From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

• Broadband and BEAD updates + resource on upcoming Pre-Qualification process
• Digital Opportunity update
• Office hours registration + broadband webinars
• Broadband Task Force, January meeting recap

Broadband and BEAD updates + resource on upcoming Pre-Qualification process

Last month, OBD added a draft of BEAD Pre-Qualification guidance on the webpage, available here. Initial information to keep in mind about the Pre-Qualification process: 

• Before the subgrantee selection process and awarding BEAD funds, OBD will pre-qualify all prospective applicants to ensure they meet the minimum requirements for subgrantee eligibility. There will only be one pre-qualification round, so prospective applicants must participate, even if they only intend to apply for BEAD funds in later rounds of subgrantee selection.  
• Pre-qualification is the first step in the subgrantee selection process. Participating in the pre-qualification process does not bind any internet service provider to submit a project area proposal. However, all applicants who are considering participation or intend to submit a proposal must participate in pre-qualification.
• Prospective applicants will have at least 30 days after the pre-qualification round begins to submit their materials. The OBD will announce an official closing date of pre-qualification as it receives more information from the NTIA about Minnesota’s submission of it’s Challenge Process results. 

OBD’s Financial Assistance webpage also has recent updates from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program and a Notice of Funding (NOFO) published from the Community Connect Grant Program. 

Also 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 53-56, on Competitive Subgrantee Grants questions 10.1 to 10.6; and pages 61-64, on Grant Award and Reporting Requirements questions 12.1 to 12.7. 

Digital Opportunity update

On Monday, January 6, NTIA announced the first group of organizations receiving over $250M in Digital Equity Competitive Grant funds directly through NTIA. Out of over 700 applications from across the country, only 24 made this list. OBD extends a big congratulations to the two awardees from Minnesota: Hmong American Partnership and the Minnesota State System of Colleges & Universities.

We are proud to have your organizations as national digital opportunity leaders!

Office hours registration + broadband webinars

Last week, OBD held two webinars to provide up to date information on timelines and next steps for both the federal funding for Digital Equity Act and BEAD in Minnesota. The recordings for those webinars are available on the OBD webpage here.  

OBD will also begin holding a weekly office hour session to provide updates on the federal BEAD program in MN, the BEAD prequalification process, and answer questions on the registration portal. Office hours will be Tuesdays at 11am and run from January 14 to April 1. Registration is open for the sessions below:  

• January 21, register here 
• January 28, register here 
• February 4, register here 
• February 11, Instead of office hours, OBD will be offering in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) a webinar on the new Safety-qualified Underground Telecommunications Installer Program. Register here to attend and visit the DLI webpage to learn more about the program.  
• February 18, register here 
• February 25, register here 
• March 4, register here 
• March 11, register here 
• March 18, register here 
• March 25, register here 
• April 1, register here 

Please email deed.broadband@state.mn.us with questions on the webinar or office hours.

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, December meeting recap + 2025 meetings

The Governor’s Task Force met at the Centennial Office Building in St. Paul, MN on Monday January 13, 2025. The Task Force presented recommendations and discussed collaboration in the upcoming year with the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Chair, Senator Aric Putnam, and House Agriculture Finance & Policy Co-Chairs, Representative Paul Anderson and Representative Rick Hansen. The Task Force also heard a 2025 legislative preview from DEED’s Government Relations Director, Deven Bowdry, and updates from the Office of Broadband Development on BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates. More information on this and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

The Task Force’s 2024 annual report to the Legislature is also available online.