NTIA approves Minnesota’s Digital Equity Capacity Grant Application
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today has approved and recommended for award an application from Minnesota, allowing the state to request access to more than $12 million to implement its Digital Equity Plan.
MN Broadband Task Force October Notes
The MN Broadband Task Force met in October. They got an update from the Office of Broadband Development and a presentation from Connected Nation, the folks who do broadband mapping for Minnesota and several other states.
How does MN stack up in Broadband Speed Performance ranking?
According to Ookla’s Speedtest data, Minnesota ranks 34.
Minnesota announces Round 10 Broadband Grant Awards
The office of broadband development announces MN Broadband Grant Round 10 Border to Border Awards and MN Broadband Round 10 Lower Population Density Awards. The details for each award is available.
State News
- MN Legislators muse on future State and Federal broadband funding
- Minnesota State Broadband Advocacy Tip to providers: Talk to Staff
- Connecticut has 99 percent broadband coverage – but so do many MN Counties. What can we learn?
- Candidate Mike Christopherson (District 1A) mentions broadband
- Smaller broadband providers are bigger winners of MN Broadband grants
- MN Department of Health report on Telehealth in Minnesota
- Local Digital Equity Coalition Building conversation with ILSR
- University of Minnesota’s Boynton Health looks at telehealth
- AI in healthcare a game changer and MN is paving the path
- In BEAD world, MN gets “low” level funding but low seems average
Federal
- Broadband access is a voting issue
- A glimpse at tech policies for candidates Harris and Trump from Minnesota Reformer
- VP Harris has plan to reinstate the Affordable Connectivity Program
- NTIA BEAD Uniform Guidance Policy Notice Primer
- Harris-Walz rural proposal urges Congress to restore Affordable Connectivity Program
- $8B of the $10B Capital Funds Projects (part of ARPA) going to broadband
- FCC waives Lifeline requirements for phone and broadband subsidies for hurricane/storm victims
- NTIA Receives More Than 700 Applications Seeking Over $6.5 Billion for Digital Equity Projects
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association pushes FCC to focus on symmetrical broadband speeds
- Affordability makes every state’s list of barriers to broadband adoption
- A Preliminary Evaluation of the ACP Program
- Aspen Institute asks what it will take to advance rural digital equity
- VA offers veterans nationwide access to emergency telehealth care
Vendor/Technology News
- Doug Dawson looks at history of Starlink and RDOF and how that may impact BEAD funding
- 2024 Rural Telecommunications Benchmark Study results
- How much people paying for broadband? $98 per month
- Google partners with Kairos Power for nuclear power
- Consolidated Telephone Company and Meeker Cooperative Light and Power launch MC Fiber
- Build America Buy America: Companies Self-Certify Domestic Production for the BEAD Program
- Learn more about the Broadband Consumer Labels
- Doug Dawson explains expected broadband bottlenecks in 2025 and beyond
- Verizon purchase of Frontier looks to go smoothly
- Midco Says it Should Keep Unsubsidized Competitor Status
- EarthLink buys Nextera Communications in Minnesota
Office of Broadband Development Updates:
Local Broadband News
Anoka County
Anoka County Board revives county broadband grant program using ARPA funds
Bemidji
CORI on rural broadband and economic growth featuring Bemidji
Dakota County
Spectrum to launch Gigabit service in Dakota County
Grand Marais
Expanding Telehealth Services a recommendation for youth in Grand Marais MN
Hibbing
IRRR funds and Minnesota North College hosts 1500 students for STEM career day
Iron Range STEM Showcase in Hibbing introduces students tech opportunities
Itasca County
Paul Bunyan Communications Expansion Completed in Taconite, Keewatin, and Greenway Township (Itasca County)
Kandiyohi County
More info on Meeker Coop’s MN Broadband grant in Kandiyohi, Stearns and Wright Counties
Lake County
Telehealth tools shorten waits for telemental health help in Northern MN (St Louis and Lake Counties)
Le Sueur County
Telehealth tools shorten waits for telemental health help in Northern MN (St Louis and Lake Counties)
More info on Bevcomm’s MN Broadband grant projects in Waseca and Le Sueur Counties
Minneapolis
Ziply brings 400 Gig service from Seattle to Chicago – including Minneapolis
Nobles County
Senator Bill Weber celebrates MN broadband grant for Bigelow (Nobles County)
Olmsted County
More info on KMTelecom’s MN broadband grant in Olmsted County
Otter Tail County
More info on Park Region’s MN broadband grant in Otter Tail County
Pine County
SCI is deploying FTTH in areas around Pine County
St Louis County
More info on Paul Bunyan’s MN Broadband grant around Cook (St Louis County)
Scandia
More about Mid Co’sMN Broadband grant in Scandia (Washington County)
Stearns County
More info on Arvig’s MN Broadband grant in Stearns County
More info on Meeker Coop’s MN Broadband grant in Kandiyohi, Stearns and Wright Counties
More Info on Stearns County MN Broadband grant project
More info on Arvig’s MN broadband grant in Stearns County
Steele County
Spectrum launches Gigabit Broadband in Steele County
Superior (WI)
Superior Mayor touts “Cheaper internet and cheaper water”
Tribal Areas
Minnesota is home to 7 exciting, planned or prospective Native Nation owned broadband networks
Waseca & Le Sueur Counties
More info on Bevcomm’s MN Broadband grant projects in Waseca and Le Sueur Counties
Wright County
More info on Meeker Coop’s MN Broadband grant in Kandiyohi, Stearns and Wright Counties
Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources
- EVENT Nov 12: Veterans and Digital Equity: Planning for Success
- Nov 18: Black Broadband Summit in North Mpls
- November 26 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- December 17 – MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- 10 Steps to Help Build Broadband Resilience from Connect Humanity
- OPPORTUNITY: Minnesota Cybersecurity Task Force 2024 open seats
- OPPORTUNITY: Digital Inclusion Trailblazers 2024 Application (deadline Nov 1, 2024)
- OPPORTUNITY: Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant Program Deadline Nov 21
- FCC & Dep of Education release Cybersecurity Resource Guide