Monthly Archives: May 2023

East Central Energy (ECE) starts fiber construction in Dalbo, Ogilvie, Braham and Pine City (Isanti and Kanabec Counties)

Posted on by
Reply

Isanti-Chisago County Star reports…

East Central Energy is proud to announce that construction for ECE Fiber started on May 8, 2023. Construction will consist of installing both overhead and underground fiber lines, starting in the Dalbo area before moving to Ogilvie, Braham, and Pine City throughout the remainder of the year.

The cooperative first explored providing fiber internet services in 2019 but it wasn’t until November 2021 that the ECE Board of Directors made the decision to move forward with a full fiber-to-the-home project. Since then, the co-op has developed ECE Fiber and is advancing toward bringing reliable internet services to some of the most underserved counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

This is big news for an area that’s been working on broadband for a long time. Last year Isanti and Kanabec Counties were in the bottom 10 served counties in Minnesota. ECE has been working hard to make it happen…

Fiber construction is scheduled to take place over the next five years, covering all of ECE’s service territory. Construction plans have been confirmed for 2023 and are in motion until the ground freezes later this year. Moving forward, ECE Fiber will solidify areas each summer to be constructed in the following year and updates will be shared on ecefiber.com….

ECE members are encouraged to visit ecefiber.com and sign up to express interest in fiber internet services, and to review package tiers and prices. By signing up online, members will be notified as ECE gets closer to building in their area and receive updates via email.

 

Minnesota to invest $500 million for tech initiatives in State Government

Posted on by
Reply

State Scoop reports…

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a dozen government spending bills into law on Wednesday, setting funding for the next two years. In total, the bills provide more than $500 million for technology initiatives across state government — with $130 million going directly toward the Minnesota IT Services agency and its efforts to modernize state systems and digital services.

One of the 12 funding bills Walz signed, the state government and elections finance bill, lays out how MNIT will use the new funding, including greater cybersecurity protections, putting up matching funds for Minnesota’s award from the federal cyber grant program and improved user experiences in state digital services.

Minnesota Chief Information Officer Tarek Tomes said in an interview that the funding for technology initiatives at both his agency and others across the state signals a unified stance by Walz’s administration for improving residents’ experiences.

Frontier Communications plans to stick with copper for 3-5 years

Posted on by
Reply

Fierce Telecom reports…

Frontier Communications still has hundreds of thousands of copper passings, but it doesn’t seem like that footprint will be taken offline anytime soon. CEO Nick Jeffery said during an investor conference this week the operator thinks it can get more bang for its buck deploying fiber than decommissioning copper – at least in the short term.

Jeffery has a history with turning down copper networks, having done so several times in his previous role as CEO of Vodafone UK. He said Frontier has studied the process in “great detail,” with early pilots showing “it’s possible” and “an important source of savings.” But, he added, Frontier expects the majority of savings in the short term to come from fiberizing copper customers rather than decommissioning copper.

“I think full copper decommissioning, central office grooming and all of that sort of stuff is important. But I think when we think about the next use of an incremental dollar, it’s much better spent building fiber in the short run versus copper decommissioning,” he said, noting fiber customers make fewer customer service calls and require fewer truck rolls. “I think full copper decommissioning will be important but I think in a three to five year time horizon.”

Imagine if you lived in an area with copper and you knew there was no plan to convert any time soon. According to a press release from 2020, they have 90,000 customers in Minnesota; I don’t know if they are copper or fiber…

Frontier provides telephone and internet service to approximately 90,000 customers in Minnesota, many of whom live outside the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area and have limited options for high-speed internet service.

The good news is that apparently Frontier will be talking to them…

That said, Frontier isn’t planning to ignore copper customers until fiber arrives. Jeffery said it is making “very targeted investments” in its copper network, for instance in areas where weather events disproportionately degrade performance. He added it has started communicating with its copper customers again, “which is something the old Frontier had never done.”

Apparently Frontier has a lot of copper and may have plans to get more with government subsidies…

As of the end of Q1 2023, Frontier still had nearly twice as many copper passings as fiber, with 9.9 million copper and 5.5 million fiber locations covered. But the reverse was true of its customer statistics, with 1.6 million fiber broadband customers to 987,000 copper customers. Overall fiber penetration as a percentage of total passings stood at 32.2% while copper was at 11.3%. Fiber penetration within its fiber footprint specifically, however, was 43.5%.

But Frontier isn’t planning to convert all of its copper customers to fiber. Frontier’s Chief Strategy Officer Vishal Dixit previously said it will see how many additional copper customers it can reach with the help of government subsidies.

Version 2 of the FCC’s National Broadband Map is Up!

Posted on by
Reply

The Internet for All folks report on the latest iteration of the national broadband maps. A super quick comparison to maps used for the 2022 Minnesota County Profiles leaves me wondering what the difference is. I’m hoping over the next week to dive deeper into the topic – once I can do more than a spot check…

Today the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released Version 2 of the National Broadband Map. This is an important step in meeting President Biden’s goal of connecting everyone in America to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service.

This map is the most accurate depiction of broadband availability in the FCC’s history. Last year, for the first time ever, the FCC generated a National Broadband Map that includes location level data. This tool provides the transparency needed to better understand the digital divide and to target funding to connect unserved and underserved communities across the country.

Below are NTIA’s three key takeaways from the latest data:

  • Through challenges and additional work that the FCC has been doing to improve the map’s underlying Fabric—a dataset of all locations where Internet service can be installed—the FCC added nearly three million Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) while removing nearly two million for reasons ranging from updated data to the use of sophisticated tools to identify and remove structures like garages and sheds.
  • The FCC’s challenge process resolved more than 3.7 million challenges to the availability data —a dataset that shows whether Internet service is, in fact, available at each location, resulting in a more accurate picture of the high-speed Internet service currently available across the nation.
  • The overall national story remains consistent: From version 1 to version 2 of the FCC’s map, the percentage of unserved locations nationwide increased by 0.2 percentage points.

The release of version 2 of the FCC’s National Broadband Map is an important part of the process of implementing the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This version of the map—plus additional refinements based on the FCC’s continuing work to resolve availability challenges—will be used as the basis for the state allocations for the BEAD program. We know states are eager to learn more about their funding, and we continue to be on track to announce those allocations by June 30th.

It is important to remember that while the number of unserved locations in the FCC’s National Broadband Map will be used in the allocation, it is not a 1:1 correlation to final BEAD funding.  For more information about how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directs NTIA to make allocations, please see our recent blog, “Allocation of Funds.”

NTIA is confident that with this data as a baseline, we will be able to effectively allocate funds by the end of June. We will continue to monitor the FCC’s updates to availability data to ensure that we make a well-informed allocation of these vital funds.

The FCC’s map—and our ability to get the most accurate depiction of Internet access across the country—reflects ongoing collaboration among the federal government, states and territories, industry, and other stakeholders. The data underlying the FCC’s map will help us expand access to the education, healthcare, and economic resources that the Internet provides.

Ultimately, we know tens of millions of people across America do not have access to high-speed Internet service. It is vital we continue to implement this program with urgency and begin the deployment of high-speed Internet infrastructure through the BEAD program as soon as possible.

For more details on how the FCC National Broadband Map Impacts the BEAD Program read our three-part blog series at InternetForAll.Gov. 

OPPORTUNITY: Nominate the next IP3 Awards winner deadline June 2

Posted on by
Reply

This is an opportunity to recognize a colleague through Public Knowledge. The deadline (June 2) is coming up fast but the nomination form is short and sweet…

The IP3 Awards, hosted annually by Public Knowledge, recognize individuals who have made significant contributions in the three areas of “IP”: Intellectual Property, Information Policy, and Internet Protocol.

Our 20th IP3 Awards ceremony will take place on September 28, and we’re currently accepting nominations for deserving candidates. Whether it’s for a career’s worth of work or a recent achievement, if you know someone who has excelled in any of these three fields, please nominate them!

To submit a nomination, simply fill out the form below by June 2, providing the nominee’s name and a brief explanation of why you believe they should win.

Check out our past winners for inspiration.

After receiving all nominations, a panel of judges will review the submissions and select three winners.

OPPORTUNITY: more funding to promote the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

Posted on by
Reply

The FCC announces funding opportunities…

The Federal Communications Commission today announced details for additional outreach grant opportunities to promote the Affordable Connectivity
Program (ACP). The outreach grants seek to enlist targeted trusted community messengers to develop innovative outreach strategies to reach historically unserved and underserved communities.
With today’s announcement, the Commission is issuing two Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for up to $10 million, targeting $5 million for the National Competitive Outreach Program (NCOP) and $5 million for the Tribal Competitive Outreach Program (TCOP). Eligible NCOP applicants must submit applications by no later than 6:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 30, 2023. Eligible TCOP applicants must submit applications by no later than 6:00 p.m. EDT on July 28, 2023. …

The ACP is a $14.2 billion FCC program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that helps
ensure that qualifying low-income households can afford the broadband they need for work,
school, healthcare, and more. The program plays an integral role in helping to bridge the
broadband affordability gap.
Additional information and resources
For questions about the grant opportunities, contact ACPGrants@fcc.gov. For assistance using
www.grants.gov, please contact the Help Desk at (800) 518-4726 or email support@grants.gov.
For Section 504 Compliance support, please contact the FCC Section 504 Compliance Officer at
FCC504@fcc.gov.
To find out about eligibility requirements and apply for ACP, go to GetInternet.gov

 

MN high school tech education is the worst

Posted on by
1

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports…

In the next 10 years, Minnesota businesses will have to fill 81,000 tech jobs, including 45,000 in the next five years, vacancies mostly from retirements and job changes to other states, according to the Minnesota Technology Association (MTA). In that same span, there will be an additional 6,500 IT jobs.

Minnesota projects to produce only 6,600 new tech workers by 2032, not nearly enough to address all the positions.

Technology is a profitable career choice…

As of 2022, there are roughly 110,000 tech employees in the state. That figure ranks 18th among the 50 states, according the Computing Technology Industry Association. A year ago, Minnesota ranked 12th in net tech employment.

Experts forecast the state’s unemployment rate for tech occupations to stay at 1.1% through 2027. Software developers and analysts are the most sought after workers in Minnesota with more than 7,000 positions advertised each month, though employers fill only 1 in 4 of those positions each month.

In Minnesota, the annual median tech wage is $94,715, 106% higher than the state’s median wage. Depriving students, especially those living in underrepresented communities, from high salaries can be a detriment to the state’s economy, experts said.

Schools are not helping…

Minnesota ranks last in the U.S. in the percentage of high schools offering computer science coursework with only 21% doing so. Of those schools, 12% are in urban areas, according to MTA. The national average of states whose schools offer computer science courses is 53%.

Meanwhile in Iowa, 71% of high schools offer a computer science course, and in Wisconsin, it’s 66%. North Dakota recently signed into law a bill that makes taking at least one computer science or cybersecurity course a requirement for graduation.

EVENT: June 17: Community broadband discussion in Wiscoy Township (Winona County)

Posted on by
Reply

The Winona Post reports…

The Minnesota Department of Economic Expansion is helping host a Digital Inclusion Committee in Wiscoy Township in southern Winona County. The committee will receive community feedback from folks that are lacking good broadband access, then use this information to help write Minnesota’s Digital Equity Plan.

The committee is being hosted by resident Dan Wilson. “Minnesota is expected to invest more than $275 million in broadband internet expansion in the next couple years, and I wanted to make sure that rural voices are a part of the conversation on how to spend it,” Wilson said.

The community conversation is open to anyone in the area lacking access to high-speed broadband. The group will discuss the impact of not having good internet access and possible solutions. The meeting will take place on Saturday, June 17, from 2-3:30 p.m. at 30935 Zephyr Valley Lane, Rushford. Refreshments will be provided.

I assume this meeting is part of the outreach for the State’s Digital Equity Plan being written by the Office of Broadband Development.

Broadband Updates from DEED: 2023 funds, line extension and job opening

Posted on by
Reply

An email update from the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Updates from DEED:

  • Broadband Funded in 2023 Session
  • Line Extension Connection Program Update
  • Office of Broadband Development (OBD) is Hiring a GIS Analyst!

Legislature Appropriates $100 Million for Broadband for FY24-25

The Minnesota legislature passed, and on May 18 Governor Walz signed, the Agriculture omnibus bill which appropriates $100 million in state general revenue funds for broadband deployment. The bill includes $50 million in funding to the Border-to-Border and Lower Population Density Programs for both fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Of the $50 million allocated for each fiscal year, $30 million is to be used for the traditional Border-to-Border Broadband Infrastructure grant program and $20 million is for the Lower Population Density Program. Additionally, the cap on a Border-to-Border Infrastructure grant was increased to $10 million per project while the grant being able to fund up to 50% of eligible costs remains. The Lower Population Density Program was created as a pilot in the 2022 legislative session and codified in the 2023 legislative session. It also has a $10 million cap per project, but a grant can fund up to 75% of eligible costs – an incentive necessary to attract applications for those areas of the state with lower population densities or significantly higher costs to deploy. OBD anticipates opening the state funded FY24 grant round late summer/early fall and the FY25 grant round in late winter 2024.

Line Extension Connection Program – Addresses Out for Provider Bid

The Line Extension Connection Program closed out its first six-month registration period and 2300 addresses (residential and businesses) registered in the DEED portal were provided to Broadband Providers to challenge. The remaining addresses are now being made available to Broadband Providers to submit bids for a Line Extension Connection grant to build out service. Bids from Broadband Providers to deliver wired broadband service of at least 100Mbps download and upload will be due no later than July 24, 2023. Bids will then be reviewed, winning bidders selected, and grant contracts executed before construction will begin to those locations included in winning bids. More information is available on our website here: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/extension/

We’re Hiring a GIS Analyst! Applications due by June 5

The Office of Broadband Development at DEED is hiring a GIS Analyst to support the work of the office in broadband mapping coordination, data collection, data analysis and geospatial data collection. The person hired will contribute to the strategy, planning, design, implementation and maintenance of broadband mapping programs and related data and applications to ensure compliance with state and federal program requirements. The position is State of Minnesota telework eligible.

Here is the link to the posting and application. Please share with anyone you think would be a good candidate: Research Analysis Specialist – GIS Analyst – Job ID 65812 or Apply Here.

Cell coverage can be at least as bad as broadband in rural areas

Posted on by
Reply

Doug Dawson reports…

Over the last few years, I have helped dozens of counties get ready for the upcoming giant broadband grants. We’ve been very successful in helping counties identify the places in their County that don’t have broadband today – which is often drastically different than what is shown by the FCC maps. We then help county governments reach out to the ISPs in the region and open up a dialog with the goal of making sure that all rural locations get better broadband. This takes a lot of work – but it’s satisfying to see counties that are on the way to finding a total broadband solution.

In working with these counties, one thing has become clear to me. Some of these counties have a bigger cellular coverage problem than they do a broadband problem. There are often a much larger number of homes in a county that don’t have adequate cellular coverage than those who can’t buy broadband.

I remember doing work in Western Minnesota, where often my dad would drive me to a meeting. He learned to park on the top of any hill (a tough find in parts of MN) or come right to the location of the meeting around the time he though I’d be done because he got no service in the area. So no way for me to contact him. Sometimes I got no service even from my meeting, which was likely in the courthouse.

Apparently there is a way to challenge the cell maps, but Doug doesn’t seem too optimistic about them…

Now the cellular carriers are required to produce maps every six months at the same time as ISPs report broadband coverage. If you haven’t noticed, you can see claimed cellular coverage on the same dashboard that shows the broadband map results. I haven’t spent much time digesting the new cellular maps since all of my clients are so focused on broadband. But I checked the maps in the region around where I live, and the maps still seem to exaggerate coverage. This is supposed to get better when wireless carriers are supposed to file heat maps for the coverage around each transmitter – we’ll have to see what that does to the coverage. It’s going to get harder for a wireless carrier to claim to cover large swaths of a county when it’s only on a tiny handful of towers.

There is a supposed way for folks to help fix the cellular maps. The FCC has a challenge process that requires taking a speed test using the FCC cellular speed test app. Unfortunately, this app requires a lot of speed tests in a given neighborhood before the FCC will even consider the results. I’m doubtful that most rural folks know of this app or are motivated enough to stop along the side of the road and repeatedly take the speed tests. And frankly, who knows if it will make any real difference even if they do?

The big cellular companies have clearly not invested in many new rural cell towers over the last decade because they’d rather have the FCC fork out the funding. I haven’t the slightest idea if $9 billion is enough money to solve the problem or even put a dent in it. No doubt, the FCC will saddle the program with rules that will add to the cost and result in fewer towers being built. But whatever is going to happen, it needs to start happening soon. We are not a mobile society, and it’s outrageous that a lot of people can’t make a call to 911, let alone use all of the features that are now controlled by our cell phones.

If your summer holiday plans include a road trip, you can check cell coverage yourself. Just track how many times your call drops of the kids in the back seat complain about service.

FCC National Broadband Map will impact allocation awards announced by June 30

Posted on by
Reply

The NTIA reports…

NTIA is preparing to enter a crucial phase for the Internet for All initiative. Soon, we will notify states and territories of their BEAD program allocation amounts. Once we’ve made those notifications, states and territories will have 180 days to submit their initial proposals. We are confident we will have the data we need to take that step when we make our allocation announcement by June 30.

It sounds like they are not expecting big changes…

To understand the impact of the challenge process and additional work that the FCC and its vendor CostQuest have been doing to improve the map, we can analyze the change in broadband serviceable locations between version 1 and version 2 of the Fabric. As the FCC notes, the number of serviceable locations between version 1 and version 2 increased from 113 million locations to about 114 million locations, which accounts for a less than 1% net increase in the total number of broadband serviceable locations across the country.  Note that, as the FCC’s blog further clarifies, this net change reflected both additions and subtractions from the fabric—the FCC added nearly three million locations while removing nearly two million for reasons ranging from updated data to the use of more sophisticated tools to identify and remove structures like garages and sheds.

This tells us three things:

  1. The changes between version 1 and version 2 of the Fabric were relatively modest, and we can expect that changes between future versions of the FCC map will likely continue to be modest.
  1. These modest changes go both ways. States, territories, and the District of Columbia (“Eligible Entities”) could gain or lose locations from version to version.
  1. If the changes to the total number of BSLs is modest—and at less than 1% they were—then it is likely that the impact on the allocation is modest, because the key variable in the BEAD allocation formula is the number of unserved locations in a state or territory relative to the total number of unserved locations nationwide.

 

Turning wind into broadband in Lincoln County – got Lincoln County from ranked 65 to 2

Posted on by
Reply

KSTP is following renewable energy and snuck into the story was a highlight on how Lincoln County used the proceeds from wind taxes…

The wind farms also create a significant windfall. The counties and townships generate revenue through the Wind Energy Production Tax. The funding is tied to the power generated by the wind towers.

While the revenue is not guaranteed year to year, data shows Lincoln County’s share has steadily increased over the past 10 years, hitting an all-time high in 2021 at nearly $3.5 million.

VanDeVere said the money is most often used to offset property taxes, but in 2020, Lincoln County invested in a massive expansion of broadband service in the county.

“Every rural house, every hog confinement, every dairy setup. Anybody that wanted it, they would hook it up,” VanDeVere said. The investment meant 99% of the county had access to high-speed internet in the middle of the pandemic.

The frustrating news, and real point of the story, is that apparently there’s now too much energy going through the lines (imagine that with broadband!) and some of it is getting lost because there’s not one to send it and no way to save it.

Lincoln County (Oct 2022) did go from 80 percent of the county had access to broadband at speeds of 100/20 to 99.99 in the last year, which meant they went from rank of 65 to 2 in the last county profile check in.

 

RDOF areas that have not received RDOF funding authorization can apply for BEAD

Posted on by
Reply

Telecompetitor has an update on the situation with $9.2 billion of RDOF money doled out by the NTIA based on results of a reverse auction. The largest winning bidder was LTD Broadband, which means they won the exclusive opportunity to apply for funding in certain areas – many of them in Minnesota. It’s a situation we’ve been following in Minnesota, especially since it has led the Minnesota PUC (Public Utilities Commission) to delve into the working of LTD Broadband.

The good news they report is that RDOF areas that have not received RDOF funding authorization can apply for BEAD. One thorn in the side of Minnesota communities in LTD-RDOF areas is that being in the limbo of possibly receiving funds left they out of a state Border to Border funding round.

Here are more details from Telecompetitor…

Winning bidders were required to submit long-form applications and obtain eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) status if they didn’t already have it. A company is put on an RDOF ready-to-authorize list when the FCC has reviewed and approved its long-form application. The company then has about two weeks to obtain a letter of credit and a bankruptcy opinion letter, which the FCC reviews and approves prior to putting the company on a list of authorized bidders.

Three-quarters of the funding tentatively won in the auction is slated to go to just 10 companies. Among the top winning bidders, most of the companies planning to deploy fiber broadband have had all or most of their funding released. Several companies planning to use alternate technologies – including gigabit fixed wireless and low earth orbit satellites – have not yet appeared on a ready-to-authorize list. Gigabit fixed wireless has received criticism as a relatively unproven technology and LEO satellites have been criticized because they also are relatively unproven and have a limited lifespan.

LTD Broadband, which was the largest winning bidder and which plans to use fiber broadband for its deployments, also has not yet appeared on an RDOF ready-to-authorize list. The company has received considerable criticism from people who question whether it has the resources to complete the bids for which it won funding.

A lot has changed on the rural broadband front since the RDOF auction was completed in late 2020. Since then, legislators have made an unprecedented amount of funding available for rural broadband. The $9.2 billion tentatively awarded in the auction is only a fraction of the $42.5 billion that will be awarded through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program created in the infrastructure act and that will be administered by NTIA.

Rules for that program were recently released and they reveal lessons learned from the RDOF auction. Rather than using a reverse auction to award funding, the BEAD program will use a merit system that prioritizes fiber broadband.

Unserved locations that are supposed to receive broadband through the RDOF program are not eligible for BEAD or other funding programs, but just this week, we got some additional clarification about that. Alan Davidson, head of NTIA, told attendees at an industry conference this week that if an area has yet to receive RDOF funding authorization, that area should be eligible for BEAD grants, and it would then be up to the FCC to “deconflict” any potential overlap.

 

Walmart to offer telehealth for pets

Posted on by
Reply

KDAL in Duluth reports…

 Walmart Inc said on Monday it has signed a deal with pet telehealth provider Pawp to offer the retailer’s subscribed members access to veterinary professionals via video or text without an appointment.

Walmart+ customers can use Pawp’s services for a year from Tuesday, the top U.S. retailer said, as it looks to tap growing demand for pet telehealth from inflation-hit customers looking for cheaper alternatives.

OPPORTUNITY: Research Analysis Specialist – GIS Analyst

Posted on by
Reply

An opportunity to get a job helping Minnesota get better broadband with the Office of Broadband Development…

Working Title: GIS Analyst
Job Class: Research Analysis Specialist
Agency: Department of Employment and Economic Development

  • Who May Apply: This vacancy is open for bids and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bidders will be considered through 05/26/2023.
  • Date Posted: 05/20/2023
  • Closing Date: 06/05/2023
  • Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Employ & Econ Development Dept / Employ & Economic Dev-MAPE
  • Division/Unit: Business & Community Dev / 0359 Broadband Development
  • Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift
  • Days of Work: Monday – Friday
  • Travel Required: Yes, 5% occasional travel
  • Salary Range: $25.25 – $37.02 / hourly; $52,722 – $77,297 / annually
  • Classified Status: Classified
  • Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 – MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
  • FLSA Status: Nonexempt
  • Telework Eligible: Yes, may be eligible to telework up to five (5) days per week
  • Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

Job Summary

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst supports the work of the Office of Broadband Development (OBD) by providing broadband related mapping coordination, data collection, data analysis and geospatial data collection as it relates to the programs administered by the Office. Those programs include the Border-to-Border Broadband Infrastructure grant program, the Lower Population Density Pilot Program, the Line Extension Connection Program and the Digital Equity Act grant programs and other digital equity initiatives. The primary responsibility of this position is to contribute to the strategy, plan, design, implementation, and maintenance of broadband office mapping programs and related data and applications to ensure compliance with state and federal program requirements including the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, a component of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

This position will work closely with the state’s broadband mapping contractor, partners, and colleagues to coordinate broadband and digital equity related data collection activities and develop new state broadband map layers. This position will work with OBD staff, including broadband grant administrators and digital equity staff, and stakeholders to handle design, maintenance, updates, grant compliance, and troubleshooting of broadband maps, dashboards, websites and data collection. This position will be responsible for identifying, analyzing and interpreting large data sets related to broadband access, affordability and adoption in the state.

The GIS Analyst reports to the Executive Director of the Office of Broadband Development and takes daily work direction from the Deputy Director. This is a position requiring attention to detail, GIS experience, and an ability to prioritize work and resources while meeting deadlines.

This posting may be used to fill multiple positions.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

To receive credit for your education and experience, your resume should clearly describe how you meet each minimum and/or preferred qualification listed, including dates of employment.

Two (2) years* of professional training or experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Experience collecting and processing geospatial data and using the data for cartography or map making. Experience with various Esri GIS tools or products such as ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS for Developers, etc.

*Bachelor’s degree in Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Cartography or other closely related field as determined by the agency may substitute one (1) year of experience OR a bachelor’s degree in any field with a certificate in Geographic Information Systems may substitute one (1) year of experience

Applicants that meet the above minimum qualification will be further evaluated on the following:

GIS Experience in telecommunications, broadband, digital equity or for grant compliance

Written and oral communication skills to articulate complex procedures in plain English

Experience working as part of a team to complete large-scale, complex projects

Ability to pay attention to details

Incumbent must maintain valid driver’s license, & insurance, OR have other reliable transportation

Preferred Qualifications

Telecom/Cable/Internet Service Provider industry experience

Experience creating maps and data sets by compiling information from multiple data sources

Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures

Additional Requirements

This position requires successful completion of the following:

Resumes of all applicants to this posting will be evaluated against the Minimum Qualifications stated above. If your skills match the required skills for this position, the department may contact you. Employee reference checks will be conducted on all finalists. This may include a review of documentation related to job performance and education. It includes contact with the applicant’s current and/or former employers.

A Criminal Background Check will be conducted on all finalists for this position. A criminal conviction will not automatically remove you from consideration for employment.

When the position requires travel and the applicant drives a state owned or leased vehicle, a driver’s license record check will be conducted.

Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).

Application Details

How to Apply

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.

If you have questions about the position, contact Amber Yang at amber.yang@state.mn.us.