I’ve alluded to Minnesota’s response to the FCC’s request for Rural Broadband Experiments but haven’t spelled it out of emphasized it much – but it’s kind of a big deal. And I’m in the car for 8 hours today on a road trip – so I have a little time. The big deal is that Minnesota sent in more than 62 or 64 ideas out of 1000 sent throughout the US. It’s a good sign that Minnesota is shovel-ready and poised to deploy. It’s a bad sign that Minnesota still needs better broadband. Here’s the more complete story…
- The FCC invited expressions of interest for folks with ideas for rural broadband experiments. Deadline was March 7, 2014.
- Minnesota submits 62 proposals of interest. MPR’s Ground Level highlighted a few of the ideas.
- Senator Klobuchar writes a letter in support of projects.
- Most recently FCC Chair Wheeler responds to her letter. He notes…
The Commission currently is reviewing the expressions of interest that have been submitted, and we have sought public comment on a number of rural broadband experiment issues, including the size of the budget and selection criteria to be used in reviewing proposals. After completing a review of the submissions and the record in response to our Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission would adopt an Order setting a budget and establishing detailed selection criteria for rural broadband experiments. At that point, we would invite parties, such as the Minnesota entities you reference, to submit formal proposals for consideration by Commission staff.
So we’ll wait for that Order. This funding and similar opportunities have come up in Senator Schmit’s recent tour of Minnesota towns to discuss state funding for broadband. The hope is that these details and details for the $20 million Minnesota broadband fund will be released about the same time to see if there is any way to leverage one to get the other and/or if there exclusions that might impact a project proposal. Often the feds do not like state funds used as matching funds. So that may necessitate some fancy planning.