Dayton appoints new members to task force to expand high-speed Internet

ST. PAUL (Forum News Service) - Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has named seven new members to the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, which is working to expand high-speed Internet in the state.
The group will next meet Aug. 4 at Minnesota Farmfest near Redwood Falls to emphasize the importance of broadband to rural Minnesota.
A combination of state and federal funds, along with private funding from Internet providers and companies, is helping to expand high-speed Internet across the state, although Dayton’s request for a huge jump in funding was rejected by legislators   New members • Hannah Buckland, Leech Lake Tribal College, Bemidji
• Denise Dittrich, Minnesota School Boards Association, Champlin
• Kevin Hansen, Thomson Reuters, St. Paul
• Shannon Heim, Dykema, Minneapolis
• Neela Mollgaard, Red Wing Ignite, Red Wing
• Donald Niles, city of Wadena
• Andrew Schriner, CenturyLink, Eagan
Margaret Anderson Kelliher of the Minnesota High Tech Association in Minneapolis was reappointed chair of the task force.   Returning members • Angie Dickison, Lake County, Two Harbors
• Maureen Ideker, Essentia Health, Sunburg
• Bernadine Joselyn, Blandin Foundation, Grand Rapids
• Steve Lewsader, CWA Local 7201, South St. Paul
• Daniel Richter, MVTV Wireless, Granite Falls
• Dick Sjoberg, Sjoberg’s Inc., Thief River Falls
• Paul Weirtz, AT&T, Bayport