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3. IAC Minutes 08 18 202214727 209th St. N., Scandia, Minnesota 55073 Phone (651) 433-2274 | Fax (651) 433-5112 | www.cityofscandia.com CITY OF SCANDIA INTERNET ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES Thursday, August 18, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Scandia Community Center, 14727 209th Street North Attendance: Chair Robert Wilmers., Smith, John Carney, K.C. Douglas, and Steve Collier Also in Attendance: City Council Liaison Patti Ray, City Council Liaison Steve Kronmiller and City Administrator Ken Cammilleri. Absent: Vice Chair Marschall Smith. Called to Order – The meeting is called to order by Chair Wilmers at 6:34 pm. Approval of Agenda – Motion by Carney, Seconded by Douglas to approve the agenda. Motion carried. Approval of Minutes – Motion by Douglas, seconded by Carney, to approve the minutes from the July 17, 2022 meeting. Motion carried with amendment to reflect Collier’s absence. Public Comments – There were no public comments offered. Legislative Update – Wilmers reported that LTD Broadband had recently been disqualified from rom the FCC Rural Development Opportunity Fund (RDOF) for the expansion of broadband services in underserved or unserved broadband services nationwide, which has now created an opportunity for state or federal funding which would have been otherwise limited due to policies against duplicate funding. The report also noted that $640,000 is currently remaining in grant finding available through the Washington County’s Broadband Expansion Grant funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. Carney also noted that there may be funding worked out through the recent bi-partisan infrastructure grant. 2022 Midco Grant – The City’s 2022 grant from Midco was approved by the City Council back on Tuesday August 16th, and was signed and mailed today. Wilmers noted that there is a link to sign up for these new service areas through Midco on the City’s website to encourage a greater take rate in the buildout area so that Midco may opt to voluntarily expand the buildout area. The cost of these additional service passings would be born by Midco and/or the property owners. Douglas also reported that installation of fiber and conduit are being installed in her neighborhood along 238th Street N. Frontier Grant and Midco Challenge to the 2022 Border-to-Border Broadband Grant – Frontier has submitted a grant application for up 900 locations in and outside of Scandia with up to 2 gigs symmetrical data speeds. Wilmers noted concerns about Frontier’s continued use of aging copper wires. He noted that Justin Forde, Midco’s head of government relations, had asked why the City did not alert them to this. Wilmers noted that the City has long established a policy that it would support any ISP that was willing to address service shortfalls in areas of need. Scandia Internet Action Committee August 18, 2022 Page 2 of 2 The Committee noted that both ISPs involvement in Scandia is a good opportunity for the City. It was further noted that there are unknowns how Midco’s challenges of Frontier’s submissions will affect this grant, and it will also potentially affect the 2024 buildout. Midco is currently preparing a grant application to Washington County for a grant for the 2023 year. The Committee discussed the challenges that Midco was considering for Frontier’s grant request. They recommended that Frontier utilize the City’s maps to prevent possible over-buildout in their grant application area. Wilmers was assigned the task to relay that message. Midco requested that the City would be willing to consider supporting their challenge, the Committee agreed that they would need to see what that is before we could consider it. The City’s goal is to get as much internet to all homes by 2024. Wilmers will not be available for the September meeting, but Vice Chair Smith will continue to coordinate preparations for that meeting. Midco Day – The City received 300 red reusable market bags, the storyboard prizes, and the meal tokens. The Storyboard Contest will be open to 2nd through 6th graders at Scandia Elementary, and the Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee will be the judge of the contest. Meister's burgers and cookies will also be served. Besides the children’s prizes for their stories, $250 to the teacher of the student with the winning student. The expenses, including photographer services and prizes, will be covered by Midco. Cammilleri was instructed to call the Scandia Mercantile to order ice cream bars, to purchase ice from the liquor store or co-op and have a laptop ready for lookups. The Committee went on to request that Public Works set up the City’s event canopy, put up the internet action committee banner by 2:45pm on Midco Day at the Scandia Farmers Market. Arrangements by staff were also requested to obtain a portable toilet for Lilleskogen Park for the picnic and storyboard activities, and to request the Fire Department’s mobile PA system. The Lions’ picnic tables would be picked up and returned by Public Works. Kronmiller volunteered to print the 2022 build map and a pre-2022 map build map. Both documents are to be accompanied by a list of addresses. Wilmers and Kronmiller volunteered to work the tent from 3:30 to 6:30, and the rest of the Committee that was in attendance agreed to also help staff the tent. From 5:30pm to 7:00pm, there will be the Lilleskogen Gathering and Storyboard Contest. Staff were requested to reserve the Community Hall for the alternate event site for Midco Day, which will be Wednesday, August 31, 2022t. Items for Future Discussion – Respond to the Challenge to Frontier application from Midco. Next Meeting – Wilmers reminded members that the next IAC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 6:30pm at the Community Center. Adjournment – Motion by Wilmers, seconded by Carney to adjourn the meeting at 7:25pm. Motion carried. Minutes prepared by: Ken Cammilleri, City Administrator