MN Broadband Task Force Meeting February 2024
The MN Broabdand Task Force got a quick update on what is happening with the Office of Broadband Development and Legislature. Then a panel of broadband and power providers talked about their experience with pole attachments. It was an interesting look at the pole attachment process and cost from the provider perspective.

State News   

• Bill introduced in MN House HF1606: prohibiting access to nudification technology
• Bill introduced in MN House: HF1552 lowering match requirements for lower population density broadband grant program
• MN SF0769: laid over for possible inclusion: bill to change data center tax incentive from refund to exemption
• Freedom Foundation of Minnesota questions need for public funding for broadband in Minnesota
• Bill introduced in MN Senate: SF1860; prohibiting false caller identification information
• Would new MN bill (HF47) hinder broadband or increase safety?
• MN SF379 moves forward: State-funded county and city cybersecurity grant program establishment
• MN HF47 moves forward: Provisions governing the certification of underground telecommunications installers modified
• Federal Broadband Funding to Connect 89,000 Minnesotans; DEED Begins Prequalification Process
• Update on bills SF0883 and SF0735: taxation exemption for broadband providers
• Bill introduced in MN House: HF974 related to definition of provider and role of franchise and permitting and more
• Bill introduced in MN House: HF844 getting more data on broadband deployment from providers
• Bill introduced to MN House: HF653 transferring money into the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer
• MN House Ag, Finance and Policy Committee hear from Office of Broadband Development

Federal

• US Senators introduce Bipartisan Legislation to prevent taxation of rural broadband grants
• Does the BEAD map only count correct answers with no penalty for wrong ones?
• Broadband grants are taxable income – will that change before BEAD starts distributing funds?
• The Supreme Court rules for heightened penalties for false reimbursement claims to E-Rate Program
• The Foundation for Rural Service published report: Delivering Broadband from Beginning to “End”
• Turns out the Affordable Connectivity Program was a good investment – according to report
• Pew has four ways to keep BEAD on track
• How could Trump’s DEI executive orders impact telecoms?
• Why Should BEAD continue to prioritize fiber?
• Trump Administration nominates Arielle Roth for head of NTIA – leads to questions about BEAD
• US Legislation introduced to reduce taxation on broadband grants
• What happened with RURAL.gov and what’s still missing?

Vendor/Technology News

• Happy anniversary to ECE Fiber customers: from 12 to 4000 in a year
• Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN) has a good glossary for newbies
• What is Fiber Sensing? A good path to becoming a Smart Community
• What are potential broadband impacts of tariffs?
• Ars Technica reports on CenturyLink outages
• Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association recently named a Smart Connected Community provider by NTCA

Office of Broadband Development Updates and News:

• OBD Broadband Matters Feb 26: Annual report and BEAD pre-qualification details
• OBD Broadband Matters 18: BEAD eligible map update coming soon
• OBD Weekly Office Hours, February 18: pre-qualification questions
• Broadband Matters OBD Updates Feb 12: BEAD Pre-Qualification process happening until Feb 27
• OBD Office Hours Feb 4, 2025: Not many questions on BEAD today

Local Broadband News

Carver County
Carver County is getting closer to ubiquitous Gig coverage

Fall Lake Township
Fall Lake Township board to hear about BEAD and broadband at next meeting

Pine County
Pine County is focused on ubiquitous broadband – better maps and a speed test could help

Rosemount
Meta pays $70 million for land in Rosemount for new data center

Imagine an aerospace research center in Rosemount. North Wind and U of M are planning on it.

St Louis County
St Louis County spent $2.76 million ARPA funds on broadband

Willmar
Willmar Mayor notes broadband work in State of the City address

Willmar City Council asks staff to work with Charter Communication on plan for fiber to the Industrial Park and some service to residents

West Central Tribune asks, Will the Willmar Council move forward with its Connect Willmar Initiative?

Willmar City Council to meet with Charter Communications amid conversations with Hometown Fiber on an open access network

Winona
HBC Continues Flight Fiber Expansion in Winona, MN

Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources

• EVENT Mar 13: Charting the Course: Adapting to Policy Shifts While Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize”
• EVENT March 21: Open House for new telehealth site at Detroit Lakes VFW
•  EVENT Thursday, March 20 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• EVENT April 12: GigaZone Gaming Championship & TechXpo in Bemidji
• EVENT Thursday, April 17 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• EVENT Thursday, May 15 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• EVENT Wednesday, June 11 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• EVENT Thursday, August 21 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• EVENT Wednesday, September 17 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• EVENT Wednesday, October 15 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• EVENT Thursday, November 13 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• EVENT Thursday, December 18MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• OPPORTUNITY: UMN Extension’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) looking for project ideas