MN Broadband Task Force May meeting
The Task Force learned about precision agriculture and the American Connection Core. They didn’t discuss legislative issues. Folks had questions about the deployment of BEAD funding through the Office of Broadband Development and were reminded that federal rules would trump state rules. For example, the BEAD focus is ubiquitous coverage over meeting the Minnesota 100/20 goal, which means if a provider is the only one to bid on a particular unserved area the quality of service and application doesn’t matter as much as location.
No Broadband funding but plenty of change from MN Legislature
Funding was not on the legislative table this year but several bills that passed into law that will impact broadband deployment. The Office of Broadband Development will now have to show preference to broadband providers that pay livable wages and training. A new law removed a barrier that made it difficult to set up municipal networks. Both bills were contentious. One bill that didn’t pass would have allowed local government to charge providers a franchise fee, similar to cable franchising fees. (Links to specific articles below.)
Bills to Watch in MN Legislature
- New MN Broadband/Telecom legislation could challenge larger companies
- Another take on MN Broadband laws that make municipal networks easier – from the local government perspective
- Another national look (Ars Technica) at new MN broadband laws
- MN changes laws that made municipal networks more difficult
- MN Bill sent to Governor requires funding preference to livable wages and training for broadband installers
- MN prevailing wage bill in legislature now may stall BEAD funding
- Another take on MN providers opposing broadband aspects of MN House Labor Omnibus bill
- Office of Broadband Development received 68 applications for broadband grants
- MN Broadband industry associations ask Governor to remove broadband article 10 from House Labor Omnibus bill
- MN Senate Republican Caucus not happy with HF5242 and broadband labor stipulations
- MN Senate passes HF5242: includes new rules for broadband installers
State News
- MN PUC posts consent items: LTD Broadband ETC revocation and Midcontinent’s expansion request
- KSTP 5 on your Side video on new broadband nutrition labels
- ILSR awards Jim Baller Lifetime Achievement Award
- Sen Klobuchar gets Smart Rural Community Champion Award from NTCA
- Office of Broadband Development Updates: Grant Applications due May 10
- MN Administrative Law Judge refers LTD Broadband case to MN PUC
Federal
- Americans’ Use of Media and Technology and their views on Online Safety, Privacy, Content Moderation, and Independent News
- Research links Digital Inclusion and Health Equity
- National look at MN Broadband legislation: potential impact of livable wage requirement
- BEAD’s low-cost service requirement in a post-Affordable Connectivity Program world
- Klobuchar reintroduces Bill to Promote Competition and Improve Antitrust Enforcement
- Senate Commerce Committee Set to Vote on Short-Term ACP Funding
- Can the Senate save the Affordable Connectivity Program?
Vendor News
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Some broadband providers commit to extending Affordable Connectivity Plans through 2024
- T-Mobile to buy USCellular – might help rural areas
- Mediacom increases broadband speeds
Local Broadband News
Becker County
Arvig to use Line Extension Grants to serve rural parts of Becker County
BWCA
Phone satellite coverage may soon come to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Chanhassen
Comcast expands fiber to Chanhassen MN
Farmington
HBC’s FLIGHT Fiber Internet Lights Up Multi-Gig Fiber Network in Farmington (Dakota County)
Goodhue County
Goodhue County Board of Commissioners find additional funding for broadband
Le Sueur
Le Sueur County gets Congressionally Directed Spending Infrastructure, including broadband
Northern MN
Solar storms bring beautiful Northern Lights in MN but disrupt precision agriculture
Ramsey County
Intrepid expands FTTP to Shoreview, Arden Hills, Mounds View, New Brighton, Woodbury, Oakdale, Cottage Grove and Maplewood
Shakopee
Nuvera Begins Construction on New Fiber Network in Shakopee
Twin Cities
USI offers new Affordable Connectivity Plan of $25 for customers in the Twin Cities
Waseca
Broadband uses in Waseca County: library use, agriculture research, precision ag, federal prison visits and more
Waseca County to pursue more MN grant funds for better broadband with Bevcomm
Willmar
Connect Willmar Effort almost, but not quite, approved yet
Winona
HBC is expanding its Flight Fiber Multi-Gig Fiber in Winona, MN
Woodbury
Minnesota’s Whole-of-State Cybersecurity Plan provides security for entities such as Woodbury
Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources
- EVENT Jun 12: Power of Partnership: State Strategies for Digital and Educational Equity
- June 18 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- July 18 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- August 19 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- August 28-29 – MN PUC hearing on LTD Broadband
- 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
- From OBD: BEAD Challenge Portal, updates and resources
- RESOURCE: Advancing LatinX Tech Leadership
- RESOURCES: Global Accessibility Awareness Challenge and Telehealth Class