Ann Treacy

Member of the Broadband Team
Blandin Foundation

Ann Treacy covers rural Broadband, especially in Minnesota, for the Blandin on Broadband blog. She has been helping communities to get broadband, helping community members to better use broadband and helping policymakers to understand rural broadband for 20 years. Ann has published several studies related to broadband: Measuring the Impact of Broadband in 5 Rural MN Communities, Lessons from Rural Minnesota Broadband Feasibility Studies, Community Guide to State and National Broadband Policy and an annual look at how each of Minnesota’s 87 counties are doing with broadband.

Ann has also worked in the field doing digital inclusion training, from teaching businesses how to build a better online presence to teaching elders use Facebook to keep in touch with family. She has worked on communitywide broadband strategic plans. She helps businesses and agencies better use technology. Ann has a Master’s degree in Library and Information Management and a Master’s degree in Irish Literature. She gave a TED University Talk entitled Ready, Fire, Aim on the iterative process. She also writes music reviews on everything from Hardcore Punk to Bluegrass.