MN Broadband Task Force Sep 2023: Introductions and rules of engagement

This is the fist meeting of the new iteration of the MN Broadband Task Force. It feels a lot like the first day of school. Lots of introductions and talks about how things happen, rules and a basic history of what’s happened in the past and goals moving forward. There’s a practical lesson on how the MN Legislature works.

Sounds like there’s no plan for a report in 2023 but that the Task Force might just submit a letter with recommendations.

Task Force members present introduced themselves. I didn’t include a lot of bio information but I did provide links when I could. I did take note of why folks have joined the Task Force.

Tewodros (Teddy) Bekele (Senior VP/CTO, Land O’Lakes) – how do we get technology in the hands of out members? Can we get MN to 100 percent covered? 25/3 is probably achievable – but 100/20 is even better. Lack of broadband stops progress.
Marc Johnson (Executive Director, East Central Minnesota Educational Cable Cooperative) – I’m here for education. I’ve been doing this for 15 years. This is my second term on the Task Force. There’s unfinished business. We need to serve everyone with education and ubiquitous broadband makes that easier.
Adam Hutchens (Marketing Representative, Laborers’ International Union of North America) – we went all digital during the pandemic, which meant we lost contact to much of our membership. I want to collaborate and learn.
Steve Fenske (General Counsel, Minnesota Association of Townships) – our members are not connected. Broadband is as important to us as roads. Second time on the task force. This is a fairness issue.
Paul McDonald (Board Chair, St. Louis County Commissioners) – we live in a hard to build place. We’re built on rock. We need better speed. 25/3 doesn’t work today. We invested at county level with $5 million cap funding. Townships have invest ARAP funds. I want to learn more. We need broadband in every home.
Ini Augustine (Chief Executive Officer, Technologist Computers) – represent people who are digitally redlined. Want to learn about the structure that allows redlining to happen. Founder of Black broadband summit. The Digital divide is the new Jim Crow. November 13 is next broadband summit.
Bruce Crane (Area Vice-President, Communications Workers of America) – on the national CWA broadband task force. Working on broadband for all. DEED funding will bring $650M to broadband we want to see high level labor standards
David Wolf (CEO, Gardonville Coop Telephone Association) – representing rural service providers – want to work with everyone to meet goals
Gail Hedstrom (Director of the Fergus Falls Public Library) – I’ve seen disparities lack of access brings. Lack of broadband leads to lack of tech skills. I see people in their 30s who don’t have email addresses.

You can see the full list of members on the OBD website.

Presentation from Office of Broadband Development

It’s an overview of what ODB does and information on the funding available including the border to border grants, low density grants, BEAD, IIJA and Digital Equity Funds.

Question on Challenge process: has OBD been involved in promoting the challenge process?
We have been trying. We spoke with MTA and have been talking with counties. We promoted individuals doing challenges early on. Counties have a wide range of tools to lead a challenge effort. We now have a GIS person on staff and that might help.
Is there funding to support the extra work to do challenges?
Not with out planning funds. There were microgrants for the Digital Equity Plan development but not for challenges.
We do have money for mapping. Many issues have arisen since July. We could look at budget modifications – but there probably won’t be a lot of capacity.
There should be a mechanism to fund the challenge support.
NTIA funding is based on FCC mapping – so BEAD funding has to serve the initially recognized unserved areas first. We know that this BEAD money is not enough.

Open Meeting Law