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.”

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

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The Grand Rapids Herald Reviews shares more information about the recent Paul Bunyan Communications upgrades…

Paul Bunyan Communications started construction in late April on expanding the all fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, to over 600 more locations in Itasca and St. Louis County across five townships.

This project includes areas south and west of the city of Cook including parts of the following townships: Alango, Carpenter, Field, Sturgeon, and an unorganized township east of Carpenter.

Currently crews are working in in portions of Sturgeon Township and the unorganized township east of Carpenter Township. North Central Services, a business member of our cooperative out of Bemidji, is the contractor doing the construction. Their vehicles are marked and there will also be magnets on some with the Paul Bunyan Communications logo to help identify the project.

 

The first stage of the construction process is installing the main fiber network which is followed by installing the connections up to individual homes and businesses that have signed up to be connected. Once those two stages are completed, our clean up/restoration crews will come through, and our team will work to splice the fiber network. Once it is operational in a project area, customers who signed up for service will be contacted to schedule service installations. A video on how the construction process works is located on the Paul Bunyan Communications YouTube channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZqT58jqG_4

NTIA chief counsel says BEAD will be the last broadband deployment program the US needs

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Communications Daily reports…

NTIA sees the current BEAD program as the “last broadband subsidy program” the U.S. will need, said David Brodian, the agency’s chief counsel, during an FCBA webinar Thursday. Brodian’s comments were at odds with those from other officials who questioned whether the current program will lead to universal coverage (see 2606110064). Brodian also said NTIA is still considering the best use of non-deployment funds.

EVENT June 18: MN Broadband Task Force June Meeting Agenda

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From the Office of Broadband Development...

Agenda: Broadband Task Force, June Meeting

Date: 06/18/2026

Virtual Meeting Join the meeting now.

· Meeting ID and Pass Code: Meeting ID: 212 899 378 597 44 and Passcode: mT99A99L

· Dial in by phone: +1 651-395-7448,,202303976# · Join on a video conferencing device: Tenant key: 5 Video ID 119 695 357 1

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 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.

10:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Break

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Overview of HOUSES Index, a tool developed to provide individual-level socioeconomic measure with relevancy to broadband and exploration of potential benefits from:

· Young Juhn, MD, MPH, Mayo Clinic, Professor of Pediatrics | Research Chair of Mayo Clinic Health Systems | Director of the Artificial Intelligence Program of Mayo Clinic Children | Director of Precision Population Science Lab and HOUSES Program

· Chung Wi, MD, Mayo Clinic, Associate Professor of Pediatrics| Co-Director, AI Validation and Stewardship Program, Mayo Clinic Health System| Associate Director, Mayo Clinic Children’s AI

Program| Associate Director, Precision Population Science Lab and the HOUSES Program | Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine

· Dale Shim, MBA, Mayo Clinic, Head of Commercialization & Strategic Partnerships

11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

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

12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Open the floor to other business, reminder on no meeting in July, and meeting wrap-up