The governor believes the lack of high-speed Internet connections is inhibiting job growth, education and economic expansion in rural areas.  The group is charged with submitting a report to the governor by Feb. 1, 2008.  Blunt directed the task force to:

1) Assess the current level of high-speed Internet access available in Missouri ;
2) Identify barriers to deployment to underserved areas including economic, geographic, regulatory, and market barriers;
3) Identify potential options to increase the deployment of high-speed Internet access in underserved communities;
4) Review best practices in other states to increase high-speed Internet access; and 5)Recommend statutory, regulatory, and policy changes needed to increase the availability of high-speed Internet services across the state.

  Here are the members of the task force.

• Henry Bradley of St Joseph helps operate his family’s business providing newspapers in St. Joseph and parts of Kansas City .
• Katie Bradley of Columbia is the editor of the Missouri Municipal Review for the Missouri Municipal League.
• Cindy Brinkley of St. Louis is president of AT&T Missouri where she is responsible for all regulatory, legislative, governmental and external affairs in the state. 
• Chuck Bryant of Carthage is the electric superintendent for Carthage Water & Electrical Plant.  Chuck is also a member of the Missouri Public Utility Association and has served as chair of the Missouri Public Utility Association’s Broadband Taskforce.
• Richard Cavender of Rolla is executive director of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission.
• Don Doucette of Kansas City is vice chancellor for education and technology at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City , where he serves as chief academic and chief technology officer for the campus.
• Estil Fretwell of Jamestown is the director of public affairs for the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation.
• Doug Galloway of Jefferson City is EMBARQ’s state executive for Missouri and Kansas and is responsible for the legislative, regulatory and public affairs functions.
• Raymond Henagan of Rock Port is manager and chief executive officer of Rock Port Telephone.
• Craig Klimczak of St. Louis is College Vice Chancellor of the Department of Technology and Educational Support for St. Louis Community College . 
• David Klindt of Jefferson City is vice president of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives where he heads the legislative department and information technology department.
• Arthur Martinez of Jefferson City is director of government relations for CenturyTel’s Missouri Region.
• Peggy McGaugh of Carrollton is Carroll County Clerk.
• Bill Mitchell of Columbia is executive director of the Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet).
• Rob Monsees of Columbia is executive director of Missouri Technology Corporation.
• Rod Nunn of Jefferson City is the director of education and workforce innovation for Blunt.
• Bill Placke of Eureka is senior director of business development at Charter Communications.
• Bill Rohde of Kirksville is executive vice president and general manager for Mark Twain Rural Telephone Company of Hurdland .
• Dan Ross of Jefferson City is the chief information officer for Missouri state government.
• Katie Smith of Jefferson City is the director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
• Craig Steensland of Nixa is the owner of Larson Heating and Air Conditioning.
• Greg Steinhoff of Columbia is the director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
• Julie Thompson of Doniphan is a small business owner, computer instructor at West Plains School District and technology instructor at Missouri State University-West Plains.
• Tracy Weddle of Jefferson City is director of Tax Policy and Fiscal Affairs for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• Michael Zarrilli of St. Louis is senior counsel and director of government relations for Suddenlink Communications providing broadband telecommunications services.

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