Rural broadband advocates in MN hopeful new law will prevent missed future funding

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Regular readers will recognize the story that the Minnesota Star Tribune tells of grant funds lost because of light scrutiny on applicants for federal funding. Broadband advocates are hoping that a new law will help protect loss in the future…

So some locals were optimistic when, in 2020, LTD Broadband, a company with Minnesota ties, received more than a billion dollars in federal funding to provide broadband to rural areas like Le Sueur County. Because of the provisional grant, the county found itself shut out of state funding for its own programs because of possible overlap with LTD territories — even though officials in Le Sueur worried the company’s efforts would fail.

LTD’s plans fell apart in 2022 after state and federal regulators revoked key licenses and canceled grants after determining the company couldn’t fulfill its promises.

The result has been missed opportunities for the county, said Barbara Droher Kline, a financial planner and rural broadband consultant for Le Sueur County. She and other broadband advocates said they hope a new federal law will force the U.S. government to do a better job vetting broadband internet providers and their promises.

The Rural Broadband Protection Act, introduced by U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, directs the Federal Communications Commission to provide more thorough scrutiny.

“The new FCC vetting process will confirm that providers have the ability — financially, technically and operationally — to follow through with their commitments,” Klobuchar said in a statement to the Minnesota Star Tribune. “This will prevent situations where companies that win federal funding to deploy rural broadband cannot actually deliver service.”

Advocates say the impetus for the law came from the fallout with LTD. The company, which rebranded in 2023 and is now known as GigFire, did not respond to requests for comment.

State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act introduced in congress to establish a federal grant program

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Congresswomen Foushee’s website reports…

Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) introduced the State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act, which would establish a federal grant program through the U.S. Department of Commerce to modernize the technology infrastructure utilized by state and local governments to improve security and efficacy of public services.

“Modernizing public institutions and utilizing technology to improve the administration of public services is a necessity in today’s growing digital age. While technology continues to advance at a rapid rate, state and local governments are too often left behind without the proper infrastructure and training to keep up,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04). “Many jurisdictions hoping to make these improvements simply lack the funding required to properly implement technological advances that will help improve public services. I’m proud to introduce the State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act to ensure our federal government is providing proper support to state and local governments seeking to modernize their technology infrastructure.”

“These proposed investments would protect critical infrastructure and individual privacy, optimize state resources, and ensure local governments can provide a meaningful digital experience,” said N.C. Department of Information Technology Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Nate Denny.

Specifically, the State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act would:

  • Establish a grant program which would provide state and local government’s technology departments to modernize technology utilized by government entities.
  • Grant funds can be utilized to purchase or upgrade existing technology and related infrastructure to upgrade cybersecurity systems, hire staff, update permitting processes to facilitate further modernization, and train staff to support technology modernization.
  • 70% of grant funds provided to a state are required to be dispersed to local governments under the state jurisdictions.
  • The Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce will allocate a portion of funding for regulatory enforcement.

The State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act is endorsed by the National Association of Counties.

The full bill text of the State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act is available here.

Arvig Appoints Ben Wiechman as Chief Technology Officer

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Business Insider reports…

Arvig has announced the promotion of Ben Wiechman to Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Wiechman, who previously served as the Director of Network Strategy and Engineering, will now provide overall leadership for Arvig’s technology strategy—ensuring that its broadband network, systems, and technology investments are secure, reliable, and scalable for the future.

Prior to his appointment as CTO, Wiechman led Arvig’s network engineering and service delivery teams.

Student works with seniors to create online world that merges current and historical look of neighborhood

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I used to write a lot more about “seniors getting seniors online” and other tools to maximize use of broadband. So when I saw this project happening near my neighborhood in St Paul I had to share. I can see the application in every neighborhood or small town as a way to bring seniors (or in this case, sophomores) and seniors together and maybe create a unique tourism tool.

MinnPost reports…

“Do you know you can go on your phone and there’s this game where you can see the old Rondo and the new Rondo?”

It’s called the “Rondo-verse” – a video game aiming to give a sense not only of historic Rondo, but also its present-day vibrancy.

As co-creator Benny Roberts said, “It’s important for me that the community that I come from and was raised in isn’t defined by the thing that happened to it.”

The project is a collaboration between Jolie Davis, a sophomore biology major at Macalester College and Roberts, the executive director of Rondo’s Hallie Q. Brown Community Center.

Using funding from the center’s historical archive program, Roberts was able to hire Davis for 10 weeks and figure out how to showcase Rondo in a unique way.

Davis suggested using Roblox – a platform where users can create their own video games and experiences. Roberts initially pitched The Sims, but acknowledged that Roblox was the right call given its wild popularity with kids and teenagers.

“The Sims feels like my generation,” he said, laughing.

To help create a vision of Rondo’s history, they worked with a group of about 15 community elders – people who knew what it was like to live, work and grow up in Rondo first hand.

 

MN Broadband Task Force May meeting: Native networks, Clearfield on BABA, data centers and OBD updates

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The MN Broadband Task Force heard from Godfrey Enjady (President, National Tribal Telecommunications Association) on the Connect New Mexico Broadband Tribal Working Group and overview of leadership on the National Tribal Telecommunications Association 2026 NTTA Broadband Midwest Regional Summit and from Anis Khemakhem (Chief Commercial Officer, Clearfield Inc.) on workforce development and BABA compliance and its practical implications on broadband deployment.

Data centers (including micro-scale data centers) and AI were hot topics in both presentations.

Here’s the agenda with questions and high level notes:

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 February and April Task Force meetings.

10:05 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Open the floor for Task Force member share-out from the April 29 in-person meeting: did any topics come up in discussion that should be considered for the annual report; are there any speakers that would be helpful to hear from at future Task Force meetings?

  • People like line extension

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Presentation from Godfrey Enjady (President, National Tribal Telecommunications Association) on the Connect New Mexico Broadband Tribal Working Group and overview of leadership on the National Tribal Telecommunications Association 2026 NTTA Broadband Midwest Regional Summit.

  • Looking at AI for language preservation
  • Q: There’s a New Mexico Task Force – is there also an Office of Broadband Development?
    Yes, there are two. OBAE and another
  • You are working on microdata centers. Can you tell us more?
    The hyper-scalers are getting all of the attention and not good attention. So we’re working on how we can provide services to the tribes. We’re looking at private networks.
  • DEED person says – nice hear to hear about using spiritual ways to answer community questions.
    We like to use stories.

10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Presentation from Anis Khemakhem (Chief Commercial Officer, Clearfield Inc.) on workforce development and BABA compliance and its practical implications on broadband deployment.

  • Nice training initiative. We work on recommendations to the Governor. How can we help you?
    Encourage folks to share the information.

11:25 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).

  • Thanks to everyone came to the big conference – it was sold out
  • BEAD – continuing to work on finalizing the contract and contracts with providers and environmental planning. There have been some minor location changes.
  • No new info on non-deployment dollars. Had to look at all technologies equally. There is $300 million in unspent.
  • There are supply line issues with BEAD. OBD had a call with local providers and NTIA.
  • Providers should put in BEAD waivers now – for BABA and other.
  • Also working on definition of onerous AI. MN Legislation wrapped but nothing deemed onerous by OBD. (One related to age verification could be an issue.)
  • There are a couple of providers who are eager to get going. Others are watching carefully.
  • There are three providers who have left BEAD. Working on finding a provider for those locations. Working on tribal consent.
  • Closed 39 old grant projects; added 28 new ones. Lots of site monitoring.
  • Annual reports will be coming out June 30
  • Line Extension: closing Line Extension 4 at 1pm on May 22. This is from money that was shifted from other areas and MDE.
  • Treasury put out some project guidance that talked about extension of capital funds – depending on project. Deadline is July 31.

11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Open the floor to other business, next meeting Thursday June 18 (virtual), and meeting wrap-up.

Senators Luján and Matsui Introduce legislation to expand Digital Opportunity, Inclusion, and Literacy

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Senator Ben Ray Luján’s website reports…

Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, and U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) introduced the bicameral Digital Opportunity Foundation Act of 2026. This legislation would establish a nonprofit foundation that would leverage public and private investments to expand digital opportunity nationwide, ensuring that people can access, adopt, and effectively use modern digital tools, broadband, and other emerging technologies. The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.).

The Foundation for Digital Opportunity will supplement the work of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to award grants, support research, provide training and education, engage with stakeholders, collect data, and promote policies that improve digital opportunities. The Foundation will be governed by a Board of experts specializing in digital opportunity, technology, and telecommunications, representing diverse communities across the United States.

NTIA not happy about Wisconsin’s investment in broadband to homes BEAD leaves under or unserved

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It’s not Minnesota but, Broadband Breakfast reports on our neighbors…

NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth isn’t playing “Wisconsin Nice” with that state’s broadband leadership, including retiring Gov. Tony Evers (D). NTIA is pushing back on Wisconsin’s recent claim that tens of thousands of homes will remain unserved as the state launches a new $60 million, state-funded Internet grant round designed to plug holes in its broadband map. In a press release on May 19, Evers said the spending was needed because of NTIA’s decision, engineered by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in June 2025, to abandon the Biden administration’s expensive fiber preference in favor of technological neutrality in the $42.45 billion BEAD program.

2026 Industry Broadband Pricing Index finds faster speeds and lower prices

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US Telecom is an association for broadband providers. They do an annual look at Broadband Pricing Index. Here are the highlights from the 2026 Index…

A bright spot in household budgets. In 2025, internet service continued to stand apart from other household costs, with prices declining for a service that runs faster than ever.
Prices decline while speeds accelerate. USTelecom’s annual Broadband Pricing Index (BPI)1 finds that year over year, real prices for the most popular internet services (100–940 Mbps) fell 6.0%, while gigabit plans declined 4.9%.2 Over the longer term, prices for the internet services most households buy today have fallen 43.6% since
2014,3 even as other mainstay consumer goods and services have risen 36%. Average download speeds, meanwhile, have surged 21.9% year over year and 145% since 2014.
The deepest savings are reaching the most price-sensitive households. For the first time, this year’s report breaks out pricing across three speed bands within the 100–940 Mbps range. Prices fell in every tier, with entry-level plans (100–249 Mbps) posting the steepest one-year decline—down 17.2% in real terms—while mid range plans (250–499 Mbps) fell 8.3% and higher-speed plans (500 940 Mbps) declined 12.6% when adjusted for inflation.
The trend of consumers choosing faster plans at lower cost likely masks steeper price declines. This report’s findings are conservative given that many households are taking advantage of declining prices to upgrade to faster internet plans. According to the latest FCC data, gigabit subscriptions have grown nearly fivefold since 2020.4 The BPI’s methodology does not account for consumers choosing to upgrade to faster service. As a result, the true pricing gains to consumers are likely greater than this index alone captures..
Competition and private investment are powering these gains. Fierce competition among diverse internet service providers—backed by tens of billions of dollars in private capital flowing into broadband networks each year—sustains the favorable consumer trend of declining prices and accelerating speeds.
Consumers confirm the value proposition. In a recent national poll, just 2% of likely voters selected home internet service among their top two household cost concerns. In fact, internet price concerns ranked
the lowest of any category surveyed, behind groceries (39%), health insurance (31%), housing (30%), and gas prices (25%).6 Declining prices and rising performance are showing up not just in the data, but in how Americans experience their internet service.
A healthy internet market in practice. Heated competition, strong private investment and declining prices boost household purchasing power, spur broader adoption of high-speed internet, and support a strong digital foundation for what comes next

EVENT May 21: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting

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From the Office of Broadband Development...

Agenda: Broadband Task Force, May Meeting

Date: 05/21/2026

Virtual Meeting Join the meeting now.

· Meeting ID and Pass Code: 264 866 276 637 50 and nR3hC3Lr

· Dial in by phone: +1 651-395-7448,,157228567# · Join on a video conferencing device: Tenant key, mn@m.webex.com. Video ID: 112 567 815 8

Meeting Agenda

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 February and April Task Force meetings.

10:05 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Open the floor for Task Force member share-out from the April 29 in-person meeting: did any topics come up in discussion that should be considered for the annual report; are there any speakers that would be helpful to hear from at future Task Force meetings?

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Presentation from Godfrey Enjady (President, National Tribal Telecommunications Association) on the Connect New Mexico Broadband Tribal Working Group and overview of leadership on the National Tribal Telecommunications Association 2026 NTTA Broadband Midwest Regional Summit.

10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Presentation from Anis Khemakhem (Chief Commercial Officer, Clearfield Inc.) on workforce development and BABA compliance and its practical implications on broadband deployment.

11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Break

11:25 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).

11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Open the floor to other business, next meeting Thursday June 18 (virtual), and meeting wrap-up.

 

Office of Broadband Update May 20: Line Extension, BEAD and upcoming meetings

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Line Extension Connection Program, Round 5 bidding window closes May 22
  • Broadband Task Force, May meeting plans
  • Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates

Line Extension Connection Program, Round 5 bidding window closes May 22

The Round 5 Provider Bidding Application and Line Extension Program Guide, with guidance for the fast-tracked round are available on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage.

The bidding window for the fast-tracked Round 5 opened April 22 and bids are due May 22, 2026 by 1:30 p.m. CT.

Registration is open for residents and businesses for future rounds of the 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, May meeting plans

The Broadband Task Force will meet virtually on Thursday May 21 at 10 a.m. CT.

The May meeting will feature two Tribal broadband experts who will address topics on workforce development, supply chain issues, and broadband expansion: Godfrey Enjady (President of the National Tribal Telecommunications Association-NTTA) and Anis Khemakhem (Chief Commercial Officer at Clearfield Inc.).

  • NTTA advocates for its member telephone companies and supports efforts to deliver modern telecommunications services to Tribal lands.
  • Clearfield, Inc. launched the Tribal Broadband Training Initiative, providing a no-cost Fiber Optic Technician Course to Native American communities. The program aims to create pathways to living-wage careers and connect Tribal lands with high-speed fiber broadband. Clearfield also complies with Build America Buy America (BABA) and manufactures fiber optic connectivity and management products.

The meeting is virtual and open to the public. The meeting agenda with Teams link to join is available on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates

OBD continues to work on contracting and environmental review. Additional and updated resources on the OBD BEAD webpage include:

OBD appreciates its ongoing partnerships across community, regional, state, and federal levels and the people, places, and events our office gets to in small ways be apart of and we will be featuring shared photos over the summer to recognize and appreciate this impact. 

A MN bill for an act relating to telecommunications is signed into law (HF4052)

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Inside Towers reports...

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced the signing of HF 4052 into law on May 7, representing the first major modernization of Minnesota’s landline telephone regulatory structure in more than 40 years. The legislation updates a regulatory framework originally developed long before the emergence of telephone competition and evolving communications technologies. HF 4052, Waltz’s office said, “reflects the changing realities of the telecommunications marketplace while maintaining consumer protections and regulatory oversight.”

…

The new law was the result of a collaborative effort among the MTA, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, all of whom worked together to develop a balanced approach to modernization that meets the needs of consumers, providers, and regulators alike. …

HF 4052 is expected to serve as a foundation for continued discussions about ensuring Minnesota’s telecommunications policies remain responsive to changing technologies and consumer needs.

DCN, Range, and WIN Technology create Heartland Fiber Project to expand fiber in the Midwest

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DCN reports…

DCN, Range, and WIN Technology, three regional backbone fiber providers, today announced a joint investment to expand high‑capacity fiber infrastructure across the America’s heartland. The initiative, known as the Heartland Fiber Project, will create a new long‑haul fiber route designed to increase network capacity, resiliency, and flexibility to support the rapidly growing connectivity requirements across the industry and meet demand from AI hyperscale data center development in the region.

The Heartland Fiber Project will span seven states – Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois – establishing a route containing high fiber count and future path conduit to support future growth between Denver and Chicago. The $700 million investment represents a 2,000-mile expansion of regional network infrastructure that is designed to deliver the scale, resiliency, and performance demanded by next‑generation AI workloads and hyperscale computing environments.

Artificial intelligence has dramatically increased the amount of data that must move quickly and reliably between data centers. Hyperscale operators are increasingly turning to America’s heartland due to available land, access to power, and favorable climate conditions that help improve energy efficiency. These developments are driving the need for purpose‑built fiber infrastructure capable of supporting massive, sustained bandwidth requirements.

The expanded network created through the Heartland Fiber Project is designed to help meet these evolving requirements while allowing DCN, Range, and WIN to continue delivering high‑quality service to customers across healthcare, education, government, finance, manufacturing, and wholesale and wireless markets.

Gateway Fiber asks FCC to get involved with rights-of-way issues in Minnesota

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

A dispute between Minnesota cities and broadband provider Gateway Fiber is escalating at the Federal Communications Commission, with both sides accusing the other of delaying fiber deployment and misrepresenting state franchising law.

Gateway Fiber, a Missouri-based broadband provider led by CEO Chris Surdo, recently asked the FCC to intervene after several Minnesota cities allegedly refused to issue right-of-way permits unless the company first obtained local cable franchise agreements.

EVENT May 19 (today): BEAD Non-Deployment Funds Could Fund Precision Ag, and more from Fiber Connect byBroadband Breakfast

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From Broadband Breakfast…

Broadband Breakfast Live Online at Fiber Connect

Broadband Breakfast is planning to host online events at Fiber Connect from May 18-May 20 – on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Panelists

  • Rebecca Denman, President of Business Development, UniTek Global Services
  • Greg Bathrick,Area Vice President of Commercial Development, Calix
  • Donald Ray, Chief Development Officer, BAM Broadband
  • Lindsay Randazzo, Senior Director of Marketing, Innovative Systems
  • Anis Khemakhem, Chief Commercial Officer, Clearfield
  • Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Midco and Switch announce a multistate connectivity agreement supporting critical AI infrastructure in the Midwest

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This highlights our neighbors in North Dakota more than Minnesota, but MidCo announces…

Midco and Switch are proud to announce a five-year, multistate connectivity agreement supporting critical AI infrastructure in Ellendale, North Dakota.

“This connectivity deal strengthens Midco’s position as the nation’s largest 400G circuit provider1, enabling hyperscalers and data centers to grow with confidence,” said Midco President and Chief Operating Officer Ben Dold. “With unmatched network customization, engineering responsiveness and high-capacity transport reach, Midco is redefining what high-bandwidth fiber connectivity can deliver.”
The agreement includes more than 500 individual 400 gigabit-per-second (Gbps) circuits delivered across two geographically diverse routes, providing full path redundancy between Ellendale, ND and Chicago, IL. In total, the network enables 200 terabits of capacity.

They do frame it from a regional level…

“This partnership demonstrates that the Midwest is open for business,” said Midco Director of Wholesale Jeff Sanders. “It shows that our region, with its favorable climate, abundant natural resources, renewable energy and strong business environment, continues to be the optimal location for data centers and hyperscalers. Our network covers the heart of the region, and our long-haul routes connect business customers to major points of presence sites like Minneapolis, Omaha, Chicago and Denver, allowing the transmission of massive volumes of voice, video and data at reliable 400G speeds.”