MN eNews July 2026: Data centers, AI, E-Rate, BEAD

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Want a flavor of each of the 87 counties in Minnesota? Check out UofM Extension
Minnesota 87: Extension in every county gives a snapshot of each county through the lens of what Extension has done in the area, which provides nice local flavor.

2026 Tribal Broadband Midwest Summit in Prairie Lake
The National Tribal Telecommunications Association hosted the 2026 Tribal Broadband Midwest Summit in Minnesota. The first full day included presentations from Office of Broadband Development and MN Telecom Alliance; day two the conversation was all about AI.

MN Broadband Task Force June 2026
The Minnesota Broadband Task Force heard from local providers who are going through the BEAD process and members of the Office of Broadband Development. They are still in a holding position. 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. It is used for a number of applications from homelessness to healthcare and could be used to track broadband adoption.

How does you MN County rank for broadband adoption?
BroadbandClusters.org tracks broadband adoption by state, zip and county. There is a ranking of broadband adoption for counties in Minnesota.

State News   

National News

Vendor/Technology News

Office of Broadband Development Updates and News:

Local Broadband News

Faribault
Appeals court says City of Faribault must undertake a more thorough environmental review of a proposed data center

Hopkins
How the NDIA helped MN Hopkins Digital Access Initiative get people connected

Inver Grove Heights
Inver Grove Heights City Council approves one-year moratorium on data centers (Dakota County)

Itasca and St Louis Counties
More info on recent Paul Bunyan Communications upgrades in Itasca and St. Louis counties
Paul Bunyan Communications broadband expansion in Itasca and St. Louis Counties

Steele County
RadioLink closure in Southern MN leaves customers without options
Internet provider RadioLink Internet formerly serving Ellendale closes doors (Steele County)

Tribal Areas
Tribal Internet Networks Census Update tracks networks in MN and beyond

Twin Ports
Work progresses with ImOn Communications’ FTTH deployment across the Twin Ports

Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources

EVENT July 7: Control + Shift + ALTernative: Building Community-Owned Fiber

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From the Institute for Local Self Reliance…

July 7th, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST

The latest installment in a joint webinar series from the American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) and the Community Broadband Networks initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) will showcase a new financing and governance model being put into real-world action that allows for communities to control their digital futures.

The free, one-hour live webinar — “Control + Shift + ALTernative: Building Community-Owned Fiber” — will go behind the scenes of two real-world community fiber projects to tease out the practical lessons that other communities can learn from.

The webinar will feature four practitioners who have been in the trenches of community broadband development: Jim Cannon, CEO of Pivot-Tech; Scott Corbitt, General Manager of the Port of Lewiston; Christina Burns, Kendall County Administrator; and Chris Perlitz, Managing Director at Municipal Capital Markets Group, Inc.

The conversation will be grounded in two case studies — Kendall County and Lewiston — that together illustrate what it actually takes to move a community fiber project from idea to operating network, using a creative “63-20” tax-exempt bond model championed by Pivot-Tech Development, which specializes in public-private partnerships for community-owned broadband networks.

Click to register

Folks in education are concerned about losing E-Rate funding for broadband in schools

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Gov Tech reports…

A few weeks after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr called for a broad review of the 30-year-old federal E-rate program, the FCC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking June 26 that floated the idea of ending the program. Education leaders and experts on the digital divide have since weighed in, arguing that would be a grave mistake.
The E-rate program, which provides financial support to schools and libraries for broadband connectivity, was established in 1996 and funded starting in 1997. At that time, 65 percent of U.S. public schools had Internet access, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The FCC’s notice asked whether the program has fulfilled Congress’ original objective of bringing Internet access to schools and libraries, given that “virtually all schools report having broadband connectivity and Wi-Fi.” It also cited ill effects of screen time as a reason to rethink the program.
Indeed, rates of digital connectivity have grown since E-rate’s introduction. The FCC’s notice cited a 2019 State of the States report from the nonprofit EducationSuperHighway that found 99 percent of K-12 schools had high-speed Internet access. In 2023, researchers found that 96 percent of New York public schools were connected.

Some detail that might help the E-Rate…

The FCC’s notice acknowledges that the Congressional mandate that created the E-rate program does not empower the FCC to terminate the program, but advocates are still worried. Education and library organizations argue that the framing of the FCC’s notice misunderstands that digital connectivity requires ongoing maintenance, that the program’s success is evidence of its importance, and that cybersecurity threats and evolving technologies necessitate ongoing work.

EVENT July 8: AI and Workforce – Combatting Job Displacement

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Hosted by Broadband Breakfast…

Wednesday, Jul 8
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries from telecommunications to customer service, the question is no longer whether AI will transform the workforce, but how leaders, policymakers, and educators can ensure workers are not left behind. This panel brings together experts to examine the real-world impact of automation on jobs, the sectors most exposed to disruption, and the strategies that can turn displacement into opportunity. Panelists will explore reskilling and upskilling initiatives, the role of public-private partnerships, emerging policy frameworks, and what a resilient, AI-ready workforce looks like in the years ahead. Join us for a frank conversation about protecting workers while harnessing the productivity gains AI can deliver.

Panelists

  • Panelists have been invited
  • Melissa Newman (moderator), SVP, Government Relations, TIA

NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth updates Congress about BEAD

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I’m borrowing from Benton Institute’s recap of NTIA’s Administrator, Arielle Roth, update to Congress on BEAD from June 30, 2026…

The House Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology convened an oversight hearing focused on the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator Arielle Roth was the sole witness. NTIA oversees the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which was intended to provide grants for last-mile deployment in unserved and underserved areas. On June 6, 2025, the Trump NTIA issued new guidance for the BEAD Program. The guidance removed many Biden-era requirements, including a fiber technology preference and low-income plans. The June 2025 guidance directed eligible entities to run an additional “benefit-of-the-bargain” bidding round to ensure that awards reflected the changes made by the Administration and to submit final proposals by September 4, 2025. In the year since issuing the new guidance, NTIA has approved 54 out of 56 final proposals submitted by eligible entities, BEAD-funded infrastructure in two states has been deployed, and the program expects to “save” approximately $21 billion on deployment costs. What to do with the remaining money is to be determined. NTIA held a listening session to gather input on how this “nondeployment” money could be used by states, and is expected to provide guidance soon. Ideas include public safety, deployment to homes and businesses that may have been missed following the initial bidding round, workforce development, and permitting reform. The hearing, in part, was aiming at determining the  status of BEAD deployment and nondeployment funding.

The rest of the notes highlight different views of BEAD. Some folks are focused on saving as much money as possible. Some folks are focused on getting better broadband to everyone. Everyone seems frustrated with the slow timeline. And most folks were hoping for more information on the plan for nondeployment funds from BEAD…

During questioning from Members of the Subcommittee, Administrator Roth said guidance on nondeployment funding will come “this summer.” She deferred specifics on the question of whether those funds will be held back from states that enact regulations on artificial intelligence, as directed by a presidential executive order. “We want the funding … to produce real measurable outcomes, be non-duplicative, non-distortionary….” Roth said. She added, “we’re proceeding cautiously in producing the guidance so that we can ensure that this funding achieves the same success as the first segment of the BEAD Program.”

Klobuchar talks about plan for MN (including broadband) in Moorhead

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I wrote about Senator Klobuchar’s mention of broadband last month. Looks like she is traveling around the state talking more about her plans.

From Valley View News: U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar outlined her plan to expand Minnesota’s rural economy in Moorhead on Wednesday…

The plan focuses on four areas: Opening and expanding markets for rural businesses and farmers, helping families afford housing, child care and health care in Greater Minnesota, modernizing rural broadband and infrastructure, and strengthening the farm safety net.

The Wireline Competition Bureau pauses the phase-out of Lifeline program support for voice-only services

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The FCC announces…

I. INTRODUCTION

1. In this Order, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) issues a waiver pausing both the phase-out of Lifeline program support for voice-only services and changes to the Lifeline minimum service standards. As discussed below, we find good cause to pause these adjustments for a year because the Commission is undergoing a rulemaking proceeding that seeks comment on these issues and could result in changes to the Lifeline program.1

II. BACKGROUND

2. In the 2016 Lifeline Order, the Commission revised the Lifeline program to phase-in increasing broadband minimum service standards and phase-out Lifeline support for voice-only service.2 The Commission took these actions with the intent to “avoid undue consumer disruption and to allow Lifeline providers sufficient time to adjust operations as the Commission moves from a primarily voice-only Lifeline program to a Lifeline program embracing broadband services.”3

3. The 2016 Lifeline Order established a three-step schedule by which Lifeline support for voice-only service would be decreased before ending entirely, which so far has led to voice-only support being reduced to $5.25.4 The final step was to be a complete phase-out of Lifeline support for voice-only services on December 1, 2021, when support for such services was to be eliminated in most areas.5 However, the Bureau issued a waiver pausing the phase-out before support elimination occurred due in large part to many Lifeline subscribers’ continued reliance on voice service and has maintained this pause each year since through one-year waiver extensions.6 The most recent waiver is currently still in effect and ends on December 1, 2026.7

4. The Commission also created broadband capacity minimum service standards in the 2016 Lifeline Order effectuated through update mechanisms for the fixed and mobile broadband speed and data capacity standards to provide predictable improvements to these offerings.8 In prior years, the Commission has waived the mobile broadband capacity minimum service standard when it determined that doing so would be necessary to prevent service costs from rising to unaffordable levels.9

5. The Commission is currently considering recommendations to revise certain Lifeline rules in its 2026 Lifeline NPRM, released on February 23, 2026.10 The 2026 Lifeline NPRM launched a comprehensive review of the Lifeline program and seeks comment on support for voice-only service and the minimum service standards and their updated mechanisms.11 In the NPRM, the Commission asked whether it should maintain voice-only service support at the current $5.25 amount and the justifications for doing so, including “[h]ow vital is voice service to consumers’ ability to access public safety resources or to participate in today’s society” and whether these subscribers would be able to fulfill these needs through alternative services.12 The Commission also requested comment on Lifeline minimum service standards, including whether the current minimum service standards meet the needs of Lifeline subscribers, increasing minimum service standards could lead to prohibitively expensive plans or providers leaving the program, update mechanisms should exist, and these mechanisms should update the minimum service standards at set or variable amounts, among other issues.

DISCUSSION

6. The Bureau acts on its own motion to waive the implementation of the phase-out in Lifeline support for voice-only services and the increase in Lifeline minimum service standards for one year, until December 1, 2027. In evaluating whether good cause exists for waiver of its rules,14 the Commission considers whether the particular facts make strict compliance inconsistent with the public interest.15 The Commission may also take into account concerns of hardship, equity, or more effective implementation of policy on an individual basis.16 Waiver of the Commission’s rules is therefore only appropriate if special circumstances warrant a deviation from the general rule, and such deviation will serve the public interest.17 The Bureau finds good cause to act on delegated authority to waive the Lifeline rules as described herein, as further discussed below.18

7. Careful consideration of how to continue to support a stable and robust affordable communications market through the Lifeline program led to our decision to issue this waiver. This waiver pauses changes to the minimum service standards and voice support phase-out as the Commission develops and analyzes the record in the 2026 Lifeline NPRM. By maintaining the current Lifeline program minimum service standards and support for voice-only service while these programmatic changes are under consideration, this Order prevents potential excessive provider obligations, subscriber confusion, and loss of service that could accompany multiple changes to the minimum services standards in a short period. For these reasons, we find good cause to pause the Lifeline minimum service standards for broadband and the phase-out in Lifeline support for voice-only services

IRRR shares Notice of Grant Opportunities

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In their last email alert, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR), provided a nice list of funding opportunities. The first one caught my eye, but I have already posted about it. But with minimal effort, I could make a connection between the funding and a broadband development or adoption project…

Open July 1:

  • Broadband Infrastructure grants assist projects that help households and businesses reach the state of Minnesota broadband speed goal.
  • Commercial Redevelopment grants assist with the full and selective demolition of commercial and industrial buildings and the clean-up of brownfields to pave the way for new development.
  • Culture & Tourism grants assist projects that support arts, culture, history, tourism and recreational activities, enhance the quality of life in the region and attract visitors.
  • Development Partnership grants assist with research, planning, education and development-based initiatives that support the long-term economic growth of northeastern Minnesota.
  • Downtown Redevelopment grants and loans support new construction on vacant downtown properties by helping fill project financing gaps.
  • Grant Writing Assistance grants reimburse the costs of preparing and applying for a non-agency grant that will advance economic growth.
  • Housing grants assist projects or programs that result in the creation of new housing units or the rehabilitation of existing housing units.
  • Mineland Reclamation grants assist with highly visible development and restoration of mining-impacted land.
  • Public Works grants support local and Tribal governments with infrastructure funding that provides essential services and promotes economic development.
  • Regional Trails grants assist with the design, engineering and construction of various types of recreational trails.
  • Residential Redevelopment grants assist with demolishing residential structures or full deconstruction of homes for reuse of materials.
  • Workforce Development grants assist with education, training and career awareness initiatives that address regional workforce needs and gaps emerging in industries and schools.

Opening Aug. 1:

  • Drilling Incentive grants stimulate exploration for new minerals, gas resources and/or new deposits of these resources.

Inver Grove Heights City Council approves one-year moratorium on data centers (Dakota County)

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MPR reports...

The Inver Grove Heights City Council voted 3-2 on Friday to pause the construction of data centers in the city.

The vote on the one-year moratorium came after residents — who filled the meeting room — expressed opposition to data centers, including one project that’s currently proposed.

Florida-based developer QLevr has proposed building a 54,000-square-foot data center on Carmen Avenue East in Inver Grove Heights. It’s considered to be smaller than most hyperscale data centers in Minnesota.

Earlier this week, city council members delayed a decision on whether to pause the construction of data centers until Friday’s meeting. The earlier meeting ended with frustrated residents shouting to express their displeasure.
…

The council on Friday also postponed consideration of the site plan for the proposed data center.

That’s after residents presented a petition with over 700 signatures to the state’s Environmental Quality Board on Thursday night, seeking an environmental review of the project. The petition for an environmental assessment worksheet, or EAW, pauses the proposed development for up to 30 days to further assess potential impacts.

 

MinnPost says data centers will be an election issue is Midterm Elections

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MinnPost reports…

“This is the new single-issue voter,” she said. “It’s not going to be abortion or LGBTQ or immigration issues. I think it’s going to be data centers, and I think that’s something both parties are going to have to reckon with.”

The politics of data centers

Spurred by a groundswell of fired up residents, the reckoning started at the DFL and GOP state conventions last month.

Two data center resolutions garnered broad support on DFL platform ballots. A moratorium drew 64% of the votes, while a more conciliatory (and palatable to labor unions) resolution focused on tighter regulations came in at 76%.

They look at the opinions of voters from different parties…

Although it’s Democrats who are most concerned about the environmental impacts of data centers, most Republicans also share that sentiment, an Ipsos poll found. Republicans oppose government restrictions on data centers more than Democrats do, but conservatives are quite split on the question.

Overall, the pollster concluded that…

“Partisan rifts on data centers come from unsurprising areas. Republicans have a stronger inclination for a more free-market approach, while Democrats are more cautious about environmental impacts. And while Republicans are slightly more optimistic about data centers, overall support for their construction remains low.”

Minnesota’s Republican convention wasn’t as focused on data centers as the DFL gathering. That said, platform committee members adopted a resolution calling for a data center pause.

OBD Broadband Update July 1: Funding updates and upcoming meetings

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates
  • NTIA funding opportunities on Tribal Lands and broadband news
  • Broadband Task Force, June meeting recap
  • Line Extension Connection Program, registration open for residents and businesses

Thank you to the National Tribal Telecommunications Association (NTTA) for welcoming Office of Broadband Executive Director, Bree Maki, to present alongside Minnesota Telecom Alliance’s President/CEO, Brent Christensen at the 2026 NTTA Midwest Regional Tribal Broadband Summit last week! 

Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates

Minnesota continues to advance the federal BEAD program forward with steady, thoughtful progress through pre-contracting. As contracts are signed, the projects will be reflected on the dashboard, and progress will be able to be monitored on the Minnesota BEAD map.

  • A webinar for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program will be held Wednesday July 8 at 11 a.m. CT. for the Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems). The session agenda is 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.
  • Reminder: 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 continue to be posted and updated on OBD BEAD’s webpage ensuring partners have ongoing access to the latest program developments.

NTIA funding opportunities on Tribal Lands and broadband news

Broadband Task Force, June meeting recap

The Broadband Task Force met virtually on Thursday June 18 and heard a panel presentation from Mediacom’s Christopher Lord, Sr. Director, Government Partnership Opportunities and Nuvera’s Kathy Lund, Vice President of Technical Services on experiences so far with the federal BEAD program, particularly challenges in the application process, activities for pre-contracting, and what has has worked well in Minnesota so far. The Office of Broadband Development’s Jennifer Frost and Megan Messerole presented general BEAD program and environmental permitting updates in addition to regular updates from OBD’s Executive Director, Bree Maki.

An overview was provided by the Mayo Clinic Housing-Based Socioeconomic Status (HOUSES) Program of the HOUSES Index, a tool developed to provide individual-level socioeconomic measure with relevancy to broadband and exploration of potential benefits from collaboration from experts Dr. Young Juhn, Dr. Chung Wi, and Dale Shim.

Information on past and upcoming meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

Line Extension Connection Program, registration open for residents and businesses

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

How the NDIA helped MN Hopkins Digital Access Initiative get people connected

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The National Digital Inclusion Alliance retells a story of helping Hopkins Digital Access Initiative…

On Sunday, January 25, 2026, our executive director Angela received an email with the subject line “Help Needed in Minnesota.” By Monday morning, we were on a call with the leaders of the Hopkins Digital Access Initiative (HDAI) – Rebekah Crosby, Carolyn Leslie, and Beth Kivett – forging a new partnership to address urgent digital inclusion needs in Hopkins, a first ring Minneapolis suburb, a community flooded with ICE and CPB agents.

The tactics employed by ICE and CPB in Minnesota made it unsafe for many Hopkins residents to leave their homes. It echoed of early-COVID lockdowns that left people cut off from their community, wondering how they would continue to work, go to school, feed their families, or do any daily activity. As rapid response resources were organized through websites, Whatsapp and Signal chats, and remote learning platforms, it became clear that digital access is still the linchpin that determines whether a household can receive support in a time of need.

Lesson Learned: Times of crisis put the digital divide in the spotlight. These moments are a powerful reminder that those who have connectivity, access, and skills can remain connected to their community when others cannot, which may mean access to lifesaving medical care, information on how to remain safe in emergencies, critical communication with family and friends, and more vital resources. During prolonged crises, connectivity allows people to participate in faith communities, earn income, maintain social connections, support others, and participate in more activities that contribute to individual and community resiliency.

You can check out the article for the full account, including lessons learned.

Want a flavor of each of the 87 counties in Minnesota? Check out UofM Extension

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I never really thought about counties until I got involved with broadband. Now, especially because of the annual MN Broadband County Profiles, the county is my touchpoint. University of Minnesota Extension offices are a huge boon to the counties, as they say, “bringing practical education to 1 million+ participants each year.”

I just learned of a cool, new tool they have: Minnesota 87: Extension in every county. It gives a little snapshot of each county through the lens of what Extension has done in the area, but I think each profile also gives a nice local flavor. It’s not directly related to broadband – but helpful to have a sense of the community and the projects they are pursuing.

Fiber Broadband Association updates FCC on fiber deployment stats

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The Fiber Association updates the FCC on fiber deployment based on their 2025 report…

As the Commission considers adopting its Nineteenth Section 706 Report, the Fiber
Broadband Association submits the following updated market statistics to facilitate a data-driven
assessment:
• For fixed broadband supply, as of year-end 2025, ~84.6M US homes (~60% of total homes) were passed by fiber, an annual growth rate of ~11%; ~39.3M homes were connected;1 as of September 2025, ~13.8M homes (~16% of total homes) had access to multiple fiber providers, an annual growth rate of ~16%.2
• For fixed broadband demand, as of Q1 2026, ~95% of fiber subscribers and ~89% of subscribers on DOCSIS networks were provisioned for 200 Mbps or faster service; ~37%
of fiber and DOCSIS subscribers were provisioned for service between 500-900 Mbps; and ~22% of fiber and DOCSIS subscribers were provisioned for gigabit service. Fiber subscribers used an average of 837.0 GB per month downstream and 106.68 GB upstream.3
We also note that the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally reshaping fixed broadband network traffic patterns and infrastructure requirements – and consequently, will require the Commission in future Section 706 Reports to reorient its definition of “advanced telecommunications capability” and analysis of whether advanced telecommunications capability being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion.

Telehealth helps with access to mental healthcare for rural Minnesota’s communities of color – when they have broadband

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A recent publication from the Center for Rural Policy reports…

Rural Minnesota is changing. Across its small towns and open landscapes, people of color are becoming a larger part of the community—some newly arrived from other countries, others whose families have called this region home for generations.

As our previous research has shown (here and here), finding help for mental health concerns can be a struggle for anyone living in rural areas, but it can be even harder for BIPOC residents (Black, Indigenous and People of Color). Whether they are recent immigrants trying to navigate an unfamiliar system or long-time Minnesotans seeking care that understands their experiences, the challenges of finding accessible mental health services that meet their needs remain significant.

This makes access difficult…

While statewide outpatient statistics are not readily available, national evidence shows that rural residents face longer drives to outpatient clinics. The greater distance between communities and the sparse population of smaller towns create adverse economies of scale that increase the cost of providing services. This in turn has led to clinic closures and healthcare consolidation, further squeezing the supply of services over the years as healthcare companies try to keep revenue ahead of expenses. The closures also result in even longer drives to receive services. …

A lack of transportation or public transportation also limits people in rural areas,[3] who are more likely to not have their own vehicles or are unable to drive due to age, income, or disability even as the distances patients need to travel to get services continue to increase. According to a 2024 Minnesota Department of Health report on the state of rural healthcare, rural patients seeking inpatient mental health and chemical dependency treatment must travel three times farther than their urban counterparts.[4]

But while these challenges are tough for all rural families looking for help, they are even greater for people of color.

The report offers several recommendations for improvement, including telehealth for those with adequate broadband…

Telehealth can especially help rural people of color access appropriate, effective mental healthcare, says Terica Toliver, Senior Director of Clinical Therapy at Louisiana-based Iris Telehealth, which provides therapy via telehealth through her contract with ElevaCare in Southwest Minnesota. Telehealth gives people of color a broader range of providers to choose from, including providers who share the same racial and cultural backgrounds.

It’s not a perfect solution, however. Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans don’t have access to the broadband internet service required for telehealth to work reliably,[26] and telehealth isn’t for everyone. Some patients simply don’t feel comfortable talking to a stranger about their mental health on a digital screen.