Yesterday (Mar 12) the MN House Agriculture Finance and Policy me to discuss HF4659 (Berg) Safety standards for broadband industry installers required; and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program implemented. (I wrote about the bill earlier.)

It is a bill to create a skilled workforce, a safe workplace and aims to create middle class jobs. It includes training and prevailing wage rules. It holds providers responsible when safety concerns are not met.

Pro Comments:

• Right now we see low levels of training and high levels of job dissatisfaction
• We learned that broadband installers often damage water and gas lines
• This bill would stabilize the industry, make the jobs safer and make the areas around installations safer

Con Comments

• We are concerned subjectiveness of who sets standards
• Why would contractor have to choose prevailing wage versus 80 hours annual training?
• We already do training – so low expectations of training may be exaggerated
• This bill doesn’t align with federal funding opportunities nor the broadband plan submitted by Minnesota to get funding
• Broadband providers will not pursue funding from the state if these expectations are added to the contracts
• The MN Broadband Task Force has been working on MN issues for 15 years – but this has not been vetted by the Task Force. We should send this to the Task Force.
• The State & Feds have ambition goals – these new rules may prevent providers from reaching goals
• If prevailing wages are required, providers will not be able to apply for funds because it will increase expenses
• Opposed to the State leveraging state funding to administer new rules
• Leave this in the capable hands of the Office of Broadband Development

Questions:

Is there a date of effect?
No date listed so bill would take effect next Aug 1.

The bill says half the projects need to be completed in 2024. Is that really possible?
No but we could amend the date to work.

Why are we making changes when the OBD is so well lauded? Did OBD think it was necessary?
They are not here right now. We don’t know.

It seems like this bill will get in the way of our broadband goal.

How often are we seeing issues?
in the 100s for an annual count

How do we compare to other states?
Hard to track because every state has different counting methods

The intention is to fund folks who maintain safety standards.

Why did we bypass the MN Task Force?
The Task Force has only met twice since I was put on it and we need to do this now to impact the federal funding requirements

Bill is re-referred to Climate and Energy Committee.