MN Office of Broadband Development Updates: Portal open, upcoming meetings

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An update from the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • BEAD Challenge, Portal available + register for July 18th office hours
  • Digital Opportunity Update
  • Governor’s Task Force on Broadband to meet Thursday, July 18th

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BEAD Challenge, Portal available + register for July 18th office hours

Eligible challengers will begin to be able to submit challenges beginning Monday July 22nd. Challenges must be submitted no later than August 21st. The challenge portal is open now to view, learn how to use, and register for an account if you are an eligible challenger and plan to challenge and/or rebut.

View the Minnesota BEAD Challenge portal here.

OBD will be hosting a weekly office hours Thursdays at 2pm through 9/19, during the BEAD Challenge process to provide updates on the Challenge and Rebuttal processes. Initial sessions will also include walkthroughs by AppGeo of the Challenge Portal. Eligible challengers and community members with questions are encouraged to join. The frequency of the office hours will be revisited as we wrap up the challenge and rebuttal process and evaluate participation and feedback.

Register for the session on Thursday July 18th below:

More information and updates on NTIA’s BEAD program and Challenge process are available on the OBD BEAD webpage. Recent updates posted to the webpage include:

  • Recording of the virtual, 7/15 information session + PowerPoint slides
  • The CSV file of the unserved and underserved locations used to prepare the preliminary list of BEAD eligible locations for the Broadband Navigator/Challenge Portal as of July 2024
  • Additional resources for using and registering for the BEAD Challenge portal

Digital Opportunity Update

OBD submitted Minnesota’s application for the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant program to NTIA on May 24, 2024. These funds will eventually support grantees throughout Minnesota in carrying out digital inclusion activities.

At this time, it is impossible to estimate when these funds will become available to Minnesota grantees. While we wait, organizations interested in applying can prepare by taking the following steps:

  • Get a SWIFT supplier ID for the applicant organization. SWIFT is the state’s accounting system; registration is required for all state grantees. Instructions are available through MN Management and Budget.
  • Ensure the address listed in your SWIFT account is correct. Incorrect addresses in SWIFT accounts delay the award process.
  • Explore some data. One of many recommended sources is Purdue University’s Digital Divide Index, which evaluates broadband availability alongside socioeconomic characteristics of every U.S. county and census tract.

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband to meet Thursday, July 18th

The Task Force will meet in Lino Lakes, MN at 10 a.m. Central Time on Thursday July 18th. The meeting will have virtual as well as in-person options for attending and is being hosted by the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA).

More information on this and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage

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