MN Senate Journal reports…

Senator Wesenberg introduced–

S.F. No. 868: A bill for an act relating to broadband grants; allowing broadband grants to be used for fixed wireless broadband and clarifying broadband mapping requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 116J.394; 116J.397.

Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development.

A bill for an act
relating to broadband grants; allowing broadband grants to be used for fixed
wireless broadband and clarifying broadband mapping requirements; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 116J.394; 116J.397.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.394, is amended to read:

116J.394 DEFINITIONS.

(a) For the purposes of sections 116J.394 to 116J.398, the following terms have the
meanings given them.

(b) “Broadband” or “broadband service” has the meaning given in section 116J.39,
subdivision 1, paragraph (b).

(c) “Broadband infrastructure” means networks of deployed telecommunications
equipment and technologies necessary to provide high-speed Internet access and other
advanced telecommunications services for end users.

(d) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of employment and economic development.

(e) “Last-mile infrastructure” means broadband infrastructure that serves as the final leg
connecting the broadband service provider’s network to the end-use customer’s on-premises
telecommunications equipment.

(f) “Middle-mile infrastructure” means broadband infrastructure that links a broadband
service provider’s core network infrastructure to last-mile infrastructure.

(g) “Political subdivision” means any county, city, town, school district, special district
or other political subdivision, or public corporation.

(h) “Underserved areas” means areas of Minnesota in which households or businesses
lack access to wire-line or fixed wireless broadband service at speeds of at least 100 megabits
per second download and at least 20 megabits per second upload.

(i) “Unserved areas” means areas of Minnesota in which households or businesses lack
access to wire-line or fixed wireless broadband service, as defined in section 116J.39.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.397, is amended to read:

116J.397 UPDATED BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT DATA AND MAPS.

(a) Beginning in 2016 and continuing each year thereafter, The Office of Broadband
Development shall contract annually with one or more independent organizations that have
extensive experience working with Minnesota broadband providers to:

(1) collect broadband deployment data reflecting all broadband delivery technologies
from Minnesota providers, verify its accuracy through on-the-ground testing, and create
state and county maps available to the public by April 15, 2017, and each April 15 thereafter,
showing the availability of broadband service at various upload and download speeds
throughout Minnesota;

(2) analyze the deployment data collected to help inform future investments in broadband
infrastructure; and

(3) conduct business and residential surveys that measure broadband adoption and use
in the state.

(b) Data provided by a broadband provider under this section is nonpublic data under
section 13.02, subdivision 9. Maps produced under this paragraph are public data under
section 13.03.