Lismore Telephone and Nobles County kick of FTTP project funded by ReConnect and MN State Grants

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The Worthington Globe…

Many local companies are working together to bring enhanced broadband services to underserved, rural Nobles County residents, using approximately 637 miles of fiber to provide high-speed internet to 1,550 households and sites.

Bill Loonan, general manager of Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company, met with Nobles County commissioners and other project stakeholders Wednesday morning in Bigelow to kick off the Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) project.

They are working on a project in the area…

[Nobles County Board Chairman Gene] Metz said Nobles County invested $4 million into this project — money set aside from wind production tax revenues the county received.

“Our counties decided to spend their production tax to bring that service to everybody in the rural area,” Metz said.

Total project costs amount to $27.4 million. Funding for the project consists of 50% loan and 50% grant, with $13.7 million requested through grants and $5.7 million requested through loans. An additional $8 million is a cash substitution amount for the loan portion.

Lismore Cooperative applied for and received a grant of $19.4 million from the Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Another grant was received through the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant program. In all, $208,598 was awarded specifically for the FTTP project in Bigelow.

More details…

The total FTTP project cost for Bigelow alone adds up to $695,328. The project area encompasses about 4.16 miles of buried fiber that will serve 113 locations, of which 19 are unserved and 94 are underserved.

Nobles County has awarded $35,000 toward the Bigelow project and the City of Bigelow has funded $15,000. The FTTP network is aimed at bridging the digital divide in the rural city of Bigelow.

OBD BEAD Final Proposal meeting in Hutchinson MN: appreciation for OBD, frustration with the process

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Today I attended an in-person version of the MN Office of Broadband Development Update: BEAD Final Proposal and upcoming meeting held yesterday. For the PPTs and great detail, I recommend you check yesterday’s post. Today I just took note of update and questions from the attendees. There weren’t many of us there, but it is the Friday before Labor Day weekend so I give a nod of appreciation for OBD for hosting and for the attendees for showing up.

The purpose of the meeting is to let folks know that the BEAD Final Proposal is now available online and folks have one week to make comments. So there was limited wiggle room with the in-person event date. There are more meetings next week:

  • Tuesday Sept. 2, 9—10am, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), Owatonna, 525 Florence Ave, Owatonna, MN.
  • Tuesday Sept. 2, 3:30—4:30pm, Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NWMF), Bemidji, 201 3rd Street NW Bemidji, MN.
    • Note: Attendees, please plan to find street parking.
  • Wednesday Sept. 3, 9—10am, West Central Initiative Foundation (WCIF), Fergus Falls, 1000 Western Ave, Fergus Falls, MN.
    • Note: Attendees, please park in the part of the lot on the south side of the building.
  • Wednesday Sept. 3, 3—4pm, Northspan, Duluth, 202 West Superior Street, Suite 600, Duluth, MN.
    • Note: Attendees, this is located in the in the WesternBank building. Parking can be found on the street, the Holiday Center, or in the Duluth Transit Center.

Notes and audio from the meeting:

(**The audio gets better after the first minute.)

Offie of Broadband Development is working on:

  • Working on county maps
  • Working on interactive maps – hopefully will be done by Tuesday
  • Reach out if you want specific data points
  • A future line extension program – which will be announced soon. (That is an area where the legislature could invest.)
  • Recognizing that while BEAD may not be perfect, it will get broadband to some folks who need it.

In attendance: two providers, an engineering company, two from OBD and me.

Questions:

  • What will happen to surplus funds?
    Not sure. We are coming up with best and broadest use of funding for infrastructure that will support broadband in Minnesota. Do you have creative ideas for building infrastructure? This surplus might be able to go to those creative ideas. Maybe we need to update towers or other infrastructure.
  • We were awarded ReConnect but have yet to see the money. Do you think the BEAD process will be smoother?
    Once MN gets the OK, MN will be in charge of working with providers. We have built a team that is prepared to smooth the path. We are hopeful. We need a timeline and license number, then we can help. Make sure any applications have “broadband” written on the top of any applications. Broadband is a priority and so many offices are so busy.
    We are on a reimbursement process so we are invested in getting things done.
  • Does NTIA know why the tack rate for the grants was so low?
    One issue is that this became a lower bid option.
    There are people getting left behind. OBD has tried to explain the issue to NTIA with the data and lessons we’ve learned through the Line Extension Program.
    Another issue is that anyone could claim to be a priority project.
  • Minnesota and some other states are challenged with the lower population density areas.
  • Minnesota has a great reputation – has that helped?
    Not as much as we would have liked.
  • Smaller providers are willing to agree to a less than excellent agreement to get to the locations they want to serve. But they aren’t able to be at the table.
    OBD has tried to talk to the NTIA about that issue. Some folks have seen this as “free money” but it isn’t. We are grateful for the providers who have applied given restrictions.

Observations from the August (2025) MN Broadband Task Force – broadband is essential for farm business planning

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Tri State Neighbor reports on the August meeting of the MN Broadband Task Force…

The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband took its conversation into the heart of rural Minnesota, holding its August meeting at Farmfest.

Around the table were state officials, representatives internet provider companies, and community advocates – people who know firsthand the challenges of connecting farms, small towns and rural businesses to reliable, high-speed internet.

They heard from interesting panelists in the agricultural community…

From an agricultural finance perspective, Paul Kohls of Compeer Financial sees broadband as foundational to farm business planning.

“Whether it’s accessing real-time markets, running precision ag equipment, or keeping up with compliance requirements, farms today run on data,” Kohls said. “And if the connection’s not there, you’re at a disadvantage before you even start.”

Panelists echoed that point, emphasizing that broadband isn’t just about streaming video, it’s about enabling farmers to run equipment, monitor livestock, and communicate with buyers without leaving the farm.

Maki said rural communities need to be part of the planning process, and the board continues to update maps of service areas. Funding decisions are based on mapping of underserved areas.

MN Office of Broadband Development Update: BEAD Final Proposal and upcoming meetings

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A lot of activity from the MN Office of Broadband Development today, much of what I’m posting is duplicative today but it’s nice to have each communication for the archive. Also, it’s been a busy summer (and beyond) for the staff and these are the products of that hard work…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Draft of MN BEAD Final Proposal, available for public comment
  • BEAD Final Proposal Information Sessions, online + in-person
  • Broadband news and events

Draft of MN BEAD Final Proposal, available for public comment

The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development (OBD) has drafted and posted the draft of the Final Proposal, as required under the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD). Upon receipt and consideration of comments to this document, the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development will submit this document for consideration to the National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA), the administrators of BEAD, including the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce on September 4.

The Final Proposal and its attachments are available now on the OBD BEAD webpage. 

Submit a Public Comment on Minnesota’s BEAD Final Proposal no later than Wednesday September 3:

The OBD will be offering the following Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal Information Sessions to provide an overview of the draft of the Final Proposal, steps for public comment, and next steps for BEAD in Minnesota. Information will also be posted to the OBD BEAD webpage.

Open to the public to attend, and no registration required, regional in-person Final Proposal Information Sessions are scheduled for:

  • Friday Aug. 29, 10—11am, Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF), Hutchinson, 15 3rd Ave NW Hutchinson, MN.
    • Note: Attendees, please plan to find street parking.
  • Tuesday Sept. 2, 9—10am, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), Owatonna, 525 Florence Ave, Owatonna, MN.
  • Tuesday Sept. 2, 3:30—4:30pm, Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NWMF), Bemidji, 201 3rd Street NW Bemidji, MN.
    • Note: Attendees, please plan to find street parking.
  • Wednesday Sept. 3, 9—10am, West Central Initiative Foundation (WCIF), Fergus Falls, 1000 Western Ave, Fergus Falls, MN.
    • Note: Attendees, please park in the part of the lot on the south side of the building.
  • Wednesday Sept. 3, 3—4pm, Northspan, Duluth, 202 West Superior Street, Suite 600, Duluth, MN.
    • Note: Attendees, this is located in the in the WesternBank building. Parking can be found on the street, the Holiday Center, or in the Duluth Transit Center.

OBD will also be holding an online event for Tribal partners on Wednesday September 3.

Questions on events should be emailed to deed.broadband@state.mn.us.

Broadband news and events

From Office of Broadband Development: Minnesota Releases Draft Proposed Federal Broadband Funding Package

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today released the state’s draft final proposal for using federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funds to expand broadband availability.

The proposal would extend broadband access to 75,000 Minnesota homes and businesses, covering every location eligible for BEAD funding in the state. DEED is accepting public comment on the proposal for seven days, after which it will finalize and submit the plan to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for approval before the end of the year. Construction could begin in late spring or early summer 2026.

“Fast broadband will be a welcome resource for the thousands of Minnesota residents and businesses who will soon have access,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. “This funding will help us connect thousands of Minnesota families and businesses to the internet in new, important ways.”

DEED’s proposal will use an estimated $381 million in federal BEAD grants and utilize a mixture of broadband technology, with more than half of covered locations utilizing fiber optic. Eligible locations are classified by the BEAD program as unserved (with broadband speeds slower than 25 megabits [Mbps] per second download and 3 Mbps upload) or underserved (with speeds slower than 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload).

“We are excited that 75,000 Minnesotans will soon have faster broadband because of BEAD,” said Office of Broadband Development Executive Director Bree Maki. “We are grateful to our internet service provider partners for their hard work and commitment to the Minnesotans we all serve. We will continue working hard, together, to make smart, effective investments so every Minnesotan can access broadband.”

The Office of Broadband Development will host regional, in-person informational sessions on the draft final proposal over the next week. These sessions will provide an overview of the proposal, steps for public comment and next steps for BEAD in Minnesota.

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. Find out how DEED delivers for Minnesota by visiting the DEED website,  JoinUsMn.com, CareerForceMN.com or follow us on X.

Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal Virtual Information Session: video and notes

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More than 80 people attended the Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal Virtual Information Session today. It was a lot of information. I have the video and PPTs below. I have mostly taken notes on action items and deadlines.

Most importantly: The draft of the Final Proposal, attachments, and form for public comment are available on the webpage, under the first dropdown titled, NOW AVAILABLE: BEAD Final Proposal + Public Comment:  https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/bead/

Action items:

  • Proposal is due Sep 4. The OBD will work with NTIA for 30 days to finalize the report. NTIA gets the final say.
  • Public comments are welcome over the next 7 days. There will be listening sessions around the state over the next week – where folks can make public comments. Mail in comments are not accepted due to time constraints.
  • There will be a similar session available for tribal communities.

Questions/Comments:

  • Have providers been notified if they have received awards or will not receive those they applied for?
    OBD has been working with providers. We have 24 subgrantee entities who will be awarded funds. We will post the specifics soon.
    There are a few projects that will probably not win any locations. We have not notified them yet. We are still talking to applicants.
    A tricky aspect is that even awarding now – is preliminary until NTIA approves.
  • So providers should know if they were going to receive an award?
    Sounds like it. They have been negotiating.
  • How is build out to CAIs captured in the Final Plan?
    They were included as regular BSLs – but otherwise did not focus on community anchor institutions.
  • How can we help in the comment period? What info can we share? What can we say?
    We will consider comments. But we can’t change much. There’s not much wiggle room.
    We got 60 letters of support of OBD for the final proposal.
    Not sure where the letters will end up – but we want to hear from you.
  • For those that were contacted, are we to expect an additional letter or email from OBD to follow up?
    We want to get through the comment period and then contact folks. We want to talk about what to expect if you get funding because we will be using federal not state rules.
  • Could you tell us what the process between the state and the feds will be in the next 3 months?
    There is a 90-day review process, which will include NIST.
    We assume there will be some back and forth.
    We will share info when we can.
    We met with them earlier this week. We are getting through the processes.
  • Can you screen share to show where the awardees are listed?
  • Sorry to be that guy, but does it help to show up for the public comment sessions in person?
    Yes

MN Office of Broadband Development speaks with Broadband Breakfast

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

Connecting everyone to robust broadband service remains a top policy goal in the Land of Lakes.

While federal changes to the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program have created new hurdles for Minnesota’s providers and communities, the state remains committed to its ambitious broadband agenda.

On Wednesday, in a discussion with Gary Bolton, president and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, Minnesota Office of Broadband Development Executive Director Bree Maki explained some of the progress and challenges Minnesota is facing in broadband deployment.

OPPORTUNITY: Funding from NCOA for older adult digital literacy

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Sorry – I misread the deadline. It was Aug 22, NOT open Aug 22 to Oct 1.

The National Council on Aging reports on the opportunity…

The National Council on Aging and AT&T invite senior centers and community-based organizations serving older adults to apply for a new funding opportunity aimed at improving older adults’ skills and confidence in using technology. This initiative helps older adults feel more comfortable with everyday technology, staying connected with friends and family, finding information online, using mobile devices, and protecting themselves from online scams.

More details…

Key highlights of the collaboration with AT&T to help older adults use the internet safely and confidently:

  • Each participating senior center and community-based organization will receive training, materials, and  curriculum to provide in-person workshops and one-to-one support to improve digital literacy.

  • Participating organizations may apply for one of three tiers of funding, each tied to a specific impact goal based on the number of older adult participants they will engage in digital literacy programming. Organizations can select the tier that best matches their capacity and community reach. Funding amounts range from $4,500 to $9,000

  • Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 22, 2025 and the project will begin on Oct.1, 2025

  • Senior centers and community-based organizations in all states are eligible to apply. Those in AT&T’s key U.S. service areas are especially encouraged to apply. (See the map below for AT&T’s key coverage areas.)

Minnesota is not shown as an AT&T service region on their map…

AI applications for rural broadband providers

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 NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association just released an interesting paper on AI use for rural broadband providers…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the product of high-speed computer analysis of vast data sets that results in
predictive guidance for users. It can be used across a wide range of industries and applications, including
broadband network management; medicine and health care; writing and content creation; and customer
service support. AI represents both an opportunity and challenge for rural broadband providers and the
communities they serve. AI promises efficiencies and other gains but also implicates privacy, data security
and labor market considerations.
This paper provides rural broadband operators with a practical introduction to AI and its applied use for
telecommunications and other industries in rural settings. We will explain fundamental AI concepts and
terminology while highlighting specific examples of how rural ISPs and other businesses can use AI across
business operations, including customer service and administrative management. At the same time, we will
explore practical considerations about costs, customer perceptions and the need for thoughtful AI policies to
help rural providers navigate these challenges successfully. By serving as both users and enablers of AI, rural
ISPs can contribute significantly to the economic development and quality of life in the areas they serve.

AT&T acquires wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar for $23 billion

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The Minnesota Star Tribune reports…

AT&T will spend $23 billion to acquire certain wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar, a significant expansion of AT&T’s low- and mid-band coverage networks.

AT&T said Tuesday that the licenses cover virtually every U.S. market — more than 400 total — which the company plans to deploy as soon as possible to lure more home internet subscribers and meet its growth goals.

The deal also fortifies the long-term services agreement between AT&T and EchoStar, enabling the latter to operate as a hybrid mobile network operator providing wireless service under its Boost Mobile brand. AT&T will be the primary network services partner to EchoStar.

Shares of EchoStar, based in Englewood, Colorado, soared 76% at the opening bell Tuesday.

In May 2025, I reported that AT&T also announced plans to acquire Lumen’s mass market fiber business.

Essentia Health asks Congress to extend Medicare coverage for telehealth services

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The Grand Rapids Herald Review reports…

Last week, Essentia Health joined a coalition of health care organizations calling on Congress to extend Medicare coverage for telehealth services before it expires on Sept. 30. In a letter to Congressional leaders, Essentia urged either a permanent extension or, at minimum, a two-year extension, be established to provide stability and clarity for patients, providers and the broader health care system.

Essentia Health focuses on the need for telehealth in rural areas…

As a health care system serving primarily rural communities, Essentia has leveraged telehealth to deliver primary and specialty care to patients who would otherwise have to travel long distances to receive care.

Essentia serves more than 12,300 patients on average per month through telehealth services, with providers conducting an average of 15,000 telehealth visits or consults per month.

OPPORTUNITY: Presidential AI Challenge – a sort of hackfest for students

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This information comes from the MN Department of Education newsletter for librarians, but I thought there might be some readers who are librarians, community educators or tech/robotics coaches with an interest…

The Presidential AI Challenge is a national challenge where K-12 youth, educators, mentors, and community teams come together to solve real-world problems in their communities using AI-powered solutions, with an opportunity to showcase their solutions at a national level.

The challenge is open to youth teams in kindergarten through grade 12; each team must have a supervising adult such as a parent, mentor, educator, or community leader. Educator teams are also eligible. Registration opens September 2025.

Your library can support the challenge by:

  • sharing the challenge with your networks—schools, youth programs, educators, parents, and community leaders.
  • encouraging local schools, afterschool and out-of-school programs, or youth-serving organizations to participate and/or support team formation.
  • promoting registration via newsletters, social media, and events.

AARP collect stories on how seniors are using broadband and the impact of losing ACP funds

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AARP reports on how low-income former Affordable Connectivity Program recipients use the Internet…

When the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended in April 2024, a well-known financial juggling act ensued.

Low-income recipients, now left to pay for their internet services without assistance from the federal program, shuffled payments, negotiated discounts, haggled, and stretched their limited financial resources to remain connected, a recent AARP study showed.

Using interviews, in-home observations, and video diaries to understand how people adapted once the $30 monthly benefit disappeared, the study highlighted how former ACP recipients reacted to the loss of help with a utility that has become commonplace in nearly every societal activity.  Researchers conducted interviews with a dozen former ACP recipients age 50-plus, including six who were interviewed in 2023.

Here’s a collection of one of their videos. There are several in the article.

EVENTS Aug 29-Sep 3: Office of Broadband Development: BEAD Program, Public Comment Tour

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Office of Broadband Development: Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Public Comment Tour

BEAD Final Proposal Information Sessions, online + in-person

The OBD will be offering the following Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal Information Sessions to provide an overview of the draft of the Final Proposal, steps for public comment, and next steps for BEAD in Minnesota. Information will also be posted to the OBD BEAD webpage.

Open to the public to attend, and no registration required, regional in-person Final Proposal Information Sessions are scheduled for:

  • Friday Aug. 29, 10—11am, Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF), Hutchinson, 15 3rd Ave NW Hutchinson, MN.
  • Tuesday Sept. 2, 9—10am, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), Owatonna, 525 Florence Ave, Owatonna, MN.
  • Tuesday Sept. 2, 3:30—4:30pm, Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NWMF), Bemidji, 201 3rd Street NW Bemidji, MN.
    • Note: Attendees, please plan to find street parking.
  • Wednesday Sept. 3, 9—10am, West Central Initiative Foundation (WCIF), Fergus Falls, 1000 Western Ave, Fergus Falls, MN.
    • Note: Attendees, please park in the part of the lot on the south side of the building.
  • Wednesday Sept. 3, 3—4pm, Northspan, Duluth, 202 West Superior Street, Suite 600, Duluth, MN.
    • Note: Attendees, this is located in the in the WesternBank building. Parking can be found on the street, the Holiday Center, or in the Duluth Transit Center.

OBD will also be holding an online event for Tribal partners on Wednesday September 3.

Questions on events should be emailed to deed.broadband@state.mn.us.

Office of Broadband Development visits ECE in Pine City (Pine County)

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Pine County News reports…

Along with staff from East Central Energy (ECE), officials from the Minnesota Legislature and the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development met in Pine City for a site visit on July 17 to observe speed testing and review progress tied to state-funded broadband grants as part of the ongoing ECE Fiber broadband expansion project.

The visit marked a significant milestone in the cooperative’s broadband buildout, as it completed a crucial step for the December 2022 awards given through the Minnesota Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program, administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The grants totaled nearly $15M and enabled three large-scale broadband projects in Isanti, Kanabec, and Pine counties. Designed to bring reliable high-speed fiber internet to 7,584 serviceable points, the project includes some of the hardest-to-reach areas in east central Minnesota.

State support and oversight

Senator Aric Putman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development, and Representative Nathan Nelson (District 11B) joined the site visit to better understand the progress of rural broadband deployment by electric cooperatives. Also present were Bree Maki and Mike Wimmer from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development, whose leadership has been vital to ECE’s broadband success and advocacy. The group observed performance testing and mapping verifications by Connected Nation, the state’s contracted assessor, to ensure compliance with network speed and coverage requirements.

…

The ECE Fiber network now spans over 2,200 miles of fiber, with more than 5,000 members already connected and additional installations in progress. So far, approximately 300 businesses have been connected. Since launching the initiative, ECE has created 45 new jobs, including technicians, designers, and support staff.  This continues to strengthen the local economy while building long-term technical capacity within the region.

To leverage existing electric infrastructure, ECE designed its fiber network to follow its electric lines (approximately 60% overhead and 40% underground). Because the cooperative uses non-conductive fiber lines, installation can run closer to neutral wires, minimizing the need for new poles or underground components and further lowering construction expenses.