From the Office of Broadband Development…
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
- BEAD updates + resources
- Digital Opportunity update
- Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, December meeting recap + 2025 meetings
BEAD updates + resources
On December 9, 2024, OBD was notified that NTIA issued draft Performance Measures for BEAD Last-Mile Networks. Comments are due to NTIA on December 19, 2024. The draft Performance Measures document is available on NTIA’s website here.
Available on the OBD webpage and from NTIA, the NTIA’s BEAD Frequently Asked Questions provides insight into the future steps of the BEAD process. For more guidance specifically see:
- Pages 47-48, on Initial Proposal questions 8.10 to 8.16
- Pages 49-52, on Cost Sharing and Matching Guidelines questions 9.1 to 9.13
OBD also welcomes a new NTIA Federal Program Officer for Minnesota, Carah Koch. Carah currently serves as a NTIA FPO in Wisconsin and will be shared between the two states. Thank you also to Minnesota’s current FPO, Tom Karst, who will continue his work in other roles with NTIA.
Digital Opportunity update
On December 6, OBD’s Digital Equity Capacity Grant was fully executed. This action obligates over $12M in federal funds to support digital opportunity activities across Minnesota through 2029. OBD’s next step is to prepare detailed documentation for NTIA’s approval, describing the specific grant-funded projects the state intends to carry out. This process could take up to nine months.
At this time, OBD anticipates beginning to accept grant applications for digital opportunity initiatives in mid-2025. More information, as it becomes available, will be shared widely across DEED’s communication channels. The digital opportunity team is grateful for prospective applicants’ continual efforts and ongoing patience as we move this process forward.
Please reach out to deed.broadband.equity@state.mn.us with any questions or feedback.
Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, December meeting recap + 2025 meetings
The Governor’s Task Force met at the DEED Headquarters in St. Paul, MN on Tuesday December 17, 2024. The Task Force heard updates from the Office of Broadband Development on BEAD and Digital Opportunity, a presentation on a Minnesota Broadband Cost Analysis Report from CTC Technology & Energy’s Vice President of Analytics, Shawn Thompson, and voted on the annual report.
The Task Force will reconvene in the new year on January 13, 2025. Details on this, and the 2025 meeting schedule, will be posted on the Broadband Task Force webpage.