MN Broadband Task Force Nov 2024: line extension, BEAD updates and annual report preview

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The Broadband Task Force got updates from the Office of Broadband Development, including an in depth report on the Line Extension programs as they distribute their Round 3 funding.

Also the Task Force members were able to see and react to the annual Task Force report. Here are paraphrased recommendations:

Affordability Recommendations:

  • Digital literacy – a searchable directory online and printed of resources
  • Grant funding that addresses access, should also have funding for barriers (list of barriers includes childcare, language …)
  • Use social services and libraries to reach people and fund more digital literacy advocates
  • Looked at Northstar Digital Literacy Standards – we want a version of it

Economic Opportunity Recommendations:

  • Reestablish ACP or similar
  • Authorize research on economic impact of digital exclusion (like Blandin did in the past)
  • Ensure market creates family-supporting jobs
  • Digital job straining through DEED
  • Work with MN high ed institutes to develop digital training for k-12

Mapping, Policy & Funding Recommendations:

  • Continue monitoring investments in broadband
  • Post- BEAD evaluation
  • Evaluate success toward meeting 2026 MN speed goals
  • Recommend funding Line Extension in 2025
  • Promote Line Extension
  • Continue mapping

Here are more compete notes:

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Welcome from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.  Approval of minutes from October 21, 2024 Task Force Meeting

10:15 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.  Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates

Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD

  • There are issues with collaborating with environmental and permitting requirements. We set up a commission to work on prioritizing these issues with DNR, DOT, Gov’s, FirstOne Call et al. They will meet monthly on issues.
    We had a permit process workshop with MN Gov workers going through what their jobs and responsibilities are and where shortages are being experienced. We learned more about OSA and licensing. There were changes in 2022 that meant licenses were given by location and not archeologist. Working on ways to streamline that.
    There is a job posted to help with the work.
  • There will be a job posting to replace Dianne out soon. She is retiring at the end of April. They are hoping to have someone on by Jan 1, 2025.
    • Chairs have been selected for various committees.
    • House Chair of Ag Finance &  Policy is Rep Anderson & Hanson
  • Labor and Workforce Development is Rep Baker & Pinto

 

Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD

  • Vol 1 was approved in May. We asked for an extension for changes to make sure we removed all now-served addresses. We hope to reply by Dec 18. Vol 2 was approved Oct 2, 2024, which means we have until Oct 2, 2025. Once the updates have been made to the maps we will open up the pre-qualification process.
    We will hold 3 subgrantee rounds. First will be priority projects, which means fiber. Subsequent rounds will be decided by OBD but will include fixed wireless and satellite.
  • Speculation on change to BEAD post-election has been made but we forge ahead as charged.

Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD

  • The proposal was recommended for approval – but need more with NIST. Waiting to hear back and then we can report more on timelines. Speculation on change to BEAD post-election has been made but we forge ahead as charged.
  • Minnesota is near front of the pack in terms of being on track with the Digital Equity process.
  • We are talking with folks (NGA) about the changes that might happen. They are focusing on whether clawing back money would cause harm. Because no money has been distributed they are thinking that only state may have experienced harm.

Note from Tom Karst (NTIA) – we are expecting things to move forward. Taking back money would be very difficult. The money is considered obligated.

10:35a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Line Extension Program updates  Jennifer Frost, Broadband Grants Supervisor, OBD

Q: Since household applies for the grant – is take rate after award good?
We track that for all the grants. The take rate can be predictable.

Q: Looks like there’s $8M gap between funding and need. Might there be other funds?
Maybe Capitol funds. Line Extension might help fill BEAD-inspired gaps.

Q: Do other states have other line extension programs?
Yes. We stole it from Indiana.

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.               Break

11:10 a.m.—12:20 p.m.                Task Force review of annual report first draft

I toggled between taking notes and getting screen-captures of the document being discussed. They are going to focus on blue/yellow highlighted areas on the first picture. The discussion happens quickly and then hop around the document so there will be duplications. (Sorry!) But on the off chance that one screen overlaps another but captures something unique I will include the all or at least most of them. (Click to enlarge.)

Affordability:

Focusing on ACP and USF. Talk about history and focusing on recommending lifeline enhancements.

Talking about definitions of digital literacy.

Recommendations:

  • Digital literacy – a searchable directory online and printed of resources
  • Grant funding that addresses access, should also have funding for barriers (list of barriers includes childcare, language …)
  • Use social services and libraries to reach people and fund more digital literacy advocates
  • Looked at Northstar Digital Literacy Standards – we want a version of it

Economic Opportunity:

About the research – what if it doesn’t show what we want it to show? Shouldn’t we just put the funding into access?

How can we attract more people to the job of deploying broadband? Make sure folks are getting insurance et al. How about coops and aggregate purchasing? We could look at NESC.

Recommendations:

  • Reestablish ACP or similar
  • Authorize research on economic impact of digital exclusion (like Blandin did in the past)
  • Ensure market creates family-supporting jobs
  • Digital job straining through DEED
  • Work with MN high ed institutes to develop digital training for k-12

Mapping, Policy & Funding

Want to look at tracking access and levels of access.

Q: Do we want to add funding amounts?
Yes

Recommendations:

  • Continue monitoring investments in broadband
  • Post- BEAD evaluation
  • Evaluate success toward meeting 2026 MN speed goals
  • Recommend funding Line Extension in 2025
  • Promote Line Extension
  • Continue mapping

What else do we need?

Why don’t we look at sales tax on fiber? Legislation will be submitted by MN Association.

Permitting could look at the permitting session for more information and ideas. For example, OSA is looking for approval for more staff. Maybe that should be a policy recommendation.

Can we get more info on the fiber sales tax? Is conduit included? There are different interpretations. This has been a recurring issue.

12:20 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.      Other Business, December Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

Next meeting December 17.

  • Everyone on the Task Force has access a PDF of the document via sharepoint.
  • People will be asked to update their sections and comment on other sections.
  • That will leave time for executive summary.
  • By next meeting there will be a final draft to vote on approval. – If not there yet, we will have one more meeting.
  • In January, we will have legislators in the meeting.
  • LiUna will be doing a broadband session in person in January. A chance to hear about deployments over the next few years.

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