From Benton Institute for Broadband & Society…
Rural broadband operators are navigating a moment of real change. AI is reshaping how networks are used, how they’re managed, and how providers can stay competitive. But sorting useful strategies from empty buzzwords isn’t easy.
A panel of industry leaders will share proven approaches to using AI and automation to improve network efficiency, deliver better customer experiences, and open new revenue streams.
The National Tribal Telecommunications Association hosted the 2026 Tribal Broadband Midwest Summit in Minnesota. It was fun to hear the stories from Minnesota and learn from what’s happening in other areas, such as Arizona. It’s clear to see that data center (emphasis on micro-data centers!) and AI are hot topics. Funding, and what’s happening with BEAD and other federal funding, is also a hot topic, although there are federal funds that are available exclusively to tribal areas. Shared barriers included questions about what may happen with federal funding, inflation and balancing POTS (landlines) with LEO (satellites).
Also very interesting to hear about the tribal perspective on sovereignty, which includes:
Welcome by Bill Rudnicki, Tribal Administrator, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
Welcome – Godfrey Enjady
$500M for tribal broadband – how do we do it?
Panel – Connecting Minnesota: Partnerships, Policy, and the Path to Border-to-Border Broadband
MTA (Brent Christensen) and OBD (Bree Maki tell a Minnesota Broadband Story
Q: Where’s the tribal engagement?
11 tribal national in MN. Some tribes serve themselves and some are served by MTA members. MTA is working on building better roads to work together.
OBD also reaches out to tribal areas and attend meetings. The MN Broadband Task Force includes a tribal member.
Tribal areas can maintain sovereignty and work with consultants
New Mexico is also doing a good job.
Want to know more about what Paul Bunyan Communications is doing.
State workforce development is important.
MTA has been able to work with almost everyone in the last 16 years. Except RS Fiber.
Q: Has MN provided communities with AI policies that can work? Such as Open AI or ChatGTP.
Last Leg Sessions, we realized we could not have onerous AI laws and get BEAD funding. But still waiting for definition of “onerous.”
We had 9 AI bills introduced last session and they were ready-aim-fire bills. We need meaningful policy but we need to be mindful and purposeful. We need a Task Force with stakeholders.
There are lots of experts in the room.
Last words:
Just Released: NTIA Funding Opportunities/Regulatory Update with Chris
Q: It can be difficult, especially going straight through FCC instead of a State Office buffer.
Q: What about reporting?
Main thing is reporting to FCC broadband data collection, which involves a lot of things.
ETC designation for tribes is important – making small steps
Sustainability funding
Broadband: A Look at the Minnesota Model
Q: How is EHP (Environmental and Historic Preservation) complex in tribal areas?
The challenge comes where you wait and aren’t sure what you might be disturbing with environmental concerns – for example prehistoric grounds that have not been previously disturbed.
Q: Is there a state support for a middle mile to step in and help with rights-of-way?
OBD can help convene potential partners.
Q: Are you looking to change the state speed goals?
It was aggressive when it was set. The goal is 100/20 by 2026 and we won’t make it. There is an appetite to raise the speed goals and it’s up to associations to encourage the legislature.
Nuts and Bolts of Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP)
Panel: Advanced Business Models for Sustainable Tribal Networks
Panel: Third Parties Can Ruin a Day
Tribal Broadband Partnership Success Story: Shakopee Mdewakaton Sioux Community and Nuvera
Q: Large providers can be difficult. Glad to hear a story of a good partnership? How long are your contracts?
3 year auto-renewal
Q: Have you worked with 2.5 spectrum?
We do have spectrum – and we’ll use it while we can’t get fiber to a location
Q: Have you thought about working with other tribes? (Branching out from Shakopee)
Currently we are not planning that – bt maybe in next 20 years.
From the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society…
Join the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society on July 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET for a webinar about how affordable, reliable high-speed internet is a foundational prerequisite for participation in modern-day life.
A new paper entitled The Blueprint for Equitable Digital Participation by Public Knowledge, UnidosUS, and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA)—the culmination of a multi-year research effort to ensure that the voices of community members are prominently elevated in critical broadband policy debates—centers the lived experiences of those directly impacted by digital inequities.
This webinar, featuring the authors of The Blueprint for Equitable Digital Participation and leading experts in the digital equity field, will offer ideas for how policymakers can ensure low- to middle-income households across America can gain and sustain access to high-speed, reliable internet, connected devices, and digital skills.
Groups representing participants in the E-Rate program are asking federal regulators to reconsider their decision to enforce a mandatory electronic bidding portal.
The Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition and CW Consulting, which represent and work with schools and libraries that participate in the program, said they and others weren’t given enough time to comment on the new rule before it was adopted.
Nextlink Internet has expanded its agreement with Aviat Networks (NASDAQ: AVNW) to deploy microwave, E-Band, and multi-band wireless transport systems across Nextlink’s 12-state service area, according to a press release from Aviat Networks.
The deployment is tied to Nextlink’s participation in the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, for which the company has secured more than $180 million in funding. Nextlink has also previously received $429.2 million through the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). The company recently activated what it described as the first wireless tower funded under the BEAD program.
Nextlink serves more than 100,000 subscribers across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wyoming, Louisiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. The company operates over 2,600 active towers and states it has invested more than $1 billion in its network to date.
Broadband Breakfast reports…
The Senate unanimously approved a bill Thursday aimed at strengthening oversight of the government’s broadband funding map.
The MAP for Broadband Funding Act, passed by voice vote, would require the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a formal inquiry into the accuracy, functionality, and usability of the Broadband Funding Map, a tool created to track federally funded broadband deployment projects.
I’ve reported on this story earlier, but I thought AOL did a nice job with perspective. In the Cities, we have more options than some rural areas, and this is a great example of why choices are important…
If you live in an urban or well-populated area, you likely get your internet from one of the major internet service providers (ISPs) such as Verizon or T-Mobile. Those in rural areas, however, likely have to rely on smaller ISPs, with fewer options than urban areas because major companies can’t justify expanding their services to cover sparsely populated regions.
So, while urban residents will likely have at least a backup option if they aren’t happy with a provider’s services, that’s not a luxury that more rural folk can rely on. Spare a thought, then, for residents in rural Minnesota who have lost access to the internet after RadioLink Internet (RLI) abruptly ceased service without any warning on June 1, 2026. Some customers initially thought the outage was temporary, but it turned out that the company had also shut down its website and phone lines. RLI states that it sent out an email to affected customers, but some residents say they never received any notification of the abrupt closure.
RLI serviced about 5,000 square miles in southern Minnesota. In an email, the company’s owner, Daniel Petsinger, told local news station KTTC that the sudden closure was due to a dwindling customer base and changes in the political climate. The company has filed for bankruptcy, leaving customers in the lurch.
This is billed at a Hackathon 2.0, happening in Red Wing so I can’t resist sharing it…
Hosted by: IgniteMNRed Wing, MN
From problem to prototype in 120 minutes
Join us for a fast-paced, hands-on innovation sprint where you’ll learn how to combine AI, design thinking, visual communication, and rapid prototyping to transform ideas into actionable solutions—in just two hours.
Whether you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, educator, professional, or simply someone who loves solving problems, this workshop will help you move from inspiration to implementation faster than you thought possible.
During this interactive session, you’ll:
✅ Identify meaningful problems worth solving
✅ Use AI to accelerate brainstorming and idea generation
✅ Apply design thinking techniques to refine solutions
✅ Create visual concepts and prototypes without coding
✅ Test and improve your ideas through rapid feedback
✅ Leave with a tangible concept you can continue developingThis isn’t a lecture. It’s a workshop designed to get you building.
No technical background is required. No coding experience is needed. Just bring your curiosity, creativity, and willingness to experiment.
By the end of the session, you’ll have a better understanding of how AI can serve as a creative partner in innovation—and you’ll walk away with a prototype, action plan, or concept ready for the next step.
Who Should Attend?
- Entrepreneurs and startup founders
- Small business owners
- Nonprofit leaders and staff
- Community builders
- Educators and students
- Innovators and problem-solvers
- Anyone curious about practical uses of AI
What to Bring
- A challenge, problem, or idea you’d like to explore
- A laptop (recommended)
- An open mind
The future belongs to people who can identify problems, leverage technology, and turn ideas into action. Come build something!
The Minnesota Broadband Task Force heard from local providers who are going through the BEAD process and from members of the Office of Broadband Development. It sounds like folks are ready and are (still) waiting for deployment to begin. The Task Force also heard an overview of the Mayo Clinic HOUSES Index, a tool developed to provide individual-level socioeconomic measure with relevancy to broadband and exploration of potential benefits. They have a database that tracks a large number of details based on location and patient (removing identifying info), which means you can get longitudinal information on individuals as well as access based on location. It is used for a number of applications from homelessness to healthcare and could be used to track broadband adoption.
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 May Task Force meeting.
10:05 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. – Presentation featuring BEAD updates and overviews from Christopher Lord, Sr. Director, Government Partnership Opportunities, Mediacom and Kathy Lund, Vice President of Technical Services, Nuvera.
Followed by additional updates from the Office of Broadband Development’s Jennifer Frost, State/Federal Programs and Compliance Manager, and Megan Messerole, Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator. Office of Broadband Development overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD). Continue reading
A Minnesota city recently told a broadband provider what it would cost to run fiber down a single city block: a $63,000 permit fee, plus nearly $29,000 in per-foot charges. More than $90,000, for one block. The provider offered a compromise on how the fiber would be buried. The city refused. So the provider walked away, and that block stayed offline.
That case is documented in the FCC’s public record, and it’s one of the starker ones. But the pattern behind it is common. A fiber route or tower upgrade can clear design, secure financing, and line up a crew, then stall at a local permit counter over fees and timelines that bear little relation to the actual work.
From the Office of Broadband Development…
Wednesday July 8 at 11 a.m. CT., a new session has been added for the Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems).
The session agenda will be posted on the OBD Webinars and Recorded Events webpage under the “Broadband Development Training series” toggle. No registration required and the Teams link to join the session will be included on the agenda.
The session will provide an overview of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Regulatory Program as it relates to broadband infrastructure deployment under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program in Minnesota.
From the Office of Broadband Development…
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
- New session added! Webinar for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program, July 8
- Broadband Task Force, June meeting plans
- OBD in the field
- Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates
- Line Extension Connection Program updates
New session added! Webinar for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program, July 8
Wednesday July 8 at 11 a.m. CT., a new session has been added for the Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems).
The session agenda will be posted on the OBD Webinars and Recorded Events webpage under the “Broadband Development Training series” toggle. No registration required and the Teams link to join the session will be included on the agenda.
The session will provide an overview of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Regulatory Program as it relates to broadband infrastructure deployment under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program in Minnesota.
Broadband Task Force, June meeting plans
The Broadband Task Force will meet on Thursday June 18 at 10 a.m. CT. 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 at the top of the meeting agenda which has been posted along with other information on past meetings on the Broadband Task Force webpage.
OBD in the field
OBD staff have been busy performing site visits across the state for Broadband Grant Program Rounds 9 and 10, and the Line Extension Connection Program Round 4 to ensure infrastructure grant compliance.
Since March, the team has gone on site visits for 24 grantee projects with providers from:
Wiktel, Sytek, Bevcomm, Midco, Woodstock Telephone Company, Meeker Cooperative Light & Power, Arvig (upper photo: Byron Sagen, Construction Manager for Arvig’s Round 9 Border-to-Border Naytahwaush grant project), Spectrum, Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association, East Central Energy (ECE), Albany Mutual Telephone Association (AMTA), Benton Cooperative Telephone Company, Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC), Red River Communications (lower photo: Tom Steinolfson, General Manager and CEO of Red River Communications), Federated REA, Garden Valley Telephone Company (GVT), and CTC.
Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates
Minnesota continues to advance the federal BEAD program forward with steady, thoughtful progress. Alongside ongoing pre-contracting work, including necessary scope adjustments, the state has launched a rebid round. All rebid-eligible locations are available for public viewing on the Minnesota BEAD map.
Updated guidance was released June 16 from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the updated FAQ Version 22 is available on NTIA’s webpage.
Additional information and resources will continued to be posted and updated on OBD BEAD’s webpage ensuring partners have ongoing access to the latest program developments.
Line Extension Connection Program updates
The bidding window for the fast-tracked Round 5 closed May 22, 2026 and submitted bids are under review and initial award offers are being sent.
Registration remains open for residents and businesses for future rounds of the program. For assistance completing the application or to request a paper form to complete, please call 651-259-7610 or email DEED.broadband@state.mn.us.
OBD expects to announce a sixth round of the program with standard timelines using state funds later in 2026.
More information and registration are available on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage.
Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the Department of Commerce announced two new notices of funding opportunity (NOFO): one for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) and one for the Native Entities Grant Program (NEGP), the native entity set-aside under the Digital Equity Act.
Together, these NOFOs will make $790 million available to Tribal and Native communities to advance broadband connectivity on Tribal lands, promote infrastructure availability, and support other related activities.
“The NOFOs announced today build on NTIA’s work to achieve universal broadband availability, including on Tribal lands,” said Arielle Roth, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator. “By reducing unnecessary red tape, increasing flexibility, and maximizing the impact of federal dollars, these NOFOs help Tribal and Native nations focus on connecting their communities, not navigating bureaucracy.”
The application window opens today, June 17, 2026, and closes September 17, 2026. NTIA expects to make awards on a rolling basis beginning in Spring 2027. Additional information is available on NTIA’s BroadbandUSA website, including the TBCP fact sheet and NEGP fact sheet. NTIA will also host a TBCP 3 and NEGP NOFO Launch Webinar on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. You can register here.
These funding opportunities reflect reforms NTIA announced last year to streamline its Tribal broadband programs, reduce red tape for Tribal governments, promote greater flexibility, and better align NTIA’s grant opportunities with the connectivity needs of Tribal communities.
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Mission Area announced a modernization and restructuring effort to strengthen customer service, improve program accessibility, and enhance support for rural communities across the country. This effort aligns with USDA’s broader initiative to modernize operations, increase accountability, and ensure federal resources are positioned where they can deliver the greatest impact.
Rural Development maintains one of the largest field-based presences in the federal government, with more than 3,000 employees serving in over 400 offices throughout rural America. Under this modernization effort, Rural Development will maintain its National Capital Region (NCR) presence to be responsive to Congress, interagency needs, regulatory work, and policy coordination, while relocating select NCR-based positions to St. Louis, Missouri, and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. These new locations will serve as operational hubs supporting loan and grant processing, program management, and maintain our mission of serving rural communities.
“When rural communities collaborate with USDA they deserve a streamlined experience. With this reorganization, that’s exactly what they’ll get,” said Deputy Secretary Stephen A. Vaden. “Realigning Rural Development’s reviews, approvals, and servicing structure, together with significant improvements in the agency’s IT systems, will help rural America achieve more without government getting in the way.”
“Rural Development is, by name and by function, fully focused on the rural communities we serve,” said Todd Lindsey, Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development. “This reorganization injects new attention to our systems and processes that will eliminate unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, improve our ability to engage with our customers, and conduct responsible oversight of federal investments.”
This action follows USDA’s July 24, 2025, announcement outlining the Department’s intent to reorganize around four pillars: aligning workforce size with available resources, relocating resources closer to customers, eliminating excess management layers, and consolidating support functions. Rural Development’s restructuring reflects these priorities and positions the mission area to better meet emerging operational demands while continuing its support for rural America.
Maintaining Strong Field Presence
Program delivery employees in state and regional offices will not be required to relocate, as they already operate in the rural communities they serve. Field staff will continue to lead constituent engagement, stakeholder outreach, and marketing of RD programs. This structure builds on successful models used by national-level RD programs such as Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loans, Multi-Family Housing Guaranteed Loans, the Electric Program, and the Telecom Program, where program funds are administered centrally.
Streamlining Loan and Grant Processing
Rural Development will consolidate loan origination, processing, and servicing functions under one centralized national framework. Current processes has contributed to inconsistent underwriting and costly delays. Centralization will strengthen quality control, reduce delinquency, and protect taxpayer dollars while ensuring borrowers receive consistent, high-quality service.
Improving IT Systems
A key component of this modernization is a significant investment in Rural Development’s IT infrastructure. USDA is launching the transformation of over 130 loan and grant systems that support farmers, ranchers, and rural communities into one modern platform built for the 21st century. This upgrade will enable customers to submit applications, track cases, access records, and resolve issues online 24/7 without staff intervention. Modernized IT will reduce delays created by outdated systems and enhance consistency and speed across programs.
Aligning With Executive Orders
In accordance with USDA’s broader reorganization effort, this restructuring reflects multiple directives focused on government efficiency, workforce optimization, and improved federal service delivery, including initiatives on cost efficiency, hiring reform, and returning federal operations to in-person work.
Together, these changes strengthen Rural Development’s ability to deliver loans, grants, and technical assistance efficiently and effectively—enhancing customer experience, improving program access, and ensuring rural America has a strong and trusted partner in USDA.
OK, these are more broadband-adjacent, but hopefully helpful to some readers from the MN Library Services..
Two New Grant Opportunities
State Library Services is pleased to announce two Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) competitive grant opportunities for Federal Year 2026.
LSTA Professional Development Travel Grants
- $100,000 is available to fund 30 to 75 staff in attending professional development between Fall 2026 and Summer 2027. Visit the LSTA Professional Development Grants page to find instructions and application materials, and a timeline for this grant opportunity. Applications for LSTA Professional Development Travel Grants are due July 24, 2026.
LSTA Literacy Grants
- $300,000 is available to fund projects and activities that improve access to services and information in areas of literacy. Visit the LSTA Literacy Grant page to find instructions and application materials, and a timeline for this grant opportunity. Applications for LSTA Literacy Grants are due July 15, 2026.
To learn more about the current LSTA grant opportunities, please attend an upcoming grant guidance webinar on Monday, June 22, 2026, from 2 to 3 p.m. There is no need to pre-register; just click on the link to attend.
If there are questions or additional information is needed, please contact Maddie Rudawski (maddie.rudawski@state.mn.us), State Library Services, 651-582-8400.