Today the Office of Broadband Development gave an online demonstration of the BEAD portal and map. They are planning a part two next week on Thursday at 2pm. It’s a great space to learn and ask questions or to learn from the questions of others. I have the video and screenshots from the presentation, my notes on the questions and transcript from the chat:

Questions:

Does map include MN State Grants?
It should. We are continuing to clean up the data. If you see an error, you can challenge. We are trying to keep up on any and all government funds committed to broadband.

Can we do bulk challenges?
Yes. We will talk more next week but the plan is to draw a polygon around a given area.
There will be some size restrictions.

Why is date used June 30, 2024?
Because we can’t add locations after the fact.

Does this map reflect the final list of eligible locations?
Yes – final list for the challenge. The definitive final list will be created from this challenge process.

How will you handle expensive areas?
We will aim for lower than fiber options and wait for applications that provide any service.

Can de-duplication be future or retroactive?
Working on what to do with locations that get service or contract in the next two months.

What about wrong addresses?
Need to work with FCC.

What about border to border areas – what’s eligible?
You can zoom into an area to get greater details.

The map/portal is still in dress rehearsal mode. Slight updates/corrections are expected.

What is cap on location challenges at once?
On a practical basis, 25,000.

What can individual locations do about challenges?
OBD has worked with Connected Nation to find a way to compile and submit challenges.

Transcript from the Chat

• Will you publish a separate CSV file of enforceable commitments or they included in the unserved/underserved CSV file?
• When will the CAI CSV file be available?
• The eligible CAI file is now posted at the bottom of the OBD BEAD webpage, it’s under “Additional Resources” – https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/bead/
• I understand the State requires that for a CAI to be served it must receive service of 1Gig symmetrical. When do they have to be 1Gig symmetrical?
• Enforceable commitments are designated in the unserved/underserved file. We are also working on an enhancement to make the information easier to obtain.
• We are anticipating that all of Minnesota’s BEAD funding will be used to meet BEAD funding priorities #1 (service to unserved locations) and #2 (service to underserved locations). Therefore, we do not expect to have BEAD funding for the deployment of gigabit symmetrical speeds to CAIs.
• Does the current mapping include all Border-to-Border grants to date (Rounds 1 through 9)?
• Thank you!
• Is there an ability to bulk challenge areas for projects currently being built?
• Thanks!
• As a county consultant can I sign up for a county with their permission?
• What is the Planned Service date?
• ok thx
• Is the unserved and underserved location list released earlier this week the final list?
• Much of the unserved areas captured in the current map are located in NE Minnesota — areas where human populations are not large but where “broadband for everyone” may be rather expensive.  How best to use monies in such situations?
• Back to the “planned service” will there be a way to mitigate potential duplicative funding for locations that are built between now and the grant award date?
• Is there any way to deal with erroneous or missing locations?
• Will you accept bulk challenges for any specific challenge type?
• Do you have file size limitations
• There appears to be eligible Under and Unserved in awarded Border to Border grant areas. What would be the scenario for this to happen?
• Do you have a specific template requiring data other than location IDs?
• Awarded, using the downloaded and mapped list.

• Funding is N
• Paul-can you send the address or awarded project name(s) to deed.broadband@state.mn.us and we will look into it. Thanks.
• Can you upload a polygon for bulk challenge or do you require that to be drawn in the portal?
• Can you upload a list of location IDs rather than drawing in the portal? What if you want to challenge thousands of BSLs that are scattered?
• What is the best way to utilize the expertise of AppGeo? Thursday sessions are great for sure, but how best to engage during the week?
• Thanks.
• What is the maximum number of challenges that can be submitted in a single upload?
• If you have questions, submit to deed.broadband@state.mn.us so we can capture the question–if you have a question, others may as well–so we can include in an FAQ. Also, make sure you review the user guide that is online: Minnesota Broadband Navigator User Guide
• The OBD email sign up: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/contact/
• Could you share how end user speed tests are used for challenges since they cannot actually challenge themselves?