Executive Director
Phone: 218-748-7651
Email: rams@ramsmn.org

Broadband News


November 9, 2021

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM: Range Association of Municipalities & Schools (RAMS)

RE:     Broadband Speed Test

Today we are pleased to announce that the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) will be the new host of the Minnesota statewide speed test project.  This map and initiative was previously hosted by the MN Rural Broadband Coalition. This crowdsourcing speed test will allow local governments, area partners, communities, and providers to better identify underserved and unserved areas as well as help consumers see for themselves if they are actually getting the service (broadband speed) that they are paying for.  RAMS is able to host this test with the help of one of our Corporate members, GEO Partners, LLC who will be helping analyze the data and create usable maps and information. RAMS is also pleased that the retired director of RAMS, Steve Giorgi, has remained on Minnesota’s state broadband task force and is continuing to volunteer and help Minnesota communities gain access to affordable, high-speed internet. RAMS helped start this testing process in April of 2020 and the information gathered directly from the end users (you) will be used extremely important to further the development of high speed internet for the citizens of Minnesota. We recognize that not all of our areas of the State face the same challenges and this testing will help shed light on some of the challenges our communities still face. Residents are encouraged to “TAKE THE TEST” on the RAMS Broadband website at:  https://broadband.ramsmn.org/

 

Minnesota Cities Partner with Local Telephone Cooperative to Build Fiber for Economic Development
CTC has become a natural partner among north-central Minnesota communities searching for better solutions to a lack of reliable Internet access in the region. The cities of Ely and Little Falls partnered with CTC to bring fiber loops to their industrial sectors, which has enabled them to both retain existing businesses and attract new companies to their communities, stimulating the local economy as new job opportunities come to town. There has also been demand locally to expand the networks into citywide FTTH project.Read more.

Cherry Township Fiber to the Home Project: https://www.goctc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CTC-USDAReConnectAward_1.17.20.pdf

WDIO Coverage on Cherry Township Fiber to the Home Project: https://www.wdio.com/news/broadband-expansion/5626120/

Rural Broadband: An Economic Necessity, Not A Luxury

Importance of Broadband, Why this Matters

Interest is high in Greenwood Township for High Speed Broadband – October 2019