Sadly I was not at the July Task Force meeting – but I have been able to learn the following:
The Task Force met in the Cities and it sounds as if the main topic on the table was the opportunity to provide input to DEED’s budget planning for the next biennium relevant to state funding for broadband-related investments. Danna MacKenzie from the Office of Broadband Development (OBD) updated the Task Force on the office’s activities since the Task Force last met. Danna and her team have been focused on the design and launch of the Border to Border Infrastructure Fund created by the legislature during its most recent session. Danna shared details about the process in a recent Blandin Foundation-sponsored webinar. She is also touring Minnesota communities to talk more about the opportunity.
The Task Force agreed on two budget recommendations for Commissioner Sieben’s consideration:
- $200 million over two years for Broadband Deployment Fund
- $2.9 million over two years for the Office of Broadband Development; that includes $1.4 million for continued mapping (but with no reference to a specific vendor) and the remaining for operating funds (including staff) and program delivery
I suspect that the details of the broadband fund will be informed by the process distributing the $20 million this year. Also I assume the Task Force will be looking for some good stories from the 2014 fund recipients to help plea the case to legislators for more funding over the next two years. I think the matching component is also likely to be encouraged.
Finally the Task Force decided not to meet in August at Farm Fest as originally planned. Logistics were cited as the reason.