The Task Force met today. They heard from folks at the Office of Broadband Development, Marc Johnson from ECMECC and Dennis Rice from ECE, a border to border grant recipient. Lots of talk about BEAD funding, especially about mapping, the challenge process and questions about whether fixed wireless will be consider in the definition of broadband. It seems like folks are aligning to help smaller, more rural communities have a fair chance at receiving funding.

It was nice to hear a couple public comments. Also OBD announced a broadband conference happening March 12 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center.

Full notes:

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Welcome and Introductions from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

10:05 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Approval of minutes from September 19 and November 30 Task Force Meetings

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ECMECC Cooperative Benefits and Family/Student Challenges, Marc Johnson, Executive Director, ECMECC

Lots of public school cooperatives in Minnesota.

ECMECC started in 1983 – with cable, studios in the schools and ITV. Use MNIT as provider.

14 high schools and Pine Tech.

• Educational opportunities
• Career academies
• Classroom technology
• Big conference in summer
• Livestreaming for events
• Network info and security
• Advocacy – especially broadband

In Central MN there is a WAN – ECMECC just took that over for schools and libraries – there are other cooperatives in other part of Minnesota that do the same. We capture e-rate funding and telecom equity aid from the State. Full gig access or more – we aggregate access to save funds considerably.

Q: Are you part of cable franchising. It would be nice to use the cable franchise to work with cable companies to extend broadband service.
A: our contract with cable franchising did help – as least in the towns. It didn’t help rural areas.

One reason schools can’t play a larger role in being an anchor tenant for a community but federal funding rules prevents use from doing that. Federal funding is 50-80 percent of our costs. You need a local deal that will be at least that good to take it happen.

Schools are very involved in digital equity. Before the pandemic, we worked with the Blandin Foundation on broadband guides of what’s available. We are good at making sure counseling offices are equipped with information on affordable broadband access – especially during the pandemic. Cooperatives can apply for grants to get equipment, digital navigators and more. There are nonprofits that do that in the TCs but not in rural areas.

Challenges:

• Most schools have fiber (some still have fixed wireless to small buildings) so more
• Many schools have 1-to-1 programs but we’re aware of the funding going away post-pandemic when devices need to be maintained and/or replaced
• We still see digital haves and have-nots
• Some areas still have no broadband access
• Families struggle with affordable service.

Q: Is there more use of broadband required now post-pandemic?
A: yes. Learning management systems are more prevalent and used more.

Q: Are there things school want to do tomorrow that requires more broadband?
A: More, ubiquitous communication.

10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. BEAD Update from Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development and Diane Wells, Deputy Director, Office of Broadband Development

Bree is at broadband meeting with BEVCOMM and Governor Walz.

BEAD submission to NTIA.

MN will get $652M. NTIA will administer that funding. We need to file many reports – 5 year plan and Initial Proposal. We submitted draft on December 22. On Monday we got comments on volume 1 – they want more info on community anchor institutions. Border to Border doesn’t focus on anchor tenants but the NTIA makes them a third priority. There are some differences on including wired and fixed wireless in definition of broadband. MN has not included fixed wireless in the definition. We are working on getting an estimate to get ubiquitous broadband to broadband – we assume it is more than $652M. We had to map community anchor institutions for ARRA funding. They are asking about specific state examples of licensed vs unlicensed fixed wireless. We have Connected Nation look at tower locations versus expected reach of fixed wireless service and they did find examples where it wasn’t in synch with mapping. It looks like NTIA may entertain some exceptions. If nothing else, we’d like to flip the burden of proof – to make provider prove they can provide service rather than customer prove they can’t. Another issue that the area most in need are the rural areas that lack staffing to address broadband. We are working on list of served/under/unserved locations.
Once you have Volume one approved and Volume two submitted, we can start the mapping challenges. We are using a third party to get that done. We don’t know the timing because it’s not our decision but we will keep people informed.

Q: How many comments did you get on Initial Proposal draft.
A: 144 or so – summary went to NTIA, they aren’t publicly available.

Q: In St Louis County fixed wireless does not work in our area.
A: NTIA says we have to get to everyone but Minnesotans want fiber. Most folks can get Starlink – but people aren’t happy with it. So why use government funding to get Starlink to more people.

Q: It would be nice to get a one-sheet on how to deal with this stuff for counties.
A: We do have that for Line Extension applications. That’s a good idea for more.

Q: Challenge is going to be critical. Has the vendor shared an outreach plan?
A: NGO (owned by Sandburg) is working with 10 other states. Outreach will be 120 days. We need lead time before it opens to do speed tests. That will help people be prepared.

Q: Has NTIA released help with the challenge process?
A: NTIA would say that’s the State’s responsibility. You should go on FCC map to see how you are represented.

Q: Could we get Initial Draft comments?
A: We’ll see.

10:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Digital Opportunity Update from Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development and Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead

We used planning grant to submit plan to submit plan. It’s not a final draft – it has received some comments. We will resubmit on Feb 13. It outlines how we handle funding for digital equity programs. Comments were focused on structural issues. One sticky area is comments on timeline. They said, “Implementation is not reasonable or flexible.” We are waiting to hear how much we’ll get and what we can spend it on. NTIA is also working on competition grants, which NTIA will administer on national level. They will be very competitive. They are looking to give out $500,000 or more so they won’t suit smaller communities.

11:10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. Broadband Overview from Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development

Meeting new staff.

Just finished latest round of border to border grant applications – including the lower population density grants, which are capped at $10M

• 31 lower population applications submitted asking for 4 times budget available
• 38 border to border applications asking twice what’s available.

Line extension are in process. Next cycle will start in March.

Q: do you have line extension requests that don’t get provider bids?
A: yes it can be too expensive

Session starts Feb 12: initially there was mention for state funding for broadband. There will likely be bills introduced but the Governor had not budgeted anything. Sounds like it won’t go far.

ACP availability (or non) will impact expected take-rates for providers and therefore grant applications

Please sign up for our email blast. We hope to offer webinars in April. We will mention more on list about

Save the date March 12 for broadband conference at Earle Brown Heritage Center – it will continue with high standards set by event at Mystic Lake. It’s like the one we used to do with Blandin.

11:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Benefits from Border-to-Border Broadband Grants and ECE Deployment from Dennis Rice, Broadband Manager, East Central Energy

We were excited to see the quality of broadband ECE is able to build after dealing with lesser solutions in the past. In last 6 months, we’ve been building out fiber. Started a trial with folks and it’s gone well. We’re going live in that community on Monday. We’ve received three awards. The grants have made a big difference in our ability to build fiber. We’ve applied for a few grants in and out of Minnesota. What’s quality internet? We provide 100/100 as entry level for $64.99 monthly (nearly halved with ACP). It’s easily scalable.
I don’t have quality broadband where I live. If I could get anything, I’d like ECE connection. Noce to see digital equity as part of the plan.

Q: Any issues on material/staff procurement?
A: there were issues a year ago – not with fiber so much as equipment. In the spirit of cooperative, we planned and that has helped. For staffing, there have been contractors but they won’t work in temperatures under 40 degrees. So we’re working on locals.

Q:  As coop, what do you see as role of Task Force and workforce recruitment?
A: We haven’t had problem. People want to work for coops. But might be nice to get into career days in high schools. We need fiber splicers. Getting community colleges to offer broadband building classes would help.

We needed a group of 10-12 people to test the network. About 2 months ago, an employee got a message from current provider saying they would no longer be offering service – with an apology and a gift certificate from a random shop. That’s what happens in this area; service isn’t great and current providers do not have strong investment in staying.

Out goal is to get fiber to all members, starting with those with greatest need.

Q: How is arial deployment going?
A: Some challenges. We own many poles.

Q: Is there anything the Task Force can do to help?
A: Advocate for broadband careers. Advocate for fiber services.

12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Sub-Group Discussion

There are three groups: Affordability & Digital Equity, Mapping, Funding & Policy and Economic Opportunity & Workforce.
Groups provider feedback on speakers and outline challenges and make recommendations for annual report. Someone will be group lead and will report on progress or activities of groups. It’s not a huge commitment.

12:15 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. Public Comment, Other Business, February 15th Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

Public Comment: Pine County Commissioner: we are county 86 out of 87. The map shows that I’ve served and I can tell you that I’m not. I’m very concerned about the mapping. It’s not adequate. There’s a local B&B, they want broadband but have been told it will be $18,000 to deploy. Please remember us. We have township leaders who can’t get access. Please help us to help you.

Public Comment: Nathan Zacharias – I’ve spoken to NTIA about the challenge process. Counties do not have expertise and staff to complete challenge and mapping work nor can they afford consultants. Pleases work with NTIA to make it possible for them to challenge efficiently.

Q: Anything federal broadband funding assistance? If not would state look at helping?
A: ACP is unknown. Funding could run out in April. There’s a bill introduced yesterday that adds another $7B – to extend to December. We’ll see when MN Legislature starts if there’s an state interest in support.

 

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Break