From the Office of Broadband Development…

Digital Equity Planning Update

As of June 30, almost 80 Digital Connection Committees have provided OBD with over 250 reports, datasets, survey results, and summaries, all focused on telling their communities’ digital inclusion stories. OBD is in the process of taking this information and synthesizing it into the state’s digital equity plan.

A complete draft of the plan is scheduled for release on August 21. From August 21 to September 29, OBD will welcome public comment and constructive feedback on the plan through an online survey, virtual and in-person meetings.Save the Date(s) for Regional Digital Equity Gatherings

To encourage statewide conversation around the draft digital equity plan, OBD will be hosting 17 gatherings during the public comment period. Join us at whichever location is most convenient for you! Exact locations, times, and registration information is forthcoming:

• August 29 in Willmar
• August 30 in Marshall
• August 31 in Worthington
• September 5 in Saint Paul
• September 6 in Winona and Rochester
• September 7 in Faribault and Mankato
• September 12 in Crookston
• September 13 in Fergus Falls
• September 14 online
• September 18 in Hinckley
• September 19 in Two Harbors
• September 20 in Deer River
• September 21 in Minneapolis
• September 26 in International Falls
• September 27 in Bemidji
• September 28 online

BEAD Five-Year Action Plan

The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program provides funding for broadband infrastructure and the preparation of a plan by each eligible entity for how to achieve internet for all. As Minnesota’s eligible entity, the Office of Broadband Development submitted the state’s BEAD Five-Year Action Plan (Appendix 7.1 OBD Meetings 2014 to 2022 and Appendix 7.2 NTIA Local Coordination Documentation Tracker) to NTIA in July. Minnesota will receive a total of $651,839,368. State amounts were calculated from the number of unserved locations (locations without reliable broadband service of at least 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload) within each state based on new maps that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) developed as well as the number of such locations in areas deemed to be high cost.

For more information visit mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/

Congratulations to the Newest ReConnect 4 Awardees

Congratulations to the following Minnesota providers who were recently awarded ReConnect 4 Grants and Loans through the USDA – Rural Development Program.  For more information regarding each project, please visit www.usda.gov/reconnect/round-four-awardees.

Applicant: Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association

Total square miles: 76.4

Funded Service Area Households: 155

Award amount: $19,039,348

Applicant: MiEnergy Cooperative

Total square miles: 91.3

Funded Service Area Households: 377

Award amount: $13,677,078

Applicant: Johnson Telephone Company

Total square miles: 59.2

Funded Service Area Households: 440

Award amount: $15,832,816

Minnesota Rural Broadband Connectivity Initiative

Interested in federal and state resources, programs, and/or funding to address rural connectivity issues?

Join staff from the Midwest Region’s federal agencies and Minnesota leaders to learn about resources that can be leveraged to support expansion of programs to increase rural connectivity. You’ll hear from representatives from various state and federal agencies to assist you in leveraging available programs.

What

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Staff will review its ConnectHomeUSA program.  The initiative allows organizations to produce locally-tailored solutions for narrowing the digital divide for HUD-assisted residents.

When

Wednesday, August 30, 10 am – 12:30 pm

For full details on how to join the meeting, visit our website.

New Staff in the Office of Broadband Development (OBD) OBD is happy to welcome our new hires!
Olufunso Oresanya

Community Engagement and Special Project Coordinator

Olu previously worked with Metro Transit on the Blueline Extension Project where he served as Community Outreach Coordinator and Commuter programs teams. He studied Public Policy In Nigeria and has a Master’s Degree in International Relations with a major in Terrorism and International Crimes from Coventry University, United Kingdom. He loves biking, soccer and the Manchester United. Olu is also a Navy Reservist serving active-duty time as Funeral Honors Coordinator for Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. He loves barbecues and smooth jazz. Olu’s world revolves around family and friends. Since arriving in the US in 2016, Olu has visited 26 states and Washington DC. He has lived on four continents – Africa, Europe, Middle East and North America.

Kate Stower

Community Engagement and Special Project Coordinator
Kate is an educator and urban and regional planner. Most recently she worked at the Minnesota Historical Society administering several federal grant programs serving teachers around the state. She also served as the State Social Studies Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education, coordinating the last revision of the k-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies. Prior to her work in educational leadership, she was a middle and high school teacher. She graduated with her Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, focusing on community engagement and rural development. For the Office of Broadband Development, Kate will support both the BEAD and Digital Equity grant programs including community engagement efforts across the state. In her free time she loves to spend time with her husband and three kids—travelling, camping and watching a lot of youth soccer.

Megan Moudry

Digital Equity Grants Administrator

Megan comes to OBD from the Native American Community Clinic where she worked as the Intensive Outpatient Program Coordinator. She looks forward to connecting with OBD’s partners and the greater digital equity community to build relationships of reciprocity as we all learn from and support each other. Megan brings strong skills in administering federal and state grants, honed during the 12 years she spent with the Upper Sioux Community coordinating a MN-Tribal State Health Improvement Partnership grant, environmental education initiatives, and water quality research. Born and raised in the Willmar, MN area, Megan is the proud parent of two children, a MN Master Naturalist volunteer and instructor, and a student of Dakota ethnobotany. You may hear her cat, Freckles, singing in the background of Zoom calls.