Just wanted to share the updates from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development…
62 Broadband grant requests total $55.5 million
The final tally is in: Communities and providers filed 62 grant applications by the October 3 deadline for the 2016 Border-to-Border Broadband grant program, requesting a total of $55.5 million (out of a pool of $35 million). Awards are expected to be announced by the end of this year.
Broadband grant application challenges due November 7
Entities wishing to challenge any of the 2016 Broadband grant applications must do so by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 7, 2016. Challenges will only be considered from providers that submitted updated broadband mapping data to Connected Nation in the 2016 data collection period. Note that Challenges must be submitted in writing (on paper) to OBD’s office:
Office of Broadband Development
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
1st National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite E200
St. Paul, MN 55101-1351
A separate challenge must be submitted for each project being challenged.
For more information, go to http://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/grant-program and click on the “challenge process” tab.
And info on upcoming events…
- Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, Wednesday, November 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: 2308 Hearing Room, Minnesota Senate Building, 95 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55155. The agenda and previous meeting minutes are available on the Task Force website.
- Minnesota Association of Townships, Educational Conference & Annual Meeting: November 17-19, 2016. Theme is Rural Broadband: Essential for America’s Future
River’s Edge Convention Center
St Cloud, MN - Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, Thursday, December 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: 2308 Hearing Room, Minnesota Senate Building, 95 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55155. The agenda and previous meeting minutes are available on the Task Force website