Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Update
The future of the ACP is in jeopardy as funding reserves run out, which would leave 22 million households in the US without broadband subsidies and more than 238,000 Minnesotans are in jeopardy. Senators have introduced legislation to extend ACP but so far nothing has changed.
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance has created a website that compiles everything you need to know about the ACP Transition. Help from Benton Institute on How the FCC Plans to End the Affordable Connectivity Program
The Office of Broadband Development (OBD) Annual Report
OBD highlights include $651 million in federal (BEAD) funding, $100 million in State grants funding for 2024 and 2025 and progress made toward approval on BEAD application.
MN Broadband Task Force Jan 2024
The MN Broadband Task Force met to hear from folks at the Office of Broadband Development, Marc Johnson from ECMECC and Dennis Rice from ECE (East Central Energy), a MN broadband grant recipient. There was talk about BEAD funding, especially about mapping, the challenge process and questions about whether fixed wireless will be considered in the definition of broadband.
State News
- Investing in rural mental health means investing in broadband
- Citizens Against Government Waste looks at State’s BEAD plans for broadband affordability
- An East Central MN take on Minnesota’s 2024 budget and legislative session – broadband gets a mention
- Quantifiable reasons for keeping the digital gap closed: saving lives, health and money
- Updates From the Office of Broadband Development: New reports, staff and fudning
- Digital Advancement Institute’s Muni Index’s take on Minnesota cities
- Governor Walz’s 2024 infrastructure budget: $982 million
- NTIA tailors Application of Uniform Guidance to the BEAD Program to align with Treasury
- Office of Broadband Development Updates: Task Force Mtg, grant updates and new staff (January)
- Senator Rasmusson highlights MN Line Extension awards: 21 projects in SD 9
Federal
- When Broadband access and policy work, telehealth can be a game changer
- President Biden visits MN and WI – talks about broadband investment
- Senator Smith sponsors bill to support remote mental telehealth access
- Senator Klobuchar talks about important of federal funding in broadband
- FCC definition of broadband update – not necessarily timely
Vendor News
- SpaceX introduces SATCOM, akin to Starlink for precision agriculture
- Paul Bunyan Communications talks about how they build community in the GigaZone
Local Broadband News
Blue Earth
Governor Walz tours BevComm in Blue Earth to learn about fiber
Dakota County
Dakota County Library offers self-service hours for easier access
The Dakota Broadband Board has been dissolved
Duluth
Virtual sitter services save Duluth Hospital $1.5M in 2023 (St Louis County)
Lakewood Township
Mediacom works with Lakewood Township to deploy Fiber to the Home (St Louis County)
Northern Minnesota
Telehealth options in Northern Minnesota
St Louis County
St Louis County is slipping in MN broadband county ranking
Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources
- February 15 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
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EVENT Feb 16: Prehearing conference in PUC petition to revoke LTD Broadband’s ETC Designation
- Feb 23: ECE fiber ribbon cutting for broadband in Isanti & Pine Counties
- March 14 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- March 22 – Deadline extended for Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
- April 11 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- April 20 – 2024 GigaZone Gaming Championship & TechXpo Set
- May 15 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- June 18 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- July 18 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- August 19 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- September 24 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- October 29 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- November 26 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- December 17 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- Resource: A video on all you want to know about the municipal broadband debate
- Opportunity: FCC seeks public comment on broadband data collection challenge process
- Opportunity: Digital Training for Nonprofits