Internet for All Conference
The Office of Broadband Development hosted a daylong conference to get folks on the same page for preparing for federal funding for infrastructure and digital equity. They also followed up with opportunities to get more involved.
MN Broadband Task Force
Early in January, the Minnesota Broadband Task Force released their annual broadband report recommending that the State invests in broadband. Later, they met to get updates from the Office of Broadband Development. They talked about the $276 million that Governor Walz has in his budget for broadband. The current Task Force is slated to sunset in April 2023.
State News
- What is the Broadband Line Extension Program in Minnesota?
- Broadband Budget at MN Senate Committee Ag, Broadband, and Rural Dev Committee
- Update on MN PUC LTD Broadband situation – no update from FCC
- MN House take on Governor Walz’s broadband budget
- MN House Ag Finance and Policy Committee Meeting hears about broadband budget
- Details on Governor Walz’s $270 million broadband budget
- MN PUC notes on LTD Broadband situation: stayed ruling, ILSR may intervene, LTD counsel withdraws
- Rural Broadband to be Main Area of Study for MN House Ag Policy Committee
- MN House Agriculture Finance and Policy hear about broadband and see the 2022 Broadband Task Force Report
- MN House is prepared to focus on broadband but is anyone going to ask for future investments for grants?
- MN Office of Broadband Development presents to MN Senate – Agriculture, Broadband Rural Development
- MN House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee hears about telecommunications
- Listening to legislative priorities in MN – not hearing about broadband
Federal News
- Senator Smith highlights federal benefits in MN including broadband
- US Farm Bill may mean more broadband funding in the future
- Institute for Local Self Reliance parses out FCC maps and potential federal funding
- Federal Hearing on Broadband sound like MN hearings – with only one side speaking
- MN House bonding committee hears of billions in federal funds available for MN capital projects – including broadband
- Why is computer ownership less in rural areas? How can it improve?
Vendor News
Local Broadband News
Alexandria
ISP changes in Alexandria MN when ALP Utilities sells its fiber to Arvig
Arvig buys network to serve 130 businesses in Alexandria MN
Apple Valley
More info on Apple Valley Border to Border grant (Dakota County)
Carver County
Carver County continues its long history of planning and building FTTH
Dakota County
More on Border to Border grants in Dakota County
Houston and Winona Counties
More on Border to Border grants in in Houston and Winona Counties
Independence
Independence will be seeking a Border to Border grant (Hennepin County)
Iron Range
61 Iron Range small businesses receive “Tech Boosts”
Kandiyohi County
Kandiyohi County is looking at $400,000 ARPA funding for broadband
Leech Lake Reservation
Leech Lake gets $18.7 million from Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Martin County
Martin County Commissioners are looking at better broadband options
Nelson
More info on Gardonville’s border to border award in Nelson (Douglas County)
Otter Tail County
More on Border to Border grant in Otter Tail County
Polk County
Beltrami Electric Cooperative gets $22.7 million USDA loan for smart grid technology (Polk County)
Scandia
Scandia is working on their 5 year broadband plan (Washington County)
Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources
- EVENT Feb 13: Affordable Connectivity Program Sign Up Day in Ball Club (Itasca County)
- EVENT Feb 16: ILSR’s Building for Digital Equity Returns
- OPPORTUNITY: AARP Community Challenge grant applications are open
- OPPORTUNITY: Become a Leading Edge Fellow at ILSR
- Do you have a broadband story to tell? Give it to the FCC
- Advice from a MN Broadband Task Force Member: Look at the MN Line
- Office of Broadband Development urges MN to play role in Digital Equity Plan
Blandin on Broadband 