Broadband: The Transportation, Housing and Labor Supplemental Budget Bill sent to the governor requires the Office of Broadband Development to give priority to grant applications from organizations that follow specific labor rules including paying employees prevailing wage rates and providing certain employment benefits like training, and family health insurance coverage, among other things. The Minnesota Cable Communications Association advocated against this provision during the conference committee process, saying that it would add costs for broadband projects and prevent service providers from deploying broadband in areas still in need.
And here are the details in the conference committee report for the Transportation, Housing and Labor Supplemental Budget Bill, related to a broadband installer certification…
Subd. 3.
Certification Standards.
(a) The commissioner of labor and industry, in
consultation with the Office of Broadband, shall approve standards for a safety-qualified
underground telecommunications installer certification program that requires a person to:
(1) complete a 40-hour initial course that includes classroom and hands-on instruction
covering proper work procedures for safe installation of underground utilities, including:
(i) regulations applicable to excavation near existing utilities;
(ii) identification, location, and verification of utility lines using hand- or
hydro-excavation or other accepted methods;
(iii) response to line strike incidents;
(iv) traffic control procedures;
(v) use of a tracking device to safely guide directional drill equipment along a drill path;
and
(vi) avoidance and mitigation of safety hazards posed by underground utility installation
projects;
(2) demonstrate knowledge of the course material by successfully completing an
examination approved by the commissioner; and
(3) complete a four-hour refresher course within three years of completing the original
course and every three years thereafter in order to maintain certification.
(b) The commissioner must develop an approval process for training providers under
this subdivision and may suspend or revoke the approval of any training provider that fails
to demonstrate consistent delivery of approved curriculum or success in preparing participants
to complete the examination.