The MN Senate reports that the following bill…
SF 4479 – Kupec: Counties permission to designate certain agricultural lands as unsuitable for electric power facilities *(Informational Only)*
This is an informational Hearing Only. No action will be taken.
…will be heard…
Monday, April 13th, 2026 03:00 PM
Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development
Chair: Sen. Aric Putnam
Location: 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Stearns County Administrator Mike Williams has announced his retirement, effective July 17, 2026, concluding a distinguished 40‑year career in local government and a decade of service to Stearns County residents.
They recognize his work in broadband in expansion in the area…
One of Williams’ most significant accomplishments is the expansion of high‑speed broadband across Stearns County. Beginning in 2017, he helped lead efforts to identify service gaps affecting rural homes and businesses, working with the County Board, township officials, and multiple service providers to build a comprehensive strategy. Through a combination of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, state Border‑to‑Border grants, and township contributions, the County secured more than $60 million for broadband expansion. As a result, nearly every home and business in Stearns County has, or will soon receive, access to reliable, high‑speed internet service.
Bob Frenzel runs Xcel Energy, headquartered here in Minneapolis. Xcel is one of the country’s largest energy providers, distributing electricity to 6.1 million electric and natural gas customers across eight states.
MPR’s senior economic contributor Chris Farrell spoke with Frenzel at a Tuesday luncheon event sponsored by the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
The biggest standout from the conversation was the sheer scale of investment going into data centers — the specialized facilities powering the rise of artificial intelligence. We’re talking $600 billion in investment this year alone. Frenzel put that in perspective.
“That’s real, physical factories — concrete, steel, wires, cables,” Frenzel said. “Last year, the entire electric utility industry spent $200 billion on transmission and distribution infrastructure. So just consider the size and scale of the investment getting made.”
Frenzel said if it’s done right, your electric bill should actually come down. He pointed to the Google data center recently announced in Pine Island. Google will ultimately want 1,000 megawatts of capacity — that’s 11 percent of the entire Upper Midwest load. However, the company will pay for the new generation themselves.
Broadband Breakfast reports on more potential uncertainty for State Broadband leaders dealing to BEAD…
Nearly 20 House Democrats say they have “deep concern” about satellite ISP SpaceX’s participation in a $42.45 billion broadband grant program after the company asked state broadband offices to relax some of the program’s rules.
“Other providers that participated in BEAD presumably did so in good faith, with a clear understanding of the rules. Starlink’s proposed rider suggests that it did not,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter last week to Arielle Roth, head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. “If Starlink cannot comply with the standards that other BEAD providers have accepted, NTIA and state broadband offices must reconsider these awards.”
In January, SpaceX asked states to modify rules around performance testing and other provisions of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program before signing contracts with the company. NTIA, which is managing the program at the federal level, then released an updated FAQ document telling states that they couldn’t negotiate deals with grant winners that conflicted with BEAD rules.
The Supreme Court tossed out a billion-dollar verdict against an internet service provider (ISP) on Wednesday, in a closely watched case that could have severely damaged many Americans’ access to the internet if it had gone the other way.
Wednesday’s decision in Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment is part of a broader pattern. It is one of a handful of recent Supreme Court cases that threatened to break the internet — or, at least, to fundamentally harm its ability to function as it has for decades. In each case, the justices took a cautious and libertarian approach. And they’ve often done so by lopsided margins. All nine justices joined the result in Cox, although Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized some of the nuances of Justice Clarence Thomas’s majority opinion.
Some members of the Court have said explicitly that this wary approach stems from a fear that they do not understand the internet well enough to oversee it. As Justice Elena Kagan said in a 2022 oral argument, “we really don’t know about these things. You know, these are not like the nine greatest experts on the internet.”
It’s worth reading the whole article. It’s an example of how the internet touches everything and everything touches the internet. The folks who are making decisions – about regulation but also about financing or use, both for the howl community or just themselves, their families or even their classrooms – are not necessarily the greatest experts on the internet.
The Timbeyjay reports on expansion of broadband in Northen Minnesota…
Paul Bunyan Communications is planning a significant expansion of its all-fiber optic network in parts of St. Louis and Itasca counties this year, bringing high-speed broadband service to more than 600 homes and businesses across five townships near Cook.
The project will extend the cooperative’s GigaZone network into areas south and west of Cook, including portions of Alango, Carpenter, Field, and Sturgeon townships, along with an unorganized township east of Carpenter.
I wrote about the expansions earlier, the Timberjay takes a look funding…
The total cost is estimated at $7,810,355, with funding coming from a combination of state, regional, local, and cooperative sources.
The largest share of funding, $3,924,157, is being provided through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Low-Density Population Broadband Infrastructure Development Grant Program. Paul Bunyan Communications is contributing $2,203,928 toward the project.
Additional support includes $1,000,000 from Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation, $583,250 from St. Louis County, and smaller contributions from local townships, including $41,200 from Alango Township, $17,800 from Field Township, and $40,000 from Sturgeon Township.
And a look at the larger industry and funding…
These local expansions are taking place amid broader policy changes that could shape the future of broadband deployment across the state.
Federal changes to broadband funding rules are influencing how projects are selected in Minnesota. Updated guidance issued in 2025 by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shifted the BEAD program toward a more “technology-neutral” approach, requiring states to consider a mix of fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite options when awarding funds, rather than prioritizing fiber by default.
Minnesota’s approved BEAD plan reflects that shift, with state officials anticipating a combination of technologies to reach unserved areas, particularly in remote locations where fiber deployment is more costly. Analysts say the policy change has already begun to affect outcomes, with fiber accounting for a smaller share of proposed or funded projects than originally expected and more funding directed toward wireless and satellite options. The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development, which is overseeing roughly $652 million in federal funding, continues to work through how those federal requirements will shape final project selections and the pace of expansion across rural parts of the state.
At the same time, the shift has raised ongoing questions about long-term performance differences between technologies. Fiber networks like Paul Bunyan Communications’ GigaZone are capable of speeds up to 10 gigabits per second, far exceeding federal minimum broadband standards, while satellite-based services such as Starlink typically deliver speeds closer to 250 megabits per second, according to federal and industry data, a gap that can affect reliability, latency, and long-term scalability for users.
A coalition of Minnesotans opposed to the development of data centers has a wishlist for the current legislative session with a hierarchy of priorities.
Banning local officials from signing non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, would be nice, they say. Ditto for requiring public hearings and disclosures prior to the approval of data center permits.
What the group wants above all, though, is a moratorium on proposed projects in Hermantown, Pine Island, Monticello, Farmington, North Mankato and other cities.
“We’re begging, urging the state to pause,” said Rebecca Gilbertson, who lives about a half-mile from a planned Google data center in Hermantown.
There’s a discussion about NDAs…
NDAs are common tools — too common in the eyes of those advocating against them — used in economic development. They allow plans to simmer behind the scenes before any public scrutiny can boil over at public meetings. The normalization of NDAs prompted a St. Louis County commissioner to propose a ban on them last year.
Business groups, however, argue that NDA bans would stymie development.
“Without some level of confidentiality during those early conversations, companies may be unwilling to explore potential projects in Minnesota while evaluating investments across multiple states or competing communities within the same region,” wrote a group of economic organizations in a letter submitted to the Legislature.
And discussion on proposed moratorium on data centers…
A moratorium bill introduced by Sen. Jennifer McEwen, DFL-Duluth, would halt local permits for data centers until the state’s Public Utilities Commission submits a report to the Legislature on energy usage, water usage and other impacts. The bill would delay development until at least a year after the report’s submission, theoretically pushing back local approvals into 2029.
More good news from Paul Bunyan, this news includes updates I shared from Aitkin and St Louis & Itasca Counties yesterday but also includes Hubbard County updates…
Paul Bunyan Communications will be expanding its all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, to over 3,200 more locations in areas of Aitkin, Hubbard, and St. Louis counties in 2026.
Aitkin County
Over 2,400 locations in central Aitkin County including the cities of McGregor, Palisade, and Tamarack along with areas of Clark, Haugen, Jevne, Libby, Logan, McGregor, Shamrock, and Workman Townships.
Itasca County/St. Louis County
Over 600 locations in areas of the following townships in St Louis and Itasca County: Alango, Sturgeon, Field, Carpenter, and Unorganized Township east of Carpenter Township. These areas are south and west of the city of Cook.
This project is made possible through the State of Minnesota, Department of Employment & Economic Development, Low-Density Population Broadband Infrastructure Development Grant Program. This project is estimated to cost $7,810,355, with the State of Minnesota’s Low-Population Density Program grant contributing $3,924,157, Paul Bunyan Communications investing $2,203,928, Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRRB) investing $1,000,000, St. Louis County investing $583,250, Alango Township $41,200, Field Township $17,800, and Sturgeon Township $40,000.
Hubbard County
Over 225 locations in southern Hubbard County including areas of Henrietta and Todd Townships south of Fishhook Lake and areas south and west of Long Lake in Hubbard Township.
This project is made possible through a USDA ReConnect Round 3 grant award. The portion of construction built with grant dollars will be an estimated $500,000.
Once the new all-fiber optic network is operational, homes and businesses can get fast, dependable GigaZone™ Internet and WiFi built to keep every device connected. Voice services, including unlimited local and long-distance will also be available. Business customers will gain access to Managed IT Business Services like VOIP, Disaster Backup and Recovery, and Network Management.
Construction will take place over the summer with services expected to be available by winter. To get connected, residents and businesses need to sign up for service before construction leaves the area. Sign up online at https://paulbunyan.net/, over the phone, or in person at our offices in Bemidji and Grand Rapids.
“We’re excited to share our plans to expand gigabit broadband access to more residents and businesses,” said Chad Bullock, CEO and General Manager of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Our cooperative remains committed to delivering these essential services to communities across northern Minnesota.”
This is a little wonkier than I usually go, but a long time ago I worked for a broadband provider and dealt with a lot of routers. The FCC reports...
Today, the Federal Communications Commission updated its Covered List to include all consumer-grade routers produced in foreign countries. Routers are the boxes in every home that connect computers, phones, and smart devices to the internet. This followed a determination by a White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise that such routers “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.”
The Executive Branch determination noted that foreign-produced routers (1) introduce “a supply chain vulnerability that could disrupt the U.S. economy, critical infrastructure, and national defense” and (2) pose “a severe cybersecurity risk that could be leveraged to immediately and severely disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure and directly harm U.S. persons.”
President Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy stated: “the United States must never be dependent on any outside power for core components—from raw materials to parts to finished products—necessary to the nation’s defense or economy. We must re-secure our own independent and reliable access to the goods we need to defend ourselves and preserve our way of life.”
Malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers to attack American households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft. Foreign-made routers were also involved in the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon cyberattacks targeting vital U.S. infrastructure.
The determination included an exemption for routers that the Department of War (DoW) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have granted “Conditional Approval” after finding that such device or devices do not pose such unacceptable risks. Producers of consumer-grade routers are encouraged to submit an application for Conditional Approval using the guidance attached to the determination. Applications should be submitted to conditional-approvals@fcc.gov.
As outlined below, today’s action does not impact a consumer’s continued use of routers they previously acquired. Nor does it prevent retailers from continuing to sell, import, or market router models approved previously through the FCC’s equipment authorization process. By operation of the FCC’s Covered List rules, the restrictions imposed today apply to new device models.
Chairman Carr issued the following statement:
“I welcome this Executive Branch national security determination, and I am pleased that the FCC has now added foreign-produced routers, which were found to pose an unacceptable national security risk, to the FCC’s Covered List. Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will continue do our part in making sure that U.S. cyberspace, critical infrastructure, and supply chains are safe and secure.”
Additional Background:
- The FCC’s Covered List is a list of communications equipment and services that are deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the U.S. or the safety and security of U.S. persons.
- Under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, the Commission can update the Covered List only at the direction of national security authorities. In other words, the Commission cannot update this list on its own and is required to implement determinations that are made by our national security agency experts.
- Equipment on the Covered List (“covered” equipment) is prohibited from getting FCC equipment authorization. Most electronic devices (including consumer-grade routers) require FCC equipment authorization prior to importation, marketing, or sale in the U.S. Covered equipment is banned from receiving new equipment authorizations, preventing new devices from entering the U.S. market.
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency encourages organizations to use the Covered List for risk management analysis in their regulatory compliance efforts.
- Following a similar National Security Determination in December, and a follow-up Determination in January, the FCC recently added the following to the Covered List: “Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country†† —except, (a) UASand UAS critical components included on the Defense Contract Management Agency’s (DCMA’s) Blue UAS Cleared List, until January 1, 2027,# (b) UAS critical components that qualify as “domestic end products” under the Buy American Standard, 48 CFR 25.101(a), until January 1, 2027; and (c) devices which have been granted a Conditional Approval by DoW or DHS—and all communications and video surveillance equipment and services listed in Section 1709(a)(1) of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (Pub. L. 118-159)”.
What does this mean?
- New devices on the Covered List, such as foreign-made consumer-grade routers, are prohibited from receiving FCC authorization and are therefore prohibited from being imported for use or sale in the U.S. This update to the Covered List does not prohibit the import, sale, or use of any existing device models the FCC previously authorized.
- This action does not affect any previously-purchased consumer-grade routers. Consumers can continue to use any router they have already lawfully purchased or acquired.
- Producers of consumer-grade routers that receive Conditional Approval from DoW or DHS can continue to receive FCC equipment authorizations. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit applications to conditional-approvals@fcc.gov
For more information, please see our FAQ page.
Only a third of Americans are supportive of data centers, which is less than their support of building a stadium or airport near their home, said Chris Jordan, the program manager of AI and innovation at the National League of Cities.
“Then if you ask that third of people, what if we increased your electricity bills by $10 a month? That number of supporters is basically split in half already,” Jordan said.
Jordan joined Moderator Chris Seidt and CTC Technology & Energy Principal Analyst and Market Intelligence Specialist Jacob Levin for a conversation on the landscape of data centers, including both the economic promises and pressure to move quickly. At the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors’ webinar Monday, the panelists spoke about residents’ concerns on environmental impact and community cost.
From Paul Bunyan Communications…
Paul Bunyan Communications will be expanding its all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, to over 2,400 more locations in Aitkin County this year.
This expansion in central Aitkin County includes the cities of McGregor, Palisade, and Tamarack along with areas of Clark, Haugen, Libby, Logan, McGregor, Shamrock, and Workman Townships.
Once the new all-fiber optic network is operational, homes and businesses can get fast, dependable GigaZone™ Internet and WiFi built to keep every device connected. Voice services, including unlimited local and long-distance will also be available. Business customers will gain access to Managed IT Business Services like VOIP, Disaster Backup and Recovery, and Network Management. In addition, Paul Bunyan Communications is an authorized DIRECTV dealer and certified Apple Service Center. There is no membership fee to join the cooperative. membership begins when you subscribe to GigaZone™ Internet or local phone service.
Construction will take place over the summer with services expected to be available by winter. To get connected, residents and businesses need to sign up for service before construction leaves the area. Sign up online, over the phone, or in person at our Grand Rapids Customer Service & Technology Center. To check to see if a specific location is within an expansion area and sign up for services, visit https://paulbunyan.net/
“We’re excited to share our plans to expand into additional areas of Aitkin County, bringing gigabit broadband to more residents and businesses,” said Chad Bullock, CEO and General Manager of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Reliable internet access is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. Our cooperative remains committed to delivering this essential service to communities across northern Minnesota.”
“This project represents a major service upgrade for these areas,” said Leo Anderson, Chief Technology Officer of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Without true high-speed internet, everyday tasks, whether for work, school, or business, can be extremely challenging. Our all-fiber optic network delivers fast, reliable connectivity with speeds up to 10 Gig, and it will be a game changer for these communities.”
From Paul Bunyan Communications…
Paul Bunyan Communications will be expanding its all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, to over 600 more locations in Itasca and St. Louis County this year across five townships.
This project includes areas south and west of the city of Cook including parts of the following townships: Alango, Carpenter, Field, Sturgeon, and an unorganized township east of Carpenter.
Once the new all-fiber optic network is operational, homes and businesses can get fast, dependable GigaZone™ Internet and WiFi built to keep every device connected. Voice services, including unlimited local and long-distance will also be available. Business customers will gain access to Managed IT Business Services like VOIP, Disaster Backup and Recovery, and Network Management. In addition, Paul Bunyan Communications is an authorized DIRECTV dealer and certified Apple Service Center. There is no membership fee to join the cooperative. membership begins when you subscribe to GigaZone™ Internet or local phone service.
Construction will take place over the summer with services expected to be available by winter. To get connected, residents and businesses need to sign up for service before construction leaves the area. Sign up online, over the phone, or in person at our Grand Rapids Customer Service & Technology Center. To check to see if a specific location is within an expansion area and sign up for services, visit https://paulbunyan.net/
“Expanding our all-fiber optic network into more rural areas around our current service territory reflects our long-standing commitment to the region,” said Chad Bullock, CEO and General Manager of Paul Bunyan Communications. “Access to reliable, high-quality internet is essential for economic growth, education, and quality of life. As a cooperative, we continue to invest in our region to bring more homes and businesses have the connectivity they need to succeed.”
“Our 2026 expansion marks another important step in extending the reach of our all-fiber optic network,” said Leo Anderson, Chief Technology Officer of Paul Bunyan Communications. “By delivering fast, reliable connectivity with the capacity to scale for future needs, we’re making sure residents and businesses have the tools they need to thrive, today and for years to come.”
This project is made possible through the State of Minnesota, Department of Employment & Economic Development, Low-Density Population Broadband Infrastructure Development Grant Program. This project is estimated to cost $7,810,355, with the State of Minnesota’s Low-Population Density Program grant contributing $3,924,157, Paul Bunyan Communications investing $2,203,928, Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) investing $1,000,000, St. Louis County investing $583,250, Alango Township $41,200, Field Township $17,800, and Sturgeon Township $40,000.
Bluepeak, a leading provider of high-speed fiber internet across Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Texas, and Wyoming, is proud to announce its expansion into East Grand Forks, Minnesota. This investment brings next-generation Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) internet to homes and businesses, strengthening the city’s digital infrastructure and supporting its growth in an increasingly connected world.
Some industry news from NewsWire…
Mereo Fiber, a leading national provider of bulk connectivity solutions for multifamily communities, today announced the completion of two strategic acquisitions that further expand its national platform and strengthen its position as one of the industry’s premier at-scale bulk connectivity and infrastructure providers.
The company acquired Data Stream Incorporated, a Minnesota-based provider of managed Wi-Fi and streaming content services, in early February 2026, and Xcelerate Networks, a managed connectivity provider serving multifamily and senior living communities across the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Texas, and the Southeast, in March 2026.
This milestone solidifies Mereo Fiber’s role as a pure-play bulk connectivity platform delivering reliable, high-performance internet infrastructure to multifamily, single-family-for-rent, HOA, and senior living communities nationwide.
The West Central Tribune reports…
The Willmar City Council will consider two agreements for the Willmar Connect initiative during its meeting on Monday, March 16.
Other items on the agenda include approval of several capital improvement projects and two land agreements.
Willmar Connect is the city initiative to construct a more than $25 million city-wide, city-owned fiber optic network. Hometown Fiber has been contracted to manage the network and various internet service providers will pay fees to operate on the network. It is expected that the fees will pay the debt service and interest on the bonds issued by the city for construction of the network.
The council will consider an amendment to the Willmar Connect construction services contract with Bolton & Menk, expanding the existing agreement to address additional professional service needs as the project transitions into construction.
The council on Oct. 7, 2024, approved a professional services contract with Bolton & Menk for phase one of Willmar Connect and amended that contract April 21, 2025, to assist with right-of-way easements in specific areas. The total spent for those services was $503,000.
According to the March 16 agenda materials posted on the city website, the amended contract adds developing contract documents and revisions, construction services, GPS services as the project is constructed and recording the plans at a cost not to exceed approximately $520,000, for a total cost of a little more than $1 million.
The second agreement related to Willmar Connect is a professional services agreement with Hometown Fiber for construction oversight, technical consulting and Network Operations Center planning services for phase one of the project at a cost not to exceed $400,000.
According to the agenda materials, capital improvement projects to be considered by the council on Monday are replacement of the Blue Line Arena roof at the Willmar Civic Center at a cost of approximately $264,000, reconstruction of the Iverson Park lift station at a cost of approximately $549,000, approving plans and specifications for the reconstruction of Fourth Street Southwest and the purchase of a dump truck and snow removal equipment at a cost of approximately $298,000.
The council will also consider approving a professional services agreement with Donohue and Associates for the Jennie-O Turkey Store nutrient removal project in the amount of $99,755. The project includes the design of nutrient removal using biology to remove phosphorus in the industrial clarifier instead of chemicals. This is a more efficient process in the industrial treatment conducted by the Willmar Wastewater Treatment Plant and also provides long-term cost savings for the city.