband alone. I am proud to have helped craft President Barack Obama’s wireless strategy, and in his 2011 State of the Union he set a goal of extending next generation wireless LTE to 98 percent of the country within five years. Amazingly, as a nation, we blew past that goal a year ahead of schedule. It took massive investments, a vibrant and competitive marketplace, access to increasingly scarce spectrum and pragmatic policies to create the right regulatory incentives. So as this smart revolution moves from the palm of our hands to smart cars, smart homes and a smarter connected world all around us, we need smart policies to go with it — at the state and national levels. This is an exciting time to be talking about our broadband future. I know Minnesota’s going to get it right, and I look forward to seeing a bright mobile future play out here in “the star of the north.”

[Jim Kohlenberger is a former White House policy adviser to two US presidents and is president of JK Strategies, a public policy consulting practice. He currently serves on the advisory board for Mobile Future. Kohlenberger also serves on the Benton Foundation Board of Directors.]