Category Archives: Minnesota Advisory Task Force

EVENT Feb 13: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting Feb 13, 2025

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Here’s the agenda for the next meeting…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
February 13, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 237 262 132 670
Passcode: Fw7TN3E7
Dial in by phone
+1 651-395-7448,,979854165# United States, Minneapolis Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 979 854 165#
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Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com
Video ID: 113 936 924 5
More info
For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in PIN
10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.               Welcome
Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
10:05 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.               Approval of minutes from January Task Force Meeting
10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.               Minnesota Legislative Updates
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.               Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates
Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD
Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD
Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.               Pole Owner Panel Discussion
Background and overview of approaches to setting pole attachment rates as pole owners and open up for discussion from Task Force members on implications of this on the federal BEAD program.
Eric Clement, Manager of Grid Modernization, Minnesota Power
Mary Jo Woolf, Senior Director, Distribution Business Operations, Xcel Energy
Ty Houglum, Vice President/CIO, East Central Energy
11:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.               Break
11:40a.m.—12:00 p.m.                 Other business: Feedback on future meetings, Task Force subgroup topic considerations for 2025, March Meeting Plans, and Wrap-up

Broadband Matters OBD Updates Jan 30, 2025: Pre-Qualification Portal is Open – Task Force meets Feb 13

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From the MN Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • BEAD updates + Pre-Qualification portal now open!
  • OBD weekly office hours registration
  • Digital Opportunity update
  • Broadband Task Force, February meeting plans
  • OBD is hiring – Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator

BEAD updates + Pre-Qualification portal now open!

The Office of Broadband Development would like take a moment to acknowledge the current uncertainty in working with federal partners. The team remains committed to moving forward with the work given to us by the Minnesota Legislature, and to follow current guidelines administering federal programs, on behalf of all Minnesotans

Updates and additional resources on the federal BEAD program in Minnesota available on OBD’s BEAD webpage include:  

OBD weekly office hours registration

Register now for weekly office hours to hear updates on the federal BEAD program in MN, the BEAD prequalification process, and answer questions on the registration portal. Office hours will be Tuesdays at 11am and run through April 1. Registration is open for the sessions below:

Please email deed.broadband@state.mn.us with questions on the webinar or office hours.

Digital Opportunity update

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) recently released a new report titled The State of Digital Inclusion in the States. This report offers a comprehensive assessment and celebration of states’ digital opportunity work across six areas. Rather than looking only at state broadband offices, this research takes a broad approach, incorporating digital opportunity work occurring across state agencies. Minnesota is highlighted in the areas of affordability/adoption and data – OBD appreciates these efforts immensely as we all work toward a connected Minnesota. 

Broadband Task Force, February meeting plans

The Broadband Task Force will be meeting on Thursday February 13 at 10am. This meeting will be held virtually and is open to anyone from the public to attend. The Teams link to join the meeting will be included as usual at the top of the meeting agenda, which will be posted along with other information on past meetings on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

OBD is hiring – Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator

Apply by February 7, 2025 for the Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator position. This position is responsible for overseeing and coordinating professional program coordination for DEED’s state and federally funded broadband grant projects. Key duties include providing coordination, consultation, training, and technical guidance, as well as ensuring compliance with state and federal permitting laws and land use policies.

Find more information on the position and the application here: State Program Administrator Coordinator – Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator – Job ID 83472

MN 2024 Broadband Task Force report: Affordability and Digital Equity , Economic Opportunity and Workforce Development and Mapping, Policy, and Funding

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The Minnesota 2024 Broadband Task Force report is available on the Office of Broadband Development site. From the letter from the chair…

While Minnesota has made significant progress toward expanding broadband access, challenges persist. More than 162,000 households lack access to basic broadband speeds of 25/3 Mbps, and an additional 229,000 remain underserved without access to 100/20 Mbps speeds. With the discontinuation of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), nearly 245,000 low-income households risk losing essential access to high-speed internet, further exacerbating the digital divide. Workforce shortages, permitting delays, and policy gaps, including the lack of sales tax exemptions for broadband materials, are compounding these challenges, particularly in rural areas where deployment costs are highest.

The recommendations in this report outline a clear path forward to ensure equitable broadband access across Minnesota. Key actions include reinstating a program similar to the ACP, supporting local workforce training initiatives, streamlining permitting processes, and addressing funding gaps to meet the state’s broadband goals by 2026. Sustaining and expanding programs like the Line Extension Connection Program will ensure that no community is left behind in this critical effort.

From the executive summary…

To address these critical challenges, the Task Force urges the Governor and Legislature to act on the following priorities:

Affordability and Digital Equity

  • Reinstate a Program Similar to ACP: Develop a statewide program or advocate for federal solutions to provide affordable broadband access, targeting low-income households.
  • Modernize Federal Lifeline Benefits: Support reform to increase the Lifeline subsidy to match ACP levels—$30 for most households and $75 for those on Tribal lands.
  • Support Digital Literacy: Standardize digital literacy definitions across agencies and fund Digital Navigators for anchor institutions to teach digital skills and connect residents to resources. Create a searchable digital literacy resource directory available in multiple languages and accessible formats. Provide greater opportunities for partner organizations to build capacity, and work to strengthen existing relationships.

Economic Opportunity and Workforce Development

  • Build Local Training Pipelines: Invest in programs through DEED to train broadband technicians, splicers, and engineers, focusing on local talent development.
  • Incentivize Best Practices: Encourage grant recipients to implement workforce best practices outlined in Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116J.395, ensuring jobs created are family-supporting with fair wages and benefits.
  • Promote K-12 and Higher Education Collaboration: Develop Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs with Minnesota schools and colleges to address broadband labor shortages.

Mapping, Policy, and Funding

  • Support Statewide Mapping: Fund ongoing mapping initiatives to ensure accuracy in identifying unserved and underserved areas. Conduct a post-BEAD evaluation to measure program success and remaining gaps.

  • Address Sales Tax Barriers: Enact legislation clarifying that broadband materials (fiber and conduit) qualify for sales tax exemption, reducing costs for high-speed deployment.

  • Sustain the Line Extension Program: Provide continued funding in 2025 to connect smaller groups or individual homes, avoiding project delays as BEAD funding rolls out.

  • Expand Local Capacity: Establish a fund for local governments and nonprofits to hire digital prosperity experts. These experts would assist with broadband planning, grant applications, and outreach in underserved communities.

They did a cost analysis of a few broadband development scenarios…

CTC Technology and Energy, a consulting firm who has performed similar analysis for other states, was selected to complete the cost-gap analysis. CTC used CostQuest data, NTIA data, and data from OBD’s past state Border to-Border and Line Extension Connection Program grant rounds to perform a set of cost modeling exercises. CTC’s findings were:  1) to cover every location in Minnesota with fiber would require $2.08 Billion in funding;  2) to reach all BEAD-eligible locations with the state’s allocated funding of $628 Million, the optimal technology mix is 90.8% fiber, 0.7% fixed wireless, and 8.5% satellite.7 Further, CTC found that an “incumbent expansion” model scenario results in less required funding than new entrants, largely due to incumbent cost benefits around existing network infrastructure, pole attachments, existing conduit, etc. CTC’s analysis also determined that there are small numbers of extremely remote and high cost areas that may require up-to $64,000 in funding per location.

They look at a Blandin report from 2017 that  looked at impact of public investment in broadband on the local economy and more.

MN Broadband Task Force Jan 2025: unveiling the MN broadband annual task report

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The MN Broadband Task Fore met to discuss the annual report. Unfortunately, the audio was not good for the first half of the meeting. I’ve done the best I can to follow the conversation. It looks like they got three legislators to attend the meeting; one attended remotely.

There was a quick update on the upcoming legislative session, which is very unsettled as the makeup of the legislature is still being decided.

Agenda (I’ve posted any slides below.) Continue reading →

EVENT Jan 13: MN Broadband Task Force Jan 2025 meeting

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From the

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Monday January 13, 2025

10:00 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.

Centennial Office Building, Ladyslipper room

658 Cedar St.

Saint Paul, MN 55155

OR

Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 223 569 996 305

Passcode: BL7Uq3EW

Dial in by phone +1 651-395-7448,,517724186# United States, Minneapolis Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 517 724 186#

Join on a video conferencing device Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com

Video ID: 118 751 942 5 More info For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in PIN

Agenda

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Welcome

Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

10:05 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Task Force Annual Report and Legislative updates with State Representatives

Senator Putnam, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development

Representative Anderson, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development

Representative Hansen, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Approval of minutes from December 2024 Task Force Meeting

11:05 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates

Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD

Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD

Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Legislative update for 2025

12:00 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. Other Business, Feedback on 2024, February 2025 Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

EVENT Jan 13: MN Broadband Task Force January meeting

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Information on MN Broadband Task Force January meeting

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Monday January 13, 2025

10:00 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.

Centennial Office Building, Ladyslipper room

658 Cedar St.

Saint Paul, MN 55155

OR

Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 223 569 996 305

Passcode: BL7Uq3EW

Dial in by phone +1 651-395-7448,,517724186# United States, Minneapolis Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 517 724 186#

Join on a video conferencing device Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com

Video ID: 118 751 942 5 More info For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in P

  • 10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Welcome
    Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
  • 10:05 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Task Force Annual Report and Legislative updates with State Representatives
    Senator Putnam, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development
    Representative Anderson, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development
    Representative Hansen, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development
  • 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Break
  • 11:00 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Approval of minutes from December 2024 Task Force Meeting
  • 11:05 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates
  • Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD
  • Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD
  • Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD
  • 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Legislative update for 2025
  • 12:00 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. Other Business, Feedback on 2024, February 2025 Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

MN Broadband Task Force December meeting: cost scenarios for investing BEAD money in MN

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Today the Task Force heard a Presentation on MN Broadband Cost Analysis Report, CTC Technology & Energy. They created three scenarios of how to spend the BEAD money.

  • Wireless access to 100/20 (MN broadband Speed goal): Grant funds required: $2.1 Billion
  • Wireless access to 25/3 (BEAD standard) : Grant funds required: $1.1 Billion
  • BEAD coverage: Grant funds required: $628 million

More slides available below…

The expound on the middle scenario…

“The optimal technology mix model to reach the BEAD-eligible unserved + underserved locations, assuming the most-likely, conservative costs (Cable Expansion scenario) and the state’s $628M BEAD allocation, is 90.8% fiber, 0.7% fixed wireless, and 8.5% satellite.” But they are saying that’s 0.4% of households in MN.

Also, the task force went through the latest (last?) iteration of their annual report. I have tried to capture screenshots of the report ASIS – but it’s difficult.

Continue reading →

MN Broadband Task Force Nov 2024: line extension, BEAD updates and annual report preview

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The Broadband Task Force got updates from the Office of Broadband Development, including an in depth report on the Line Extension programs as they distribute their Round 3 funding.

Also the Task Force members were able to see and react to the annual Task Force report. Here are paraphrased recommendations:

Affordability Recommendations:

  • Digital literacy – a searchable directory online and printed of resources
  • Grant funding that addresses access, should also have funding for barriers (list of barriers includes childcare, language …)
  • Use social services and libraries to reach people and fund more digital literacy advocates
  • Looked at Northstar Digital Literacy Standards – we want a version of it

Economic Opportunity Recommendations:

  • Reestablish ACP or similar
  • Authorize research on economic impact of digital exclusion (like Blandin did in the past)
  • Ensure market creates family-supporting jobs
  • Digital job straining through DEED
  • Work with MN high ed institutes to develop digital training for k-12

Mapping, Policy & Funding Recommendations:

  • Continue monitoring investments in broadband
  • Post- BEAD evaluation
  • Evaluate success toward meeting 2026 MN speed goals
  • Recommend funding Line Extension in 2025
  • Promote Line Extension
  • Continue mapping

Here are more compete notes: Continue reading →

EVENT Nov 26: MN Broadband Task Force November meeting

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Tuesday November 26, 2024

10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

 

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

180 E 5th St Suite 1200

St Paul MN 55101

OR

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

[More detail below]

 

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.               Welcome

Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.               Approval of minutes from October 21, 2024 Task Force Meeting

10:15 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.               Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates

Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD

Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD

Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD

10:35a.m. – 11:00 a.m.                 Line Extension Program updates  Jennifer Frost, Broadband Grants Supervisor, OBD

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.               Break

11:10 a.m.—12:20 p.m.                Task Force review of annual report first draft

12:20 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.               Other Business, December Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

MN Broadband Task Force October Notes

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The MN Broadband Task Force met in October. I wasn’t able to make it but I got handouts from the Office of Broadband Development website and happened to be in a meeting where Diane Wells gave an OBD update, similar to what she would have given at the meeting. (I will add the minutes from OBD when they post them.)

Here’s the agenda with information I have plugged into the right space:

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Welcome
Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Approval of minutes from September 24th, 2024, Task Force Meeting

10:15 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates
Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD
Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD
Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD

[Again this following is a presentation Diane Wells gave two days after the TF meeting so likely to be very similar.]

Round 10 Grants were Announced:

  • 40 applications 18 awarded for Border to Border
  • 27 applications 8 awarded for Lower Population Density awards

Line Extension Update

  • $13 million requests for $7.5 million of funding. Providers tried to group requests to get Line Extension to make best use of funding available.
  • They will announce locations by county once awardees have been informed.

Staffing updates:

  • Hired new staff.
  • Will be hiring a permitting person soon.

BEAD Update

  • Finished with Adjudication; working to finalize data then will go to NTIA. NTIA may take a couple of months.
  • We need work with NTIA liaison to submit final program Oct 3, 2025.
  • If final proposal is approved – then the contracting can begin. But that timing may not suit MN weather – given 4 year deadline
  • Looking for new grant management system with better reporting facilities

Questions:

  • We should get providers to apply for BEAD. They need to apply on portal for pre-qualification?
    Yes.
  • The end goal is to get funding to places that need it. So we’re working on updating the maps and getting the information out. But they definitely don’t want to fund in an area that is now being served. So they’re doing their best to keep maps updated.
  • The focus is on unserved over underserved due to BEAD rules.
  • Will you look at geographic diversity?
    That’s not a federal focus.
  • There are providers that say they won’t participate. Their backbones are located near unserved areas. Can we find a way to flag those areas or work around the non-participants?
    Yes – through other funds such as Line Extension.
  • Any news on broadband tech assistance grants?
    Haven’t heard anything. No plans for ReConnect for a while – at least 2 years.

10:35a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Presentation from Connected Nation
A non-profit organization that works nationally, and in Minnesota, with the mission to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand the access, adoption, and use of high-speed internet and its related technologies.
Wes Kerr, Director of Community Solutions

 

11:05 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Break

11:15 a.m.—12:20 p.m. Work time for subgroups on annual report draft
Affordability & Digital Equity
Economic Opportunity & Work Force Development
Mapping, Funding, and Policy

12:20 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Other Business, November 26th Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

Office of Broadband Development Updates: Task Force Meeting notes

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • BEAD updates + resources
  • Updates from NTIA on available funds for Tribal Nations
  • Digital Opportunity Update
  • Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, October meeting recap

BEAD updates + resources

Recent updates and resources for the federal BEAD program in Minnesota include:

  • Minnesota’s BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 was officially approved by NTIA on October 3, 2024 which starts the 365-day shot clock for the submission of Minnesota’s Final Proposal by October 3, 2025.
  • The BEAD Challenge process has concluded with OBD completing the adjudication phase. The data is now being reviewed for accuracy and formatted per NTIA guidelines before being submitted to NTIA for approval. OBD anticipates submitting the final list of BEAD eligible locations by late November/early December 2024.
  • OBD is also working to establish a Grants Management System for the BEAD program. When that system is available, a prequalification process will be established where interested applicants can submit specified documentation to support their financial, managerial, technical and operational capacity to participate in the BEAD program as a subgrantee. OBD hopes to implement the prequalification process by January 2025.
  • Upon NTIA’s approval of the final list of BEAD eligible locations (NTIA’s timeline is unknown but anticipated by March 2025), OBD will issue a Request for Proposal for the BEAD grant application rounds. The first round (11a) will be focused on fiber projects and applicants will be able to select their own project area. For BEAD subgrantee selection rounds 2 and 3 (Rounds 11b and 11c), NTIA is requiring that OBD establish the project areas for which an application can be submitted. Rounds 11b and 11c will also include consideration of alternative technologies (coax, fixed wireless, satellite) per NTIA’s requirements.
  • To meet the deadline for submission of the Final Proposal by October 3, 2025, including meeting with NTIA, notifying the provisionally selected subgrantees 14 days after that meeting, and then a 30 day public comment period, the three rounds of subgrantee selection are anticipated to occur between March and early August 2025.
  • The BEAD FAQ was updated 10/16 and is available online here, as well as a downloadable PDF.

Updates from NTIA on available funds for Tribal Nations

NTIA opened the application window for the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program for Native Entities on September 25, accepting applications from eligible tribes and other Native entities through February 7, 2025. Visit NTIA’s website to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity and locate other applicant resources. NTIA will also host webinars to provide application guidance. Links to register are available below:

Digital Opportunity Updates

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) has opened applications for local government units to be recognized as Digital Inclusion Trailblazers. Digital Inclusion Trailblazers are municipal, county, or regional governments that are paving the way and providing excellent models for digitally inclusive communities, demonstrating how local governments can support their own digital inclusion ecosystems. Each year, NDIA honors Trailblazers at its Net Inclusion conference.

Applications are due November 1. See NDIA’s website for more information.

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, October meeting recap

The Governor’s Task Force met at the DEED Headquarters in St. Paul, MN on Monday October 21, 2024. The Task Force heard from presenter Connected Nation on mapping updates in Minnesota, and more on the processes of the BEAD Challenge. The Office of Broadband Development also provided general, as well as BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates. Task Force subgroups (Affordability & Digital Equity; Economic Opportunity & Work Force Development; and Mapping, Policy, & Funding) moved forward with crafting a draft and recommendations for the annual report, due in December.

More information on this and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

EVENT Sep 24: MN Broadband Task Force Sep Meeting

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Happening tomorrow…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

 Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association

800 Central Ave N, Brandon, MN 56315

OR

Microsoft Teams

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 293 633 223 894

Passcode: yLxAZz

Dial in by phone

+1 651-395-7448,,793355672# United States, St. Paul

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 793 355 672#

Join on a video conferencing device

Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com

Video ID: 112 142 827 5

More info

For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in PIN

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Welcome + approval of minutes from August 19th, 2024, Task Force Meeting

Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Introduction to Gardonville Coop Telephone Association

Dave Wolf, CEO, Gardonville Coop Telephone Association

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.  Introduction from Senator Putnam

Senator Aric Putnam, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.   Sub-Group progress share out + updates

Affordability & Digital Equity

Economic Opportunity & Workforce

Mapping, Funding, & Policy

11:00 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.  PCs for People

Casey Sorenson, CEO, PCs for People

Susan Miller, National Manager – New Markets, PCs for People

A nonprofit that provides computers, low cost internet and computer repair to low income families. We fund our mission by providing secure, responsible electronics recycling as a free service for businesses and use the proceeds and equipment to provide the life changing benefit of digital access

11:25 a.m. – 11:35 a.m.               Break

11:35 a.m.—12:00 p.m. HealtheMed, Inc. – A MN-based Public Benefit Corporation

Steve Pontius, CEO, HealtheMed (formerly founder of MinuteClinic)

Ron Mandelbaum, Executive Vice President & Co-Founder, HealtheMed

HealtheMed is a mission driven and innovative tele-health provider dedicated to enriching the lives of underserved populations all across the State of Minnesota. Through our innovative “Clinic@Home” digital system of health we keep Medicaid waivered participants in the community longer by enabling coordination and access to the essential supports they need, in the comfort of their own home.  We want these important citizens to become more independent and live as fulfilling a life as possible which they are now able to achieve with our technology enabled high-engagement system. Closing the digital divide and bringing broadband to the underserved is a necessary and key driving force in creating greater health equity.

12:00p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates

Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD

Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD

Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD

12:15 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. Other Business, October 21st Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

12:20 p.m. – 12:35 p.m. Sub-Group meeting time

12:35 p.m. – 1p.m.  Tour of Gardonville Coop headquarters & demonstration

Tour for in-person attendees; meeting adjourned at 12:30pm for virtual guests

MN Broadband Task Force Aug 2024 Mtg: Hearing from broadband providers

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It was nice to hear from broadband providers from the Northeast Minnesota. The spoke frankly about the trials, tribulations and success for building broadband in the area. The importance of the Affordable Connectivity Program also came up – and the loss of trust that came up with loss of broadband.

Also nice to get public comments from folks from the frontlines!

10:10 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Introduction – Paul McDonald, Board Chair, St. Louis County Commissioners

  • In 2021 created SLC broadband grants
  • $400,000 for community infrastructure
  • Worked with RAMS and IRRR to talk to folks
  • 7,000 square miles, 13.1 pop density (people per square mile), very rocky (Canadian Shield), lakes and rural
  • One community in the area: 550 customers, $11M for project, many partners – still $3M shy
  • They leverage $10 for every $1 in grants
  • BEAD fears: not enough money / fall back on non-fiber solutions / ISP required to cover affordable options

10:20 a.m. – 10:25 a.m. Approval of minutes from July 18th, 2024, Task Force Meeting
Done

10:25 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Internet Service Providers Panel – Consolidated Telecommunications Company: Joe Buttweiler, Chief Strategy Officer, Northeast Service Coop: Paul Brinkman, Executive Director; Joe Weber, Operations Manager, Paul Bunyan Communications: Gary Johnson, CEO/GM; Chad Bullock Assistant GM; Patti Horazuk, Regulatory Compliance Specialist; Steve Howard, IT & Development Manager

CTC:

  • New things: We have workforce challenges – we need more people but have been named top 200 small businesses
  • New things: launching new MC Fiber construction company (CTC and Meeker Coop Light & Power)
  • New things: CTC Cares is a nonprofit to exclusively fund local community initiatives – new grants in 2025
  • Lots of partnerships with local govs, EDAs, cooperatives…
  • In last 10 years: $123M in federal, state  local gov and CTC investment to get 16, 534 homes and businesses online
  • Implementing a state grant: it starts with community engagement. We develop a high level budget – how many served/unserved, is there an anchor institution, potential funders (IRRR, state funding…?), pre-application process (tell area providers you are going to apply – required by OBD) – it can cost $1000-25,000 to get this far. The state process is easier than many others.
    Assembling the grant application: get letters of support (personalized letters are better!),  curing a grant application if it is challenged (OBD does a nice job but it takes job and labor – could be $5,000-33,000)
    Grant awarded: community engagement, grant review and bid waiver (bidding isn’t always best option – sometimes easier to negotiate (cost $1,000-6,000)
    Deploying: Pre-construction, construction and activation, admin functions. They pre-wire at home while building.

NESC

  • Providing middle mile for last 10 years.
  • We look for partners to provide last mile – except public utilities.
  • We are a providers’ provider.
  • Work with public and private sectors.
  • Working on 40/200 gigahertz Optical Channels

Paul Bunyan Communications

  • Constructed nothing but fiber since 2004
  • Do people really need multi-Gig? We don’t want to make decisions for people.
  • Long standing partnerships
  • Strive to make things affordable. Without ACP intervention, we found people didn’t get online. SO we jumped on that and brought subscription desks and training to them. Especially helped with tribal partners. Heart broken on the demise of the ACP. We know it worked and we have stories.
  • 6,000 square miles – have spent $245M on infrastructure from 2005 to 2023. $228M is PB investment the rest is IRRR, RDOF, Border to Border or other. Profit is not our motivation – service is.
  • GigaZone Gaming – 8 years going, so far

Questions:

  • About Bois Fort – how much of $20M has been eaten up in process?
    Thousands of dollars – it’s more the time that it takes.
  • About Bois Fort – have you looked at cost projections from going through rock or around it?
    We have $1M in rock contingency. We’re hoping CTC construction will help us keep to budget.
    Sen Smith has been involved in broadband. The letters of support are striking. We hear good things about CTC and Paul Bunyan.
  • About Bois Fort – when complete, will it serve everyone?
    Yes – although there are members who live off the reservation so that’s a factor we are working on.
  • For PB: what’s the impact of demise of ACP?
    We did work hard on it. It was hard to send the letter about the demise and it hurts the trust between. The lack of trust is bigger than lost of broadband. A terrible collateral damage.
    Cost of ACP was $5-7M per month. We might make recommendations for a State program.
  • Terrain is an issue in NE MN for buildouts. What do you do to mitigate it?
    It’s not impossible. It’s expensive. You just have to know the costs. If you think 30 years out instead of 5 years, the math is easier.

11:15am-11:25 a.m. Break

 

11:25 a.m. –11:40 a.m. Broadband Equity, Access and Development Program (BEAD) Update

Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development – Diane Wells, Deputy Director, Office of Broadband Development

  • Vol 1 approved in May
  • Challenge process is closing. There were 12,300 challenges made. Deadline is Wednesday. Providers have 30 days to rebut.
  • Vol 2 is still being cured. NTIA is hoping to approve all Vol 2s by Fall. Then we’ll have 365 days to award subgrantees. So, we’re hoping for 3 rounds of funding in 8 months.
  • Original vols are available online and OBD tries to keep recent versions online. There was interest from providers to sit down and go through the volume in detail. We are working on setting up something like that.
  • At end of subgrantee selection, we need to have a plan to serve everyone in Minnesota. If you decide not to apply in your area, we will have to select someone else.
  • OBD has weekly office hours (Thursday 2-3pm).

Q: How do you feel about 12,000 challenges?
It’s lowering that we were anticipating. Most are from providers. Last round MN grants is part of the process. ARPA was never captured by OBD so we’re seeing some of that now. Also seeing fixed wireless going from licensed to unlicensed.

11:40 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Digital Opportunity Update

Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development – Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead

 

11:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Office of Broadband Development Overview – Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development

  • DEED and OBD is in a State audit review. Going well.
  • Working on statewide plans for permitting
  • We have concern about $652M reaching everyone – we are having to recognize that fiber won’t go everywhere.
  • Working with Dep of Labor on certification programs required after last MN Legislative session
  • We are working on awarding Round 10 funding. We’re aiming on early fall. We’re trying to coordinate with ReConnect and BEAD.
  • Line Extension continues. Round 1 needs to be done this year. Round 3 is in process

12:05 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. Sub-Group Discussion in preparation for Broadband Task Force Annual Report – Affordability & Digital Equity; Mapping, Funding, & Policy; Economic Opportunity & Workforce

Affordability & Digital Equity

  • They are looking at plans for MN version of ACP. Looking at what data might be useful.
  • Looking what feds are doing with Lifeline
  • Adding digital navigation to 211 – but thinking it goes into United Way

Mapping, Funding and Policy

  • Community planning efforts
  • Recruit workforce
  • Increase statutory speed goals
  • Continuation of digital equity
  • Continuation of Line Extension

Q: How can Lead for America help? Is it though orgs or communities?
TBD

Economic Opportunity & Workforce

  • Data review of past broadband projects, especially success
  • Current workforce doing broadband deployment? What’s the forecast when all states want those types of employees?
  • What is State currently doing to prepare people for jobs in broadband deployment?
  • CWA and CTC have joint apprenticeship programs. Might be nice to hear more about it.

12:20 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Other Business, September 24th Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

  • We will talk more about how subcommittees prepare for the yearend report in future meetings.

Any open comments?

  • Rep from small town outside of Duluth (Northstar Township)– we need help. We have 238 places that need broadband. We have 275 voters. We are 7.33 miles away from broadband. We can’t afford broadband.
    They were part of a Border to Border grant that was disqualified due to RDOF.
    Need to makes sure those addresses are challenged if need be.
  • Paul Peltier from RAMS. What can local folks do to help policymakers? We have 13,000 square miles – they don’t all have broadband. We’ve worked with local providers. We have households that would still need to go to McDonalds for internet access. Do you folks recognize that building broadband is only getting more expensive. Rural broadband is going to change rural America.
    Pay attention to the challenge process.
    As draft reports are coming out – we could have in depth conversations about where the gaps are and try to build coalitions. Good questions.
    We need to make the right recommendations. Concrete examples are helpful.
  • Tom Karst at NTIA: Getting involved in the Challenge process is key.

EVENT Aug 19: MN Broadband Task Force Aug Meeting in Mountain Iron MN

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Here’s information on the Task Force meeting tomorrow…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Monday, August 19, 2024

10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Northeast Service Cooperative 5525 Emerald Ave, Mountain Iron, MN 55768

OR

Microsoft Teams Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 289 001 798 556

Passcode: 6fxpgB

Dial in by phone +1 651-395-7448,,492211021# United States, St. Paul Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 492 211 021#

Join on a video conferencing device Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com

Video ID: 119 315 249 0 More info For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in PIN

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Welcome – Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

10:10 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Introduction – Paul McDonald, Board Chair, St. Louis County Commissioners

10:20 a.m. – 10:25 a.m. Approval of minutes from July 18th, 2024, Task Force Meeting

10:25 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Internet Service Providers Panel – Consolidated Telecommunications Company: Joe Buttweiler, Chief Strategy Officer, Northeast Service Coop: Paul Brinkman, Executive Director; Joe Weber, Operations Manager, Paul Bunyan Communications: Gary Johnson, CEO/GM; Chad Bullock Assistant GM; Patti Horazuk, Regulatory Compliance Specialist; Steve Howard, IT & Development Manager

11:15am-11:25 a.m. Break

11:25 a.m. –11:40 a.m. Broadband Equity, Access and Development Program (BEAD) Update

Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development – Diane Wells, Deputy Director, Office of Broadband Development

11:40 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Digital Opportunity Update

Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development – Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead

11:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Office of Broadband Development Overview – Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development

12:05 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. Sub-Group Discussion in preparation for Broadband Task Force Annual Report – Affordability & Digital Equity; Mapping, Funding, & Policy; Economic Opportunity & Workforce

12:20 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Other Business, September 24th Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

MN Broadband Task Force July Mtg: BEAD Challenge process is important

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The Task Force met today and the hot topic, as expected, is the BEAD federal broadband funding and the challenge process that opens next week to help define the locations in Minnesota that will be eligible for funding. A strong message I heard today and in earlier meetings…

BEAD money will not get fiber to all of Minnesota. The federal BEAD goal is “broadband” not fiber. So, if there are areas where only satellite providers apply, they may get funding if no one else has applied. It behooves communities to get connected with providers to see what can be done to build partnerships to apply for better broadband for their area before this happens! A first step is to look at BEAD maps, see if you think they are accurate, if not find a way to challenge.

Other topics were discussed as well. You can watch the videos or read the notes below.

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