We learned about sustainability and precision agriculture. We learned about the American Connection Corps. And we got an update on BEAD funding. Not much has happened in the last month but folks had lots of practical questions. OBD emphasized the fact that the BEAD grants will follow federal guidelines, not state rules. The BEAD focus is ubiquitous coverage over meeting the Minnesota 100/20 goal, which means if a provider is the only one to bid on a particular unserved area the quality of service and application doesn’t matter as much as location.
Last round of MN Broadband grant application were received last week. Here’s the break down:
- 40 applications for border to border totaling $47M – only $30 available
- 28 applications for Low density totaling $79M – only $20 available
There was a brief update on legislative issues. Sounds like the bill to allow OBD to redistribute broadband grants funds based on need. No discussion on MN House Labor Omnibus Bill.
Also – the video is poor here because there was no camera in the room of the onsite meeting. I was able to screenshot PTT slides.
10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
10:05 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Approval of minutes from April 11th and the April 18th Task Force Meetings
10:10 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. Sustainability and the Connection to Broadband on the Field
Teddy Bekele, Senior VP/CTO, Land O’Lakes
Joel Wipperfurth, Director of Sales, Truterra
Phani Reddy, Product Family Manager, Truterra Livestock
An introduction to feeding from the LoL perspective and how they look at sustainability. Broadband is critical because of the data collected and used. Lots of discussion on farming and sustainability and lightly on how broadband is involved.
People in rural Minnesota talk about the need for broadband.
Question:
How did we figure out the field was created C02?
Emitted through fertilizing or during tilling between seasons.
10:35 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. BEAD Update
Diane Wells, Deputy Director, Office of Broadband Development
Has not progressed a lot in the last month. Before we select subgrantees, each state has to submit initial proposal and have it approved. Once Volume 1 is approved, we’ll started the challenge process. Last Friday we sent in last changes and we hear we’re getting close to approval – a month out. Our vendors are setting up a portal to help with challenge process. Thinking challenge process will be June- Sept. Only providers, nonprofits and municipalities (or other geo) can submit challenges. It’s a three-step process:
- Take in challenges – if slower services, latency or take more than 2 weeks to get service, high install fee
- Rebuttal of challenges
- OBD adjudicates
NO funding to help challengers but they will have webinars on process. At end of challenge – there will be a near-final list of locations eligible for BEAD.
Then volume 2: turning in changes by Friday. It relates more to policies. Once it’s approved, we have one year to appoint out funds. We don’t expect the grants to be available until Fall 2024. So Fall of 2025, we should submit proposals from BEAD. Once we hear back we can dole out funds. Once funds are awarded, the provider have four years to build. OBD will still do the rounds of funding.
OBD has to provide unserved areas are covered before underserved.
We will not call these Border to Border or Low Cost program funds because these are abiding to federal rules, not the MN rules. MN has to be covered. BEAD doesn’t care if it’s fiber. They’d rather cover everyone with satellite than build fiber to as many as possible. BEAD told OBD that not covering everyone with some aspect of broadband within budget was not an option.
Question:
Will we miss a round a funding through this process?
Sounds like yes, unless you count the Line Extension.
Can we use State funding to improve BEAD-funded lesser-than-fiber solutions?
Maybe if there was fiber to the tower and the fiber builder was OK with it
10:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Digital Opportunity Update
- May 28 is first application date. We’ll have $12 million for digital equity.
- ACP is running out this month. There are a few legislative options open yet.
11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Break
11:10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Broadband Overview
- The have been sending out biweekly newsletters
- Completed the April webinar BEAD series.
- New employee
- Seeing new construction for broadband and attending events when we can
- Connected Nation is in MN to validate round 7 grant projects.
- Grant staff will do field visits this summer.
- Made Round two Line Extension awards (ARPA funds)
- MN Grant applications can in last week”
- 40 for border to border $47M – only $30 available
- 28 Low density for $79M – only $20 available
- MN Leg Conference Committee met yesterday and today. Working on the language.
- There a bill to allow for moving some funds around from Border to Border, Low Density and Line Extension
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Statewide Fellowship Models
Rebecca Johnson, Program Officer, American Connection Corps
Ken Edwards, Community Partnerships Manager, American Connection Corps
Scott McFarland, Director of National Service, American Connection Corps
https://www.americanconnectionproject.com/articles/apply-to-acp-corps-here/
Questions:
Do you have a lot of repeat customers?
Yes, both for fellows and communities
Do you have support for managers?
Yes. And we have an orientation for orgs.
What does the model look like when you work with a State?
Members are paid by AmeriCorps and they do grant management. With States it’s streamlines even more.
How do you get people to sign up for so little money?
It’s not a job it’s a service opportunity. And the national going rate can be more than acceptable in rural areas
12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Sub-Group Discussion
Hoping subgroups can meet. Maybe decide on topics of interest and possible speakers. In July, we’ll talk more about annual recommendations.
12:15 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. Public Comment, Other Business, June 18th Meeting Plans, Wrap-up
Blandin on Broadband 