Unfortunately this is at the same time at the MN Broadband Task Force meeting but it looks interesting…
Digital Equity Ecosystems:
How Community Coalitions Reduce Inequality and Strengthen Democracya talk with Colin Rhinesmith, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Join us on February 18, 2026, from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET for a stimulating talk!
Use the link here to register for the Zoom webinar: https://tinyurl.com/47ukftct
From the Office of Broadband Development…
Agenda: Broadband Task Force, February Meeting
Date: 2/18/2026
- Meeting ID and Pass Code: 226 514 117 478 07 and mi9iF756
- Dial in by phone: +1 651-395-7448,,802366705# Phone conference ID: 802 366 705#
- Join on a video conferencing device: mn@m.webex.com Video ID: 114 382 750 2
Meeting Agenda
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Welcome from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband and approval of minutes from January Task Force meeting.
10:15 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Rural Health Research: Understanding Digital Access to Improve Community Health with Tabetha Brockman, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Program Manager, Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS) Rural Health Research Core and Ilaya Rome Hopkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, MCCCC & CCaTS Rural Health Research Core.
10:55 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Open the floor to other business, no meeting in March, and meeting wrap-up.
The Willmar City Council will meet Tuesday, Feb. 17, and will conduct four public hearings.
The first two public hearings are related to the issuance of tax abatement bonds for Connect Willmar, the city’s initiative to construct a city-wide, city-owned broadband network on which multiple internet service providers can lease bandwidth to provide internet services to Willmar residents. …
The meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the boardroom at the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services Building, 2200 23rd St. N.E. in Willmar. The council is meeting Tuesday due to the Presidents Day holiday on Monday.
The full agenda and accompanying packet of meeting materials can be viewed on the city’s website at willmarmn.gov on the mayor and council page under agendas, minutes, and videos for 2026 meetings.
An upcoming session from University of Illinois Extension…
Watt’s Up with Data Centers? Part 3: Community Strategies for Responding to Data Center Development
Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 12:00 noon CT
Has your community been approached by a data center? This webinar in the Resilient Communities series will equip communities with practical strategies to navigate data center proposals, understand their environmental impacts, and know what questions to ask from the start. Participants will learn from a local community’s Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) to see how CBAs can align projects with community goals. We’ll finish with a look forward on how state policy can support responsible data center development, including greater transparency on power needs and water use and support for carbon-free electricity.
Speakers
James Gignac is Midwest Policy Director for the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Prior to joining UCS, Mr. Gignac served as environmental and energy counsel and as assistant attorney general to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, where he worked on a variety of regulatory, legislative, and litigation matters involving clean energy, climate change, and environmental protection. Before his time in state government, Mr. Gignac was Midwest director for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, and also represented private sector clients in environmental matters with the law firm Mayer Brown LLP.
Lucy Contreras is the Illinois State Program Director for GreenLatinos and leads the Environmental Justice Caucus of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, where she is helping advance legislation to regulate data centers in Illinois. In these roles, she works closely with frontline communities to build understanding around environmental issues and to ensure community priorities are centered and reflected in policy solutions.
Moises Moreno is the Organizing Director with Alliance of Southeast (ASE) and co-staffs the South Works CBA and Policy campaign. Moises has been with ASE for over a year and brings over 20 years of community-organizing experience and policy advocacy in Chicago. He currently lives on the Southeast side as a Hyde Park resident.
This session will include a 15-minute Q&A segment, giving you an opportunity to ask questions about these topics. Please note that this Resilient Communities program will be offered in the Zoom Webinar format, instead of the Zoom Meeting format.
Part of the Local Government Education programming series, Resilient Communities webinars are a result of University of Illinois Extension and Prairie Rivers Network‘s collaboration to build capacity for technical assistance and education aimed to help communities navigate energy- and environment-related funding opportunities, provide guidance on community inclusion, and lead community-specific strategic planning. This outreach should help communities secure and manage resources to address legacy pollution, invest in clean energy technologies, and more. For more information, contact: Linda Derhak, National Resources Energy and Environment, Illinois Extension, at lderhak2@illinois.edu.
An invitation from the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society…
Join the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society. for a retrospective marking the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Benton will convene policymakers, academic and industry leaders to examine how the law, drafted at the dawn f dial-up internet codified the national commitment to universal connectivity. Participants will explore how the act has shaped today’s broadband landscape and what universal service must mean in the next era of connectivity.
Sounds like an interesting session. It has been well attended in the past…
NTIA Listening Session on the Use of BEAD Funds Saved Through the Trump Administration’s Benefit of the Bargain Reforms
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will convene a second virtual listening session on the use of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program funds saved thanks to the Trump Administration and Secretary Lutnick’s Benefit of the Bargain reforms. This session will gather input from stakeholders to inform NTIA’s future planning and policy development regarding the use of these “nondeployment” funds.
From the NTIA…
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will convene a virtual listening session on the use of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program funds saved thanks to the Trump Administration and Secretary Lutnick’s Benefit of the Bargain reforms. This session will gather input from stakeholders to inform NTIA’s future planning and policy development regarding the use of these “nondeployment” funds.
DATES:
The listening session will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST.
ADDRESSES:
The session will be held virtually and you can preregister for the session at https://ntia-gov.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_C_edeFU8QWOm0m4Y-qtvaQ#/registration. For further information, please consult https://ntia-gov.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_C_edeFU8QWOm0m4Y-qtvaQ#/registration.
From the Minnesota Telecom Alliance…
MTA 2026 Annual Convention and Trade Show
March 9-11, 2026 | Mystic Lake Casino Hotel | Prior Lake, MN
⇨ Register for the Convention and Trade ShowBe a Part of What Comes Next in Telecommunications — Here’s How
The MTA Convention brings together leaders from across the telecommunications industry for meaningful conversations and practical insights. Hear from expert speakers on topics ranging from rural broadband growth and strategic process improvement to leveraging AI to enhance the customer experience. This engaging event delivers practical takeaways and valuable networking in one place—designed to inform, inspire, and connect.
Be part of the conversations driving the industry forward.
Reasons You Won’t Want to Miss This
- Top-tier education: The MTA Convention delivers some of the most valuable educational sessions in the telecommunications industry.
- Trade Show with over 115 booths represented — meet and connect with vendors and companies all over the state of Minnesota, and even into the neighboring states.
- Expand your network: Connect with industry peers and meet new colleagues from across the state and beyond.
Blois Olson to Headline MTA Convention Issues Luncheon
The Minnesota Telecom Alliance is pleased to announce that Blois Olson will serve as the featured speaker for this year’s Issues Luncheon at the MTA Annual Convention.Blois Olson is one of Minnesota’s most respected and recognizable voices in public affairs. As the founder of Fluence Media and the author of the widely followed Morning Take briefing, Blois helps thousands of business and community leaders stay informed about the fast‑moving issues shaping our state. His deep knowledge of communications strategy, policy trends, and statewide political dynamics has made him a trusted resource for organizations navigating change.
This year, Blois will offer MTA members timely insights into Minnesota’s evolving political landscape, including the shifting priorities at the Legislature, the factors influencing policymaking today, and what these trends mean for industries working to connect Minnesotans across the state. His clear, accessible, and forward-looking analysis will help attendees better understand the environment in which we operate — and what may be on the horizon.We look forward to welcoming Blois Olson and hearing his perspective on the key issues shaping Minnesota and the future of telecommunications.
Join us at the Issues Luncheon for this informative and engaging session!
The Broadband Task Force unveiled the Annual Report (I will post on the report very soon) and presented it to Senator Putnam (Chair Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development). They also heard about Minnesota broadband environmental permitting overview.
10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Welcome from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband and approval of minutes from December Task Force meeting.
10:05a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Legislative preview for 2026 with Deven Bowdry, Government Relations Director, DEED
10:15 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).
Q: What about the NTIA conference in March? Should the Task Force attend?
A: That meeting might not be a fit but there are many national events and OBD can share those opportunities with the Task Force
Q: When will OBD hear from NIST?
A: Unclear.
10:20 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Overview of 2025 Broadband Task Force Annual Report and recommendations.
11:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Senate Committee Chair legislative discussion and broadband check-in with Senator Putnam (Chair Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development).
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Minnesota broadband environmental permitting overview with Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD) and Megan Messerole (Broadband Environmental and Land Use Coordinator, OBD)
from one of the slides above:
Environmental Permitting Resources
Minnesota National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Permitting Resources
- Planning for MN BEAD Grant Environmental, Historic Preservation, and Permitting Success (PDF) – Coming soon
- MN BEAD EHP Grantee Questionnaire (PDF) – Coming soon
- MN BEAD EHP Grantee Questionnaire Instructions (PDF) – Coming soon
- Minnesota Broadband and Railroad Rights-of-Way (PDF)
- Environmental Historic Preservation (EHP) Requirements (PDF) BEAD final proposal requirement documenting MN Environmental and Historic Preservation responsibilities.
NTIA NEPA and Permitting Resources
- NTIA Permitting Needs Checklist (PDF): Details how to structure a permitting needs assessment and access considerations
- NTIA’s ArcGIS Pro Permitting and Environmental Information Tool (APPEIT): Tool for federal broadband grant recipients and subgrantees to identify permits and environmental factors in planning routes for deployments.
- NTIA Best Management Practices and Mitigation Measures (PDF): Best management practices (BMPs) and mitigation measures to minimize impacts during construction, deployment, and operation of NTIA funded broadband projects.
- NTIA NEPA for BEAD NEPA Milestone Schedule and Timeline (PDF): Guidance on requirements established in Section 13B of the BEAD Terms and Conditions.
- NTIA Local Permitting Importance and Challenges and Strategies (PDF): Guidance explaining local permitting, providing strategies and examples addressing challenges and increasing processing efficiency. environmental factors in planning routes for deployments.
- Sample Project Descriptions and Maps for BEAD Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Review: Provides guidance to assist Eligible Entities in preparing ESAPTT project descriptions and maps.
Other NEPA and Permitting Resources
12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Open the floor to other business, February meeting plans, and meeting wrap-up.
From the Brookings Institution…
The future of communications regulation with FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty
Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST
Online: https://www.brookings.edu/events/the-future-of-communications-regulation-with-fcc-commissioner-olivia-trusty/The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the federal agency responsible for regulating our networks and communications, including broadband, infrastructure, space, and media. In January 2025, Olivia Trusty was nominated by President Donald J. Trump to serve as FCC commissioner. After being confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Commissioner Trusty began her term in June 2025. Alongside her peers, Commissioner Trusty will be instrumental in advancing the resiliency of existing and future networks, the future of media, and efforts that ensure communications accessibility to all Americans, especially as Congress begins to engage in universal service reform.
On February 4, the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings will host a fireside chat with FCC Commissioner Trusty to discuss her outlook on the agency in 2026, the priorities of the agency, and the aspirations for communications policies under her leadership.
Online viewers can submit questions via e-mail to events@brookings.edu.
The Broadband Breakfast session with State Broadband Offices was interesting and an easy format in which to engage. [Added 7:30pm Jan 21: Here’s the Broadband Breakfast article on it.] Here’s a quick description…
State broadband offices are now deep into BEAD implementation, managing billions in federal funding while navigating deployment timelines, subgrantee oversight, and compliance requirements. This roundtable aims to bring together state broadband directors and program leaders to share lessons learned, troubleshoot common challenges, and discuss emerging best practices from the field. The conversation will also address how states are measuring progress, ensuring speedy and thorough deployment, and adapting strategies as ground-level realities meet original plans.
Bree Maki from the MN Office of Broadband Development was one of the panelists. I’m sure they will post a full video later but I thought I’d share a view from Minnesota.
Update on MN from Bree
General notes
Some compelling questions from participants – and some answers if the question was posed verbally – as opposed to in the chat:
Q: The NTIA T&C say BEAD sub-recipients cannot use “any” USF funds. So that means schools, libraries, health providers who get BEAD connections cannot get E-rate or RHC support. Can state leaders push back on this? It is understandable not to get high-cost support, but why limit E-rate/RHC funding?
Q: Could we get a state officer to address whether or not they need to or will request from US Treasury an extension on unspent ARPA funds by 12-26? If any have sought extensions, have they been granted? If not, what are states doing? If unused ARPA funds have to be returned, what is the state’s plan to replace those funds? Thank you.
A: In MN we simply plan to spend it all in time.
Q: Question for everyone… satellite has been available to rural communities for years now…and uptake is not more than single-digit percentage points. Does uptake impact how LEO providers will be funded? Are they only reimbursed for sites that adopt or for ALL that were designated LEO? How will the SBOs help drive uptake, if at all? Should we just call LEO sites what they are… the new digital divide?
A: In WI, we look at capacity and subscription benchmarks and pay based on subscription rates.
A: In MN, we’re waiting on guidance for what milestones we should be considering. People in the field are wondering what the state is paying for with satellite when it’s already available.
Q: Our state is saying that NTIA is requiring a third-party final speed test that is paid from the sub -recipients. Are there any states that are providing these final speed tests since there can be discrepancies?
A IN MN, last summer we did 35,000 speed tests with our partner.
Q: Is there any concern about NTIA implementing changes to BEAD without submitting a CRA report, potentially making the rules ineffective, and/or causing more delay?
A: Folks seem to think it’s a nonissue.
I know it’s last minute, but sometimes that makes it even easier to attend. Broadband Breakfast is hosting a discussion at 11am…
State broadband offices are now deep into BEAD implementation, managing billions in federal funding while navigating deployment timelines, subgrantee oversight, and compliance requirements. This roundtable aims to bring together state broadband directors and program leaders to share lessons learned, troubleshoot common challenges, and discuss emerging best practices from the field. The conversation will also address how states are measuring progress, ensuring speedy and thorough deployment, and adapting strategies as ground-level realities meet original plans.
Panelists
- Bree Maki, Executive Director, Minnesota Office of Broadband Development
- Alyssa Kenney, State Broadband and Digital Equity Director, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
- Claire Shiverdecker, Program Manager, Utah Broadband Center
- Christine Hallquist, Executive Director, VCBB
- Bryant Clayton, Director, Broadband Development Office
- Brian Newby, State Broadband Director, North Dakota
- Connor Perry, Executive Director, Delaware Broadband Office
- Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast
The West Central Tribune reports on what has become an ongoing story of broadband in Willmar…
The Willmar City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 20, will consider awarding the bids for construction of phase one of the Willmar Connect project.
The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the boardroom of the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services building, 2200 23rd St. N.E. in Willmar. The council meets Tuesday due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday.
The Willmar Connect project is the city’s plan to construct a city-wide, city-owned, open access broadband network, which the city has been researching and planning for since early 2023.
The city has contracted with Hometown Fiber to assist with network design and the phased build-out of the network, as well as also operate and manage the network on which multiple internet service providers can operate. The ISPs will pay fees to the city, which will generate the revenue to service the debt and interest on the approximately $24.5 million in bonds that will be issued to pay for network construction.
The low bid for phase one came from NC3 of Clearbrook, Minnesota, in the amount of approximately $7.6 million.
Below is the agenda for the MN Broadband Task Force. I will attend (remotely) and plan to livestream it…
Agenda: Broadband Task Force, January Monthly Meeting
Date: 01/22/2026
Virtual Meeting
- Meeting ID and Pass Code: 295 528 665 057 20 and cB73Es65
- Dial in by phone: +1 651-395-7448,,329040994#. Phone conference ID: 329 040 994#
- Join on a video conferencing device: Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com. Video ID: 112 547 437 0
Meeting Agenda
10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. – Welcome from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband and approval of minutes from December Task Force meeting.
10:05 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. – Senate Committee Chair legislative discussion and broadband check-in with Senator Putnam (Chair Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development).
10:20 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Overview of 2025 Broadband Task Force Annual Report and recommendations.
10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Legislative preview for 2026 with Deven Bowdry, Government Relations Director, DEED
11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. – Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).
11:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Break.
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Minnesota broadband environmental permitting overview with Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD) and Megan Messerole (Broadband Environmental and Land Use Coordinator, OBD)
12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Open the floor to other business, February meeting plans, and meeting wrap-up.
Paul Bunyan Communications has completed expanding its all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone, to Balkan Township in St. Louis County, the company announced earlier this week.
The expansion included over 550 homes and business, and those who have signed up for service are being contacted to set up service installation.
“We’re excited to bring our all-fiber optic gigabit broadband expansion to completion in Balkan Township. In a world where high-quality connectivity is essential, not a luxury, this project ensures that the Balkan Township residents and businesses have the advanced broadband services they need to grow and flourish,” Chad Bullock, CEO/General Manager of Paul Bunyan Communications said.
This project is made possible through the Low Density Population Grant Program through the state of Minnesota. This project is estimated to cost $7,526,055, with the State of Minnesota’s Low-Population Density Program grant contributing $5,569,28, Paul Bunyan Communications investing $1,881,513, Angora Township $33,104, and Balkan Township $42,157.