Today was the Connecting One Minnesota conference hosted by the Office of Broadband Development. It was a big celebration of the last 10 years of the Office of Broadband Development. However, we did learn that Round 10 of the MN Broadband grants also opened today and the deadline for applications in May 10, 2024. People were generous in sharing their stories. I heard the broadband providers express concern on several bills at the Minnesota legislature this session. I heard the importance of local management of local programs. And with local, I would include special interest groups.
Keynote Address: Kathyn de Wit
High points of the Minnesota Model:
- Strong leadership
- Data and mapping
- Continual process improvement
- Relationships
A nod to the MN Broadband Task force, Rural Broadband Coalition and public-private partnerships.
Minnesota has been a model but the job isn’t done. We need to make sure it’s affordable. What does the MN Model need moving forward? More than $650 million in funding.
The Office of Broadband Development Reflections
A nice nod to just about everyone who has touched broadband with a special nod to Diane Wells and her work throughout the last 10 years and longer.
American Connection Corps Lightning Round
Great stories of local broadband success from:
- Jaci Nagle: moderator
- Time Gerlach: Koochiching County
- Rebecca Johnson: Lead for America
- Steven Kraus: Waseca County
- Celia Simpson: Martin County
Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities
- Teresa Ferguson, National Rural Telecommunications Coop
- Brent Christensen, MN Telecom Alliance
- Darrick Moe, MN Rural Electric Association
- Diane Wells. Office of Broadband Development
- Melissa Wolf, CN Cable Communications Association
The hope is that BEAD will allow the Office of Broadband Development to continue with the intent and speculations of the existing MN Broadband grants.
Concerns from providers:
- MN Leg – concerns about not saying with a consensus
- What’s the balance between reaching everyone and building in the long-term
- There were concerns about buy/build American but it seems like that is less extreme
- We need to know the difference between old and new MN Broadband grants
- Cybersecurity is a concern – looking to put in plans now
- It’s difficult when all of the federal funding opportunities look different
Next steps:
- Working on adjustments to volumes 1 and 2 – expecting lots of back and forth
- We are working on next round MN grants – so haven’t experienced gap in funding yet
Questions from audience:
What about affordability?
We have a lot of rural areas that are unserved. It’s expensive to build out and not many customers per mile when you do. We require providers to adhere to urban rate standards and offer low income opportunities. That was easier when the ACP was offsetting the cost. We are concerned about the ability of the rural providers to subsidize the connections. It should be funded with federal funds – like similar services.
What is the definition of affordability? It’s a different number for everyone. We used to use USF to offset cost. ACP wasn’t a long term solution; lifeline is.
How can tribal communities participate in BEAD opportunities?
ACP is not sustainable.
What are the bills that concern you?
Net Neutrality – with having Dep of Commerce defining Neutrality. Bills relating to BEAD specifically. Department of Commerce has some bills out. We have bills at the legislature that have not been vetted by the MN Broadband Task Force.
Many bills impact broadband deployment from excavation to training. There are issues with franchising expenses. And bills on how grants will be managed. Our legislature doesn’t fully understand the implications of the bills.
Line extension – can we extend it and simplify process?
Spent under $5 million on first round. We have $15 million dedicated. We make sure applicants are legit. It’s for $25,000 per location – but that may not be enough when there’s no fiber there. Also sometimes no providers bid on the opportunity.
Fireside Chat: The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Reflections
- Rick King – Chair of Met Airport Commission
- Margaret Anderson Kelliher – City Operations Office Minneapolis
- Teddy Bekele – CTO, Land o’Lakes
Minnesota’s Digital Opportunity Approach: Digital Connections Committees
High level observations:
- Good to have appropriate digital training – young kids don’t need to know about banking, seniors don’t need coding
- Difference between rural and urban – the distance between house, the transportation but it effects everyone.
- People have same hopes and needs.
- Lack of local experts is an issue in rural areas.
- Things that make a difference and move forward help everyone.
- It makes sense to have locals manage local digital equity.
County Strategies to Achieve 100% Coverage
- Darielle Dannen, DEED
- Tarryl Clark, Stearns County
- Roger Imdieke, Kandiyohi County
- Amy Baldwin, Otter Tail County
- Michael Johnson, Waseca County
High level observations:
- Partnerships are essential
- Lack of funding is a huge issue
- Affordability is an issue. Satellite is expensive. We bank into public-private contracts that there needs to be a low cost option for end customers.
- See started with the Blandin Broadband ranking
How did you choose a provider partner?
It wasn’t that difficult. We knew who the options were.
We knew who could work with us quickly and would be interested. It was difficult outside of the towns but we aggregated need.
Look at who is there.
Ask providers the same question. See who is most open and cooperative.
Some of our counties are covered some are not. How do you talk to constituents who don’t get served with public funding?
Tell them to get online.
How will you fund after ARPA?
Revenue replacement.
Local Advocacy: Broadband Communities Coordination
- Bernadine Joselyn, former Blandin Foundation
- Barbara Droher Kline, Le Sueur County
- Mark Jeffers, Aitkin County
- Briana Mumme, Southwest Initiative Foundation
- Lezlie Sauter, Pine County
High level notes:
- No silver bullet for local community broadband
- In a smaller community, there’s often one person who is responsible for keeping an eye on broadband
- Everyone who doesn’t have broadband is paying attention to it
- Cast a wide net to potential stakeholders
- We wouldn’t be where we are without Blandin
- Without broadband you have no connection – lesson from the pandemic. It was much easier to engage people during the shut down.
- Blandin Foundation and the ACC program were key to our success
- Look for a provider partner who is honest and transparent
What’s next for Minnesota?
- Micah Intermill, MN Federal Funds Implementation
- Hannah Buckland, Office of Broadband Development
- Tom Karst, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
- Wes Kerr, Connected Nation
- Bree Maki, Office of Broadband Development
High level notes
- We need good maps and we know the small communities don’t have the resources to do it. Our relationship with Connected Nation should help.
- The NTIA is asking states to freeze a moment in time with the maps, which means the better the original maps the better the investment
- Next steps:
Digital Equity Plan steps: we don’t know. We were allowed an extension.
BEAD: OBD resubmitted Vol 1. Working on changing Vol 2 to resubmit.
Once Vol 1 is accepted, OBD can work on challenge process.
Once Vol 2 is accepted, OBD has 1 year to create plan
Connected Nation is working on a challenge portal to determine final locations to be counted in the map. There will be outreach especially with eligible challengers. General Public will have a way to alert to a challenge – but not submit a challenge. - Look at the FCC maps and check your location. If not make a note to hit the challenge process when we can.
- We need good governance.
Question:
If you want people to be challenge the maps, we need to have access to information and broadband providers are removing speed test and maps.
The Connected Nation portal should help if evidence is available.
The NTIA is aware of that problem – but newly aware.
You can file a complaint with the FCC.
Speed tests are available but that’s not helpful if you can’t get a connection.
What about higher education?
We are working with Higher Education but always open to more partners.
We have a broadband speed test. What role will our test have going forward?
You can submit challenges as a nonprofit.
Closing and Thank You