Telecompetitor features OBD director Bree Maki…

Minnesota didn’t wait for the federal government’s help to make funding available for rural broadband deployments. The state’s Border to Border program, established years ago, is often cited as a model for rural broadband funding.

That heritage should help the state as it moves forward on implementing its portion of the BEAD rural broadband funding program. The state is slated to receive $652 million in BEAD funding.

Bree Maki, Minnesota’s executive director of the Office of Broadband Development, explained in an interview with Telecompetitor that while her job first and foremost is to represent and advocate for the state’s interests in the BEAD program, that can be tricky sometimes due to conflicting requirements among the different entities involved.

“It can be challenging to align exactly (to BEAD requirements) when we already have programs in place that work well and a state law that directs our office to flow the BEAD funding through those existing programs… so at times I need to challenge suggestions and guidance to ensure that Minnesota’s broadband program can continue to be successful and comply with state law.”