RadioLink closure in Southern MN leaves customers without options

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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.

EVENT Aug 6: Innovate with AI in Red Wing

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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 developing

This 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!

 

MN Broadband Task Force June 2026: BEAD from the Provider POV and info Mayo Clinic database of socioeconomic data by location

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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 →

Cautionary tale of permitting pricing in MN

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

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.

EVENT July 8: Webinar for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program

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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.

OBD Broadband Update June 17: Line Extension, Task Force meeting and updates

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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.

OPPORTUNITY: NTIA Announces Two New Funding Opportunities to Expand Broadband Connectivity on Tribal Lands

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The NTIA announces...

 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.

 

The USDA announces a reorganization of Rural Development to consolidate loan and grant processes

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The USDA reports...

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.

OPPORTUNITY: LSTA Professional Development Travel Grants

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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.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to look at regulations related to AI and hyperscale data centers

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Fierce Network reports…

Hyperscaler capex is poised to set records in 2026, as cloud giants scramble to build enough compute capacity to meet growing demand. Energy remains a key constraint – and point of public contention – but an upcoming regulatory decision is poised to offer either grief or relief.

There are two key energy issues: power generation and years-long interconnection queues, and how large-load customers like data centers impact other users on the grid. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is poised to act on both sometime this month.

It’s not yet clear what changes FERC will make to existing regulations. But in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in October, FERC said it was seeking input on rule changes that would speed interconnection study timelines to 60 days for customers that agree to flexibly curtail usage and whether large load customers should pay the full cost of any grid upgrades needed for their interconnection.

Tribal Internet Networks Census Update tracks networks in MN and beyond

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The Institute for Local Self Reliance (Community Networks) has launched their new Tribal Internet Networks Census Update. Here’s what they report on a high level…

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s research suggests that there are nearly 90 active Tribal Internet networks es appear to be prospective – they are considering or pursuing opportunities to get into Internet access.

Here’s what that looks like in Minnesota:

Black (Active Networks):

Yellow (Expected Network: Building and/or Funded):

  • Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe 
    Expected: Building and/or Funded network

Green (Prospective Network)

  • Lower Sioux Indian Community 
    Prospective network

There’s a lot to take in from the report from an historical and current perspective. If you haven’t read much or spoken to people about Broadband Sovereignty that is a piece that is interesting especially in context of issues emerging today with technologies such as AI.

Some BEAD recipients are backing away from the federal funding

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Doug Adams talks reports in Broadband.IO…

With BEAD awards moving into the contract execution phase, a small but growing number of proposed subgrantees are deciding not to proceed. In some cases, companies are walking away voluntarily. In another, questions remain about what happened behind the scenes.

Nebraska. It’s Not for Everyone

In Nebraska, The Nebraska Examiner reported that three ISPs backed out “due to changes in their business plans.”

The three BEAD participants in the state that didn’t sign contracts appeared to be Amazon, Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company, and Pinpoint Communications.

Minnesota isn’t mentioned but the topics did come up at the Office of Broadband Development’s broadband conference in April. It is one of the wildcards that’s making planning challenging for the state broadband office.

What can community planers looking at data center planners can learn from old nuclear plants?

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The Daily Yonder published a commentary comparing the potential closures of data centers with nuclear power plants. The author has worked with host communities in planning for and managing the impacts of nuclear plant closures as well as with developers who site large-scale energy infrastructure projects grounded in durable community partnerships. So he has a unique perspective. I appreciate the very long term look at how such large projects can impact a community…

Across the United States, communities are evaluating whether to host a new generation of infrastructure: hyperscale data centers. These projects are often framed as low-impact, high-value opportunities: quiet neighbors that promise reliable tax revenue, infrastructure upgrades, and a foothold in the digital future. They are being sold as clean, quiet, and high-tech.

But a critical blind spot remains in how potential host communities evaluate these facilities: what happens at the end of their lives?

The experience of communities that host nuclear power plants—documented in Socioeconomic Impacts from Nuclear Power Plant Closure and Decommissioning—offers a valuable framework for those who may consider hosting new digital infrastructure.

Here’s a view at the nuclear power plant experience…

The experience of nuclear plant host communities points to a clear conclusion: the consequences of closure are not hypothetical—they are predictable, repeatable, and, if unaddressed, can be deeply disruptive.

For potential data center host communities, the lesson is not to avoid development, but to plan deliberately for its full lifecycle—before the first shovel hits the ground. In that context, here are some practical considerations for potential host communities.

And fleshes out the following specific aspects…

  • Appreciate the Speed of Closure Decisions
  • Respond to Eliminated Tax Payments
  • Define and Complete Facility Decommissioning
  • Design for the Full Lifecycle

Star Tribune Names Arvig a Top 200 Workplace in MN

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Business Insider reports…

Arvig has been named one of Minnesota’s Top 200 Workplaces by the Minnesota Star Tribune, marking the fifth consecutive year the employee-owned broadband and technology provider has earned the distinction.

The Top Workplaces list includes 200 large, mid-sized and small companies in Minnesota from various industries. Arvig is one of just 65 Minnesota employers with 500 or more employees recognized in this year’s rankings.

This is the fifth straight year Arvig has been named a Top Workplace. Across Minnesota, more than 390 companies were surveyed.

Starlink rural customers are seeing price increases

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I’m borrowing the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s summary of the Washington Post article…

When Julie Slama and her husband moved to a home outside Dunbar, Nebraska, in April 2022, they were happy customers of Elon Musk’s Starlink. The satellite-based internet service from Musk’s rocket-maker, SpaceX, was the only practical option for them in their rural community, and their $90 monthly rate has felt reasonable in the years since. SpaceX is set to list on the stock market this week at a valuation of more than $1 trillion, and Slama is now feeling the squeeze. She and her husband, parents of three who run a law firm from their home, face a 44 percent jump in their internet bill, an annual increase of nearly $500. Starlink told some U.S. customers in May that it was raising prices and increased the cost of most plans for a service that counts millions of users across the country. “I can complain about Starlink raising their prices, but it’s the only real option we have,” said Slama, a Republican and former Nebraska state senator. “Once they have rural customers on their service with no meaningful alternatives, they’re free to raise prices at will.” “When you have a captured consumer you are able to raise the prices,” said Drew Garner, director of policy engagement at the nonpartisan Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. “Given that broadband is an essential service and that the consumer has to buy it you’re able to … squeeze them often.”