MN Broadband Task Force met today. They decided to send a note to policymakers stressing the importance of investment in broadband – especially since MN House decreased their budget for broadband from $100 million to $25 million. Also they heard from OMB about various potential funding streams.

More notes

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.   Welcome, Task Force Introductions, Attendee Introductions and Approval of Minutes from March 24, 2022 Meeting

10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.  Legislative and OBD update

Two bills: HF14 was merged into Ag Bill. Funding was reduced from $100M to $25M from general funds. Adjusts grant match to 75 percent and increases grant limit to $10M. Passed the Ways and Means. SF4019 is funding using Capital Fund money (federal funds). They included line extension, mapping, grants and 75 percent match. Funding has $15M for each program – and all IIJA must be used for grants. The House and Senate are clearly far apart.  

Task Force plans to send a letter to policymakers making the case for more funding in broadband.

Diane Wells, Deputy Director, DEED Office of Broadband Development

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.  Update and discussion on subgroup topics from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.                Break

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Grant Process – role of MMB with IIJA, Capital Projects Fund, and SLFRF Liz Connor, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB)

Recovery funds

• $2.1B to cities
  more than 2,000 cities in MN
• $2.8B to state
  three areas: replace revenue (general fund), for legislature to decide, flexible pot to respond
• $3.5B programmatic