This is the transcript for Episode 495 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. In this episode, Christopher speaks with Bill Coleman, Founder of Community Technology Advisors in St. Paul, Minnesota. They discuss the origins and successes of the Blandin Foundation's Accelerate! Program. Listen to the podcast or read the podcast below.
Bill Coleman: One of the great things about this program is the willingness of others to share their knowledge. Communities. Today we're sharing information with others who are on the same path, but also kind of the broadband consulting community to share their information and knowledge, and then technology companies to bring that higher level of expertise to the community members.
Christopher Mitchell: Welcome to another episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcasts. I'm the person behind it, I guess. Christopher Mitchell at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. And today I'm back with one of my favorite fellow Minnesotans. Bill Coleman, welcome to the show.
Bill Coleman: Thank you, Chris.
Christopher Mitchell: I'm gonna call you the guy at Community Technology Advisors, the company that you run and you work with communities to help them better understand options and broadband type stuff.
Bill Coleman: I've been in business now about 20 years
Christopher Mitchell: And came to fame, I think, and working with the Blandon Foundation pretty closely, and now working very closely in Illinois with Benton Institute for Broadband and Society and a variety of other partners in Illinois. Is that right?
Bill Coleman: That's correct. And so both Blandon and Benton have been great to work with as a really try and help communities gain the capacity to make good decisions about their broadband future.
Christopher Mitchell: And I want people to know that I think of you as if Minnesota the state, were a person, a human being. I think that person would be you. I think you just embody all that's great about Minnesota , when you hear Bill Coleman's voice and sense of humor and hobbies and whatnot. That is the state of Minnesota, I think.
Bill Coleman: Well, there's...
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