From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

• Connecting One Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit, thank you to speakers and attendees
• Line Extension Connection Program, Round 5 bidding window open
• Broadband Task Force, April meeting recap
• Now available online! Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS

Thank you from OBD to all who attended the Connecting One Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit. We appreciate your time and continued partnership in ensuring all Minnesotans are connected!

The summit brought together national leaders, internet service providers, federal, state, Tribal, and local government partners, and broadband advocates from across Minnesota and provided opportunities to discuss ways we can collaborate as we continue to work to achieve state broadband goals.

Post coming soon! A Connecting One Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit recap will be posted on the DEED blog.

Line Extension Connection Program, Round 5 bidding window open

The Round 5 Provider Bidding Application and Line Extension Program Guide, with guidance for the fast-tracked round, have been posted to the Line Extension Connection Program webpage along with an expected timeline (dates subject to change):

• Bidding Window Opened: April 22, 2026
• Bids Due: May 22, 2026 by 1:30 p.m. CT 

Registration remains open for residents and businesses for future rounds of the Line Extension Connection Program and 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. 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.

Broadband Task Force, April meeting recap

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, left to right: Briana Mumme, Paul McDonald, Melissa Wolf, Marc Johnson, John Twiest, Daniel Lightfoot, Chair Teddy Bekele, Steve Fenske, Brian Hood, Adam Hutchens, Ini Augustine, and Bruce Crane.

The Broadband Task Force met on April 29 during the Connecting One: Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit. This meeting was held in-person and included an overview from Chair Bekele of the Task Force’s work and recommendations from the 2025 annual report and progress on achieving state broadband goals, update from OBD’s Executive Director Bree Maki, and discussion with national leaders how the work in Minnesota compares to work nationally.

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

Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS

Recorded sessions from the 2026 Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems) are now available online and will be added soon to the OBD Webinars and Recorded Events webpage:

• Overview of the Department of Labor and Industry’s involvement with the Safety-Qualified Underground Telecommunications Installer Certification Program.
• Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and the Office of the State Archaeologist joint information session on their work with broadband infrastructure projects.
• Office of Pipeline Safety’s introduction and insight into their work with underground utility damage prevention and involvement with broadband program grantees.
• Review of processes and discussion of updates from State Historic Preservation Office, including how to submit archaeological survey reports as part of review.

Additional 2024 sessions are available from the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Transportation on the OBD Webinars and Recorded Events webpage.

Thank you again to all of the state agency partners for their collaboration and time in putting these resources together for broadband grantees!

The Office of Broadband Development hosted the Connecting One Minnesota-Broadband Meeting. Below are videos and notes from the day.

9:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.  General Sessions

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.  Welcome and Opening Address Keynote Address

• Video from Governor Walz
• Video from Sen Klobuchar – working on accurate maps and making sure subgrantees get the work done or that funding gets passed to another. Talking about ReConnect. Improving the high cost program.
• Video from Sen Smith – need to change speed goals.

9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.  Keynote Address: Julie Tesch, President & CEO, Center for Rural Policy & Development

• Discussion:
• Recently got broadband at home and it has made a big difference
• Broadband and high speed internet is practical hope
• Rural is doing fine – talking about Ben Winchester’s brain gain
• Rural needs better infrastructure if towns are going to grow: housing, water, broadband
• Doing a rural road show later this year

9:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Panel 1: National Broadband Perspective: Insights from Leading Associations

• Panelists will explore what they are seeing nationwide: funding pressures, supply chain and workforce trends, changing federal guidance, and the evolving role of cooperatives, rural ISPs, and community-based providers.
• Moderator: Teresa Ferguson, Sr Director Broadband and Infrastructure Funding, NRTC
• Panelists: Rick Cimerman, Vice President External and State Affairs Lead, NCTA Joshua Seidemann, VP Policy and Industry Innovation, NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association Brian O’Hara, Senior Director Regulatory Affairs – Broadband, NRECA Derrick Owens, Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs, WTA – Advocates for Rural Broadband
• Discussion:
• MN is unique because lots of providers got BEAD funds. BEAD is about finishing the job.
• How quickly can we move forward?
• The fear with BEAD is that some communities will be left behind.
• Areas with better broadband had 213% business growth over others
• Areas where folks thought broadband was strong people felt good about workforce; not true with areas that didn’t feel good about their broadband.
• Need help with middle mile
• Permitting is an issue – local government need more staff.
• Need help with adoption.
• Not expecting more funding
• BEAD projects should not need online funding – we don’t need online funding for our networks. BEAD should be self-sustaining.
• Affordability is another factor. We need a permanent low income fund – maybe reworking USF. ACP met a lot of needs.
• Most adoption gaps are narrowing, except affordability.
• Memory chip have hugely increased in price – that impacts affordability and access.
• Supply chain is biggest disruption to BEAD now.
• Permitting is biggest disruption to BEAD now.
• Easements on private is biggest disruption to BEAD now.
• Rights of Way issue is biggest disruption to BEAD now.
• Get workforce training thinking about telecom/tech in high school.
• Broadband goals/definitions need to keep pace with real world expectations.

10:05am – 10:30 a.m.  Panel 2: Regional Leadership in Action: A Fireside Conversation with State Broadband Directors

• In this fireside conversation, broadband directors from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan will share how they navigate the complexities of federal and state programs while addressing the unique needs of their states.
• Moderator: Kathryn de Wit, Project Director, The Pew Charitable Trusts
• Panelists: Eric Frederick, Chief Connectivity Officer, State of Michigan Alyssa Kenney, State Broadband and Digital Equity Director, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Bree Maki, Executive Director, Minnesota Office of Broadband Development
• Discussion:
• We listen before we plan.
• We are data-driven
• There’s sometimes a mismatch between what a community wants and what a provider is willing to do. BEAD does not solve that problem.
• A challenge in Minnesota is that this is not the Border to Border program.
• BEAD won’t fix everything in Minnesota because the State and Feds have different definitions of success.
• The inconsistencies in BEAD are a problem – especially when rules change.
• Pole attachments is a big issue today – but that changes regularly.
• Certain providers do not believe that the rules apply to them.
• Federal guidance at the 11^th hour is not helpful.

BREAK

10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.  Panel 3: Minnesota Broadband Next Steps: Progress, Priorities, and Pathways Forward

• Panelists will discuss what’s next for Minnesota, building on the momentum from BEAD and federal investments, highlighting local success stories, ongoing challenges, and the critical next steps for partners.
• Moderator: Nathan Zacharias, Technology Policy Analyst, Association of Minnesota Counties
• Panelists: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee Representative, Senator Aric Putnam (invited) Mary Ehmke, CEO, KMTelecom Scott Reimer, General Manager – CEO, Federated Rural Electric Association Steven Schwerbel, Director of State Advocacy, WISPA – The Association for Broadband Without Boundaries Melissa Wolf, Executive Director, Minnesota Cable Communications Association
• Discussion:
• Connections within the industry have been helpful.
• Workforce is always an issue – we need people to build the networks.
• Conditions are getting worse – up and down the supply chain. Providers are buying equipment before they are guaranteed the contract.
• Population density is top issue. Affordability is next. The access to supplies.
• We are OK with a slow ROI – but we need to cover up front costs.
• There are cost differences depending on mode of broadband
• It’s a struggle to get fiber
• Recommendations for Task Force: We made recommendations in annual report. Expanding and sustaining mapping is important. Clear and transparent data is valuable.
• Role for Leg with Task Force: respect the expertise in the Task Force. We do read the report
• Why not participate in BEAD? We didn’t know the rules. Our experience with federal funding in the past was not great with paperwork and federal rules that didn’t quite fit.
• Wish that broadband had not turned into a political football.

11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.  Panel 4: Navigating the New Broadband Landscape: Insights from Policy, Industry, and Community Leaders

• This session brings together experts from philanthropy, national organizations, and local leadership to unpack the current landscape and highlight emerging opportunities. Panelists will offer perspectives on implementation challenges, long-term sustainability, and the innovations shaping next-generation broadband.
• Moderator: Jake Varn, Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts
• Panelists: Gary Bolton, President and CEO, Fiber Broadband Association TaTy’Terria Gary, Program Coordinator, Lead for America Joseph Wender, Executive Director, Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB)
• Discussion:
• We are seeing big tech disruptions – people need to be able to participate in AI and other
• SHLB – works on getting access to anchor institutions
• Digital navigators focus on people first – and work toward building local expertise
• Communities are what matters so we start with the consumers
• 75 percent of fiber users use AI daily – that number goes down with each step down in access
• USF – there’s a genuine desire to fix it. Need to shift funding from phone service and expand the user base.
• The job is not done.

LUNCH

1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. Breakout Session 1D, General: Broadband Digital Opportunity: Creative Action for Partnership in Minnesota HARVEST B/C ROOM

• This session tackles the “now what?”—ensuring every household can afford service, have a working device, and knows how to get online safely and successfully. Speakers will share real-world models, outcomes, and practical steps for replication across Minnesota communities.
• Moderator: Joseph Wender, Executive Director, Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB)
• Panelists: May yer Thao, President & CEO, Hmong American Partnership Gary Spears, Technology Services Coordinator, Senior Community Services
• Discussion:
• digital literacy leads to digital independence
• access, devices and uses
• teaching people how and why to use technology is an issue
• with young people. it’s also about safety
• how do get folks interested in training?
  We work on one-on-one opportunities.
  Choose the tasks people want to complete – like order an uber
  Putting digital training into our other programming to give them a taste
  The need for digital equity is as ubiquitous as broadband
• ACP was a huge game changer
• Need to go where the demand is

2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. Breakout 2D, General: Community Engagement & Outreach: Building Broadband Momentum in Minnesota HARVEST B/C ROOM

• This session will explore strategies for engaging residents, local leaders, media, and underserved communities in broadband initiatives. Panelists discuss what broadband marketing looks like today and will share practical tools, storytelling approaches, and examples of what’s working for internet service provider and community audiences. y Moderator: Jake Varn, Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts
• Panelists: Autumn Ricke, Marketing Manager, Pinnacle Marketing Group Ann Treacy, Librarian, Treacy Information Services

https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/community-engagement-outreach-building-broadband-momentum-in-minnesota/287271776

Quick notes/ Resources from my presentation:

Part of the Blandin Broadband process was looking at the community needs from the perspective of as many stakeholders as possible. Broadband (or funding) can be the first ingredient to your stone soup but often the special sauce is what everyone brings to the table. Part of the process is working together and part is learning to aggregate the needs of the community to encourage a broadband provider to develop or expand into an un- or underserved area.

• Blandin on Broadband blog
• MN Broadband County Profiles
• Broadband Vision
• BBC Project Matrices (scroll down)