The Task Force met today and the hot topic, as expected, is the BEAD federal broadband funding and the challenge process that opens next week to help define the locations in Minnesota that will be eligible for funding. A strong message I heard today and in earlier meetings…

BEAD money will not get fiber to all of Minnesota. The federal BEAD goal is “broadband” not fiber. So, if there are areas where only satellite providers apply, they may get funding if no one else has applied. It behooves communities to get connected with providers to see what can be done to build partnerships to apply for better broadband for their area before this happens! A first step is to look at BEAD maps, see if you think they are accurate, if not find a way to challenge.

Other topics were discussed as well. You can watch the videos or read the notes below.

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
Dallas Nustvold, Apprenticeship Director, LIUNA
Adam Hutchens, Marketing Representative, LIUNA

10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Approval of minutes from June 18th, 2024, Task Force Meeting

Technical difficulties made it hard to see if the above tasks happened.

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. EducationSuperHighway
A national non-profit with the mission to close the digital divide for the 17 million households that have access to the Internet but can’t afford to connect
Grace Oribamise, Senior Program & Partnership Manager, EducationSuperHighway
Tony Schloss, General Manager, Apartment Wi-Fi, EducationSuperHighway

The are working to make sure that multi-dwelling-units are counted as multiple. For example, recognizing that the apartment complex is recognized as housing more than one family. At this point that relates to the BEAD challenge process.

The goal is to be making a connection to every unit, not just the building. And it seems there is funding to get the connectivity from the building demarcation to each unit.

Questions:

How can OBD work with the Education Superhighway?
They have had conversations. We used their modeling in the Initial Proposals. Does the Task Force want to ask the Legislature to take this on?

Digital Equity competitive grants are due this month. They are for nonprofits to stand up groups. We are sharing a model for states who want something like this.

What have been challenges for other states?
The volume of challenges has been overwhelming and so some challenges are too quickly dismissed. Some states allow us to do bulk challenges. We don’t have a lot of experience with speed tests.

What’s happening with the challenge?
Challenge portal soft opened last week. Official open is July 22. Everything in the portal is required by NTIA. We have an arrangement with Connected Nation to help us with submitting speed tests for challenges. Communities should monitor the challenge process to make sure their challenges are processes and providers do not challenge the challenge.

Do we need to help the legislature recognize that this money won’t cover all of MN?
Yes. We’ve been setting the ground for that.
Also, there are funds outside of BEAD.
NO one thinks BEAD will cover everyone.
BEAD mapping is the best and States are glad to go through this.

10:45 a.m. –11 a.m. BEAD Update
Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development
Diane Wells, Deputy Director, Office of Broadband Development

• Challenge process is happening.
• We have office hours.
• Vol 1 is approved. Vol 2 was submitted again. (Most updated Vol 2 is online.)
• We are setting low-cost rate on tribal lands. We have consulted with tribal partners.
• NTIA waivers may make or break a program – please let us know if you see red flags.
• We’re working on a lot of reports.
• We’re trying to track challenge process —
• Providers may not be interested in applying for BEAD. Now is a good time for communities to work with providers to see how you can work with them on something. BEAD required “broadband” but not fiber – satellite works for them. So work now to make sure you get the best broadband you can get for your community.

Question:

What does the waiver process look like to an ISP?
That will be part of the subgrantees process. The application should mention assumed/required waivers. It needs approval at the State and NTIA stages.
Applications are onerous. Providers are aware of the risk. Also providers are concerned with tax on the awards.
This is untested water.

11:10 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Break

11 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Digital Opportunity Update
Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development
Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead

Planning grant $880,000 will be closed out by end of month. The $12M Capacity grant application is under review at the NTIA. Not sure when that will happen.

The Competitive grant notice of funding will be released by July 26. There’s a draft going through a federal review – you can find that online. Looks like grants will be $5-10 million. Admin costs are 10 percent. There’s a minimum match of 10 percent. Program duration is 4 years. OBD is not very involved with the competitive grants.

https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAICList?ref_nbr=202406-0660-001

11:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Broadband Overview
Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development

MN Legislature changes to broadband and at DEED are big. We’ve been thinking about these changes and happy to talk to potential subgrantees.

• Do we need broadband deployment prioritization in other state orgs for permitting?
• ACP is done. Should the state look at a State version of ACP? (MN used $5M per month of ACP. So not a small project.)
• What is the clear vision of Digital Opportunity – we need statutory language. We can talk to sub committees if there’s interested.

Other Updates

• Not new staff – currently 13 staff
• Scoring on round 10 of State Broadband grants happening now
• Previous funding rounds are closing out and visiting the projects
• What are low population done in the past? We can talk to sub committees about this. There have been two grant rounds. Awarded just under $50M for up to 75 percent of projects led to 4400 passings and $17M in match.
• Line Extension is in third round. Given 1300 awards. There’s $15M left. Awards expected in next few months.
• Please share stories of success.

Question:

What do we do if more people sign up for a state version of ACP?
Not sure the numbers would change with greater access.

Update from Chat on BEAD:
Clarification to a statement made–NTIA has approved the final list of BEAD eligible locations for one state, Nevada. From the Nevada BEAD website they have not yet opened the application window to begin the subgrantee selection process–so no state is in that stage yet.

Question:

How’s it going?
Trying to get the message that BEAD is not Border to Border.

Funding in our area is coming to fiber fruition and people are thrilled.

11:30 a.m. – 11:50 p.m. Sub-Group Discussion

Affordability & Digital Equity
Updates: none                                              

Mapping, Funding, & Policy
Updates:

We thought of suture task force meeting topics: line extension, low density grants, OBD and Connected Nation on how providers share info

Talked about potential report recommendations: recruit workforce, increase speed goals, digital equity continuation

Community planning efforts: funding for lead for America, funding for communities that need help with community broadband efforts

Economic Opportunity & Workforce
Updates: none

11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Other Business, August 18th Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

Meeting in October – moved to Oct 21.
Next meeting is August 19.

12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tour of LIUNA training facility
For in-person attendees, meeting adjourned after presentation for virtual guests