From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

• Broadband updates + resources
• Digital Opportunity update
• Governor’s Task Force on Broadband to meet Tuesday, November 26
• Historic Preservation Consultants & Qualified Agency Staff training, register by December 6
• Now accepting applications for a Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator!

Broadband updates + resources

The creation of the new Safety Qualified Underground Installer Program is underway. State law requires the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), in consultation with the Office of Broadband Development, to approve standards for a Safety-Qualified Underground Telecommunications Installer Certification Program (Minnesota Statutes 326B.198). More information on this program, the timelines, and the training requirements can be found on the DLI webpage here.

Additional updates and resources for the BEAD program include:

• OBD continues to work to establish a Grants Management System for the BEAD program. When that system is available, a prequalification process will be established where interested applicants can submit specified documentation to support their financial, managerial, technical, and operational capacity to participate in the BEAD program as a subgrantee. OBD hopes to implement the prequalification process by January 2025, which will be part of the overall process for applying for federal BEAD funding. Additional resources for BEAD are on the OBD BEAD webpage.
• Three rounds of subgrantee selection are anticipated to occur between March and early August 2025. This is to meet the NTIA’s deadline for submission of the Final Proposal by October 3, 2025, including meeting with NTIA, notifying the provisionally selected subgrantees 14 days after that meeting, and then a 14-day public comment period.
• For those who want to get into the weeds of what the BEAD Final Proposal will contain, NTIA recently issued updated guidance: Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Final Proposal Guidance for Eligible Entities Version 1.1.
• Also available on the OBD webpage and from NTIA are NTIA’s BEAD Frequently Asked Questions. These provide insight into the future steps of the BEAD process. For more guidance specifically on Program Overview and Eligibility see: Page 6, question 1.9; Page 8, question 1.18; Pages 8-10, questions 1.19 to 1.26.

Digital Opportunity Updates

NTIA opened the application window for the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program for Native Entities on September 25, accepting applications from eligible tribes and other Native entities through February 7, 2025. Visit NTIA’s website to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity and locate applicant resources. NTIA is in the process of hosting a series of technical assistance webinars for prospective applicants; the remaining two webinars are as follows:

• 11/21, 1pm: Consolidated Budget Form
• 12/11, 2pm: Additional Funding and Other Certifications

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband to meet Tuesday November 26

The Task Force will meet at DEED headquarters in St. Paul, MN at 10 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday November 26. The meeting will have virtual as well as in-person options for attending and is open to the public. More information on this and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

Historic Preservation Consultants & Qualified Agency Staff training, register by December 6

Friday December 13th, 9:00 am—12pm (Central Standard Time)

Environmental Review Program Staff Lucy Harrington and Nicole Foss will present an overview of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This will include how to prepare documentation (i.e. archaeological and architecture-history survey reports and cover letters) in compliance with the Section 106 process, and consistent with both Minnesota and national guidance. Historic preservation consultants and Secretary of the Interior-qualified agency staff who prepare historic property identification documentation to the Minnesota SHPO are invited and encouraged to attend this training.

Register by Friday, December 6, 2024, to secure your spot for both in-person and hybrid participants below:

Now accepting applications for a Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator!

Apply by December 2, 2024 for the Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator role. This position is responsible for overseeing and coordinating professional program administration for DEED’s state and federally funded broadband grant projects. Key duties include providing consultation, training, and technical guidance, as well as ensuring compliance with state and federal permitting laws and regulations.

Find more information on the position and the application here: Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator – Job ID 81774.