MN providers offering low-income discounts to replace ACP
With the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ending last month, we took at look at how Minnesota providers are helping their low income customers with discounts and/or information on other federal subsidy programs.

MN Broadband Task Force June 2024: update on Grants, Staff and BEAD
The MN Broadband Task Force earned about how the annual task force report has been written in the past. They got updates on federal BEAD funding, State grants and staff updates from the Office of Broadband Development. They heard from ConnectMN and their work understanding Digital Navigators.

New MN Laws are changing the landscape of broadband and digital equity
Minnesota changed a few laws in the last session that will impact the local industry and communities. The Office of Broadband Development must now give preference to applications for federal BEAD funding from applicants that adhere to prevailing wages and training standards. (You can find many links of articles spurred by this change in the State News links below.)  Also, the MN Legislature removed barriers that had made it more difficult to build a telecommunications network without a supermajority vote and a law that allowed municipal networks only when there was not a private provider available or interested.

New Federal Policies are changing the landscape of broadband and digital equity
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) discontinued last month with few signs of near return. That will mean fewer customers for providers in areas with low-income customers. The federal BEAD funding asks providers to have a low-income option available; many providers, communities and households assumed that would be ACP. Fewer customers and required, yet unsupported, discounts make it difficult to financially plan to build a network. The recent US Supreme Court Chevron decision may also impact broadband access and adoption.

 State News    

• MN PUC agrees to allow LTD Broadband to relinquish ETC status in RDOF-specific area only
• Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates: Task Force notes and BEAD updates
• MinnPost looks at impact of new labor laws, end of ACP and rules tied to federal broadband funding

• Mpls Star Tribune looks at impact of new law on broadband unions, providers and future funding

• Computer ownership and Internet subscription increasing but not equally: MN ranks 14 for statewide internet

• MN Office of Broadband Dev Update: BEAD Challenge Info sessions start next week

• Wifi available for Ice Houses in some areas

• Broadband industry questions survey discussed with new MN law related to prevailing wages and broadband installers

• NTIA has approved Minnesota’s BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1

• CWA take on MN’s new laws on training and prevailing wage for broadband installers

• Research shows MN telehealth needs policy support

• Office of Broadband Development Updates: BEAD updates and upcoming meetings

• MN is working on better broadband with various grant opportunities

Federal

• A librarian’s perspective on the Chevron Decision and broadband

• Coming Soon: NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program
•  Conference of Mayors asks the FCC to rethink franchise fees
• New research on socioeconomic benefits of high-speed broadband
• Social Media and News: who uses which channels and why

• BEAD Challenge is a three-step process ILSR has a blueprint for communities

• Affordable Connectivity Program helped lower cost but not expand into rural areas

• Reimagine Rural looks at rural broadband: not in MN but similar stories

• FCC has plan to help libraries and schools with cybersecurity

• 83 percent of People in US used the Internet in 2023 – up from 80 percent in 2021

• Cancer care in the U.S. could generate 33% less emissions if it shifted to telemedicine care

Vendor News

• Comcast to partner with Starlink to provider satellite to businesses with remote locations.

• TDS to sell data centers to focus on fiber

Local Broadband News

Aitkin County
Paul Bunyan to extend FTTH to Ball Bluff, Cornish and Verdon Townships (Aitkin County)

Arrowhead Region
A glimpse at digital divide in MN’s Arrowhead and Iron Range regions

Carlton County
Better broadband is coming to Carlton County from Mediacom and SCI

Carver County
Carver County’s CarverLink’s ongoing fiber broadband connectivity efforts

Southwestern MN
Sen Klobuchar visits Southwestern MN to discuss issues such as broadband

St Paul
Comcast to provide wifi to St Paul Housing Agency residents

Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources

• July 10 – (Rochester) DEED Office of Broadband Development to Host BEAD Challenge Process Information Sessions
• July 11 – (New Ulm) DEED Office of Broadband Development to Host BEAD Challenge Process Information Sessions

• July 18 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
• Aug 2: OPPORTUNITY: Nominate someone for a Tekne award 
• 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
• OPPORTUNITY: Strengthening the Reliability and Resiliency of Minnesota’s Electrical Grid