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111 -M Internet Technology <br />Where many traditional economic development tools have focused on managing the costs <br />and availability of traditional infrastructure— roads, rail, utilities, etc. —the new economy is <br />increasingly dependent on reliable, redundant, cost effective, high bandwidth <br />telecommunications capabilities. While the United States was once a leader among "wired" <br />economies, its position has slipped dramatically as other countries have facilitated <br />investments in fiber -optic deployment (fiber to the premises), commitments to true high <br />speed internet capacity (100 mb to 1 gb) and improved networks (Internet 2). Recognizing <br />that there is a policy debate regarding the role of government versus private <br />telecommunications companies in implementing the next generation of internet capability, <br />bringing about such capabilities is increasingly important to insure that U.S. companies in <br />general and Minnesota companies in particular can compete effectively in the global <br />economy. <br />Metro Cities endorses comprehensive and regional strategies to stimulate the <br />implementation of high speed, reliable and cost effective internet service that is available <br />throughout the state. Further, Metro Cities supports a change to allow a city, or group of <br />cities, to own and operate a telephone switch by a simple majority vote in a referendum. <br />111 -N City Role in Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development <br />Historically, cities have played a major role in environmental protection, particularly in <br />water quality. Through the construction and operation of wastewater treatment and storm <br />water management systems, cities are a leader in protecting the surface water of the state. <br />In recent years, increased emphasis has been placed on protecting ground water and <br />removing impairments from storm water. In addition, there is increased emphasis on city <br />participation in controlling our carbon footprint and in promoting green development. <br />Metro Cities supports public and private environmental protection efforts to reduce <br />greenhouse gas emissions and to further protect surface and ground water. Metro Cities <br />also supports "green" design and construction techniques to the extent that those <br />techniques have been thoroughly tested and are truly environmentally beneficial, <br />economically sustainable, and represent sound building practices. Metro Cities supports <br />additional, feasible environmental protection with adequate funding and incentives to <br />comply. <br />Green jobs represent employment and entrepreneurial opportunities that are part of the <br />green economy, as defined in Minnesota statue 116.437J1, including the four industry <br />sectors of green products, renewable energy, green services. and .environmental <br />conservation. Minnesota's green jobs policies, strategies and investments need to lead to <br />high quality jobs with good wages and benefits, meeting current wage and labor laws. <br />2011 Legislative Policies 23 <br />