Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith says funding to expand broadband Internet access in Greater Minnesota is a “really important” part of Governor Mark Dayton’s agenda for the 2017 legislative session. Smith says the current strategy for expanding broadband in Greater Minnesota is working and the state needs to keep at it:

Republicans say the private sector is upgrading Internet service in Greater Minnesota and there’s no need to spend taxpayer dollars. Smith disagrees, saying companies won’t expand broadband in rural areas where it’s not profitable, and that’s where government must step in.