Monthly Archives: March 2025

EVENT April 1: MN House Committee to discuss HF2928: water appropriation projects required … data centers exempted from making financial contributions to an energy conservation and optimization plan

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MN House of Representatives reports…

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 , 1:00 PM

Energy Finance and Policy

Co-Chair: Rep. Patty Acomb holds the gavel
Co-Chair: Rep. Chris Swedzinski
Location: Capitol 123
Agenda:

HF2928 (Acomb) – Preapplication filings for large water appropriation projects required, permit application information for large water appropriation projects added, level of environmental review for data centers specified, data centers exempted from making financial contributions to an energy conservation and optimization plan, and other data center provisions modified.
HF2912 (Her) – Macalester College geothermal energy system funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF2297 (Myers) – Special license plate established for solar pollinator programs, and agrivoltaic solar sites made eligible for solar site management practices.
Revisor Code 25-04891 (Kraft) – Virtual power plants
***25-04891 is pending introduction

Items may be added or removed from the agenda.

EVENT April 4: MN Senate committee to discussion SF0908: certification of underground telecommunications installers

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The MN Senate Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development reports…

Friday, April 4th, 2025 10:30 AM
Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development
Chair: Sen. Aric Putnam
Location: 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.

*Please note the Room and Time change*

Agenda

SF 0908 – Kupec: Provisions governing the certification of underground telecommunications installers modification

*Additional bills to be added*

You can view this hearing on the Senate Schedule.

Minnesota and Maine ask US Dep of Commerce about change to BEAD

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Telecompetitor reports…

At least two states — Maine and Minnesota — have contacted the U.S. Department of Commerce concerning the changes that may be made to the $42.45 billion the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.

Here’s the Minnesota action…

Minnesota’s suggestions about BEAD came via a letter to Lutnick from Bree Maki, the Executive Director of the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development. The requested “volume 2” changes are a reduction or elimination of program and reporting requirements she characterized as “excessive.” The letter also requested four administrative task changes.

“Any changes enacted by NTIA should be optional and states should have the flexibility to make the changes they need to be successful in their state,” Maki wrote. “We are confident that the modifications and priorities we are requesting will not only improve Minnesota’s ability to strategically and effectively implement the BEAD Program but also serve as a model for other states seeking similar enhancements.”

Sen Amy Klobuchar asks Assistance Commerce Secretary Arielle Roth about ensuring States can ‘expeditiously’ proceed with broadband plans

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A video of a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Thursday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) questioned Assistance Commerce Secretary Arielle Roth.

New bill SF3056 would change tax social media companies for collecting data on MN consumers

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Law 360 reports...

Minnesota would impose a tax on consumer data collection done by social media platforms based on the number of Minnesota consumers, if the platform has more than 100,000 consumers, under a bill introduced in the state Senate.
S.F. 3065, which Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-Hennepin County, introduced Thursday, would impose a tax on social media companies that collect data from Minnesota consumers. The monthly tax would be 10 cents per Minnesota consumer on more than 100,000 consumers and up to 500,000 consumers; 25 cents per Minnesota consumer on more than 500,000 consumers and up to 1 million consumers; and 50 cents per consumer on more than 1 million consumers.
The bill would define a consumer as someone with an account on the social media application or website.

Arvig reports on reports on Line Extension grants and plans for broadband expansion

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Arvig reports…

 More than 400 structures in rural Minnesota will soon have high-speed internet access as Arvig plans to invest recently awarded grants from the state’s Broadband Line Extension Connection Program in a last-mile fiber-to-the-home project.

Arvig was awarded grants totaling $3,303,607 from the Line Extension program after submitting successful lowest-cost bids to serve 406 locations.

The locations and number of structures served will be:

  • Rose Lake, Dodo Lake and Lake Elora, near Cotton: 139 structures
  • Buffalo Lake, north of Detroit Lakes: 96 structures
  • West of Rock Lake, north of Detroit Lakes: 43 structures
  • North of Lake Osakis: 32 structures
  • North of Long Prairie: 22 structures
  • South of Detroit Lakes: 14 structures
  • North of Browerville: 8 structures
  • Johnson Lake Lane, south of Detroit Lakes: 8 structures
  • North of Henning: 7 structures
  • West of Wood Lake: 6 structures
  • Hubble Pond, near Rochert: 6 structures
  • Northeast of Redwood Falls: 5 structures
  • Northwest of Detroit Lakes: East Oak Lake Drive: 5 structures
  • Klein Road, north of Detroit Lakes: 4 structures
  • South of Grand Meadow: 3 structures
  • East of Long Prairie: 2 structures
  • North of Sauk Centre: 2 structures
  • Park Rapids: 1 structure
  • Clements: 1 structure
  • Callaway: 1 structure
  • Rochert: 1 structure

Arvig will invest $394,000 to cover additional project costs, bringing the total project cost to $3,697,907. About 70 miles of fiber will be constructed, with all 21 locations combined. Work on the line extensions is set to begin in spring 2025, with construction targeted for completion by November 2025.

The program requires locations to be served with internet speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload. Arvig expects to exceed that requirement, with plans to provide locations access to speeds of up to 1 Gig download and 100Mbps upload.

A location is considered unserved if it lacks access to a wired service with at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speed.

Gov Tech reports on HF2279: expanding the name and duties of the state’s Office of Broadband Development

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I have been following the bill to expand the name and focus of the Office of Broadband Development. It’s always interesting to see what national sources this. Gov Tech reports…

House File 2279: This bill, introduced and first read by Minnesota Rep. Samantha Vang on March 19, would expand the name and duties of the state’s Office of Broadband Development.

The office, housed within the Department of Employment and Economic Development, started its work in 2014. It was charged with distributing grants to Internet service providers for investing in broadband infrastructure.

The new bill would rename the office to be the Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity, and broaden its purpose to include improving broadband access, adoption and related digital inclusion activities.

“These changes will result in better high-speed Internet access, broadband adoption and affordability across the state,” Vang said during a House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee meeting. …

Notably, the bill includes no financial obligations, as Baer emphasized.

Daily Yonder says changes to BEAD could strand rural communities

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The Daily Yonder reports…

In early March, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick proposed changes to a federal broadband connectivity program that would favor Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity, like Starlink, over fiber optic, a faster and more reliable form of internet access.

Critics say Lutnick’s proposal to prioritize LEO will worsen the digital divide by abandoning rural communities without the long term economic benefits of fiber optic infrastructure.

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment, or BEAD, is a $42 billion grant program created by the Biden administration under the Infrastructure, Investments, and Jobs Act of 2021. BEAD aims to connect 25 million Americans with high speed internet in all 56 states and territories.

In a meeting with BEAD staff earlier this month, Lutnick said he wants to make the program “technology-neutral” by shifting the focus to LEO satellite connectivity. Wall Street Journal reporter Patience Haggin said that Lutnick’s proposal would make it easier for Elon Musk’s LEO satellite technology, Starlink, to claim funds allocated for rural broadband development.

Lutnick’s proposed changes would exacerbate the digital divide between rural and urban residents, according to the Benton Institute’s Broadband & Society Director of Policy Engagement Drew Garner.  The Benton Institute is a nonprofit that focuses on broadband access.

Broadband Matters OBD Updates Mar 26: Task Force and BEAD progress

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From the Office of Broadband development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • BEAD updates: First round, 11a, of subgrantee selection open
  • Digital Opportunity update
  • Resource reminder: Broadband Development Tuesday Training Series, Minnesota Department of Transportation
  • Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, March meeting recap
  • Broadband in the news

A warm congratulations to OBD’s Deputy Director, Diane Wells on her upcoming retirement! Diane has worked at the state for 39 years, and been in the Office of Broadband Development since its inception 10 years ago. Diane has led efforts to leverage state and federal funding and is a driving force behind the Border-to-Border Broadband grant program, ensuring that unserved and underserved communities gain reliable and equitable access to high-speed internet, and making the business case for broadband expansion across the hardest, most costly places to serve in Minnesota. Diane’s leadership and deep commitment to public service have shaped broadband policy and access across Minnesota and served a model for states nationally. 

BEAD updates: First round, 11a, of subgrantee selection open
The first round of subgrantee selection, 11a, opened on March 24, and stays open through April 21, 2025, at 4:30pm CST. Resources for this are posted on the OBD BEAD webpage.  The Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory Form has been posted to the OBD BEAD webpage and is open for those interested in being listed. The first version of the directory will be posted next week and continue to be updated on a weekly basis moving forward. This directory is a voluntary list consisting of the names and contact information of the contractors and subcontractors that have requested to be included in the directory. The directory is not an exhaustive list of all the contractors and subcontractors based or working in the state of Minnesota, and OBD does not endorse or vet any of the companies or individuals listed. OBD reserves the right to discontinue the directory at any time. Additional and updated BEAD resources for Minnesota include:   

  • Approved BEAD Applicants from the Pre-Qualification Process were posted 3/24/2025
  • The recording from the March 25 BEAD Application Session for the first round of subgrantee selection, 11a, has been posted online. This session provided a walk through the application requirements and gave an overview of the application process through a demo of the application portal.  
  • Weekly office hours on BEAD continue Tuesdays at 11am through April 15. Registration is open for the remaining April 1, April 8, and April 15 sessions.  
  • Minnesota’s BEAD Project Management Plan, outlining the processes, procedures, and policies that will be followed by OBD in the management and execution of the BEAD, was added under the Additional Resouces dropdown. 
  • Updated FAQs are available on the BEAD Pre-Qualification FAQ and BEAD Subgrantee Selection FAQ. Please continue to submit all questions for the FAQ via online web form, linked below.

Digital Opportunity update
On March 12, OBD staff visited Hopkins, MN to learn about the grassroots digital opportunity efforts the community is undertaking. With coordination from local business Connecting to Thrive, Hopkins city employees, school and library staff, non-profit leaders, and small business owners are strategizing new ways to connect people to the digital supports they need. A big thank you to Rebekah Crosby, Carolyn Leslie, and Beth Kivett for their invitation and leadership!
OBD staff appreciate learning through digital opportunity show-and-tell visits like this. To explore further, please contact deed.broadband.equity@state.mn.us or hannah.buckland@state.mn.us.
Resource reminder: Broadband Development Tuesday Training Series, Minnesota Department of TransportationLast April, OBD hosted the Broadband Development Tuesday Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems). As Minnesota reenters construction season, this series has valuable reminders and resources from agency experts providing an overview of their agency, and information on current processes, timelines, goals, and best practices working on broadband projects and with broadband grantees.The Minnesota Department of Transportation provided guidance specific to MnDOT’s permitting role for any work within MnDOT trunk highway rights-of-way.

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, March meeting recapThe Governor’s Task Force on Broadband met virtually on March 20 and heard from the Department of Natural Resources’, Cheryl Kelley-Dobie, Joe Rokala, and Benjamin Schaefer, on a utility license update. The Task Force also heard updates from OBD on BEAD and Digital Opportunity, a legislative update, and discussed how subgroups could best work together for writing the 2025 annual report later in the year.More information on this and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force’s webpage.Broadband in the newsBroadband grants in Winona were featured in a March 12 article from the Winona Post “Expanding internet access”. OBD’s Executive Director, Bree Maki, was featured in the article and reported on the 5 awards that have gone to Internet Service Providers in Winona County over the past 10 years, which have connected over 2,000 homes and businesses with broadband. More information is available on the Minnesota’s Broadband Grants Program online, as well as map of statewide broadband access.  Federal funding in Minnesota was also featured on March 13 on KSTP 5, “Federal funding to provide millions to expand broadband in Minnesota” on the $652 million in federal funds allocated to the state through NTIA’s BEAD program. Minnesota just completed the BEAD Pre-Qualification process on March 13, and will be entering the first of three expected rounds of subgrantee selection on March 24. More information on the BEAD program is available on Minnesota’s OBD BEAD webpage.  

MN House introduces HF2875: extending crime to telecommunications equipment and broadband services

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Minnesota House reports on a bill that would extend crime of damage or theft to telecommunications equipment to broadband and cable services…

Nash, Elkins, Scott and Feist introduced:

H. F. 2875, A bill for an act relating to crime; extending crime of damage or theft to telecommunications equipment to broadband and cable services; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.593, subdivision 1.

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy.

Institute for Local Self Reliance conversation on MN’s broadband workforce law (HF47/SF908)

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I am a big fan of Connect This, the Institute for Local Self Reliance’s regular podcast that is a practical conversation from experts in the broadband industry, including co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) and regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting).

This week they took on HF47/SF908 – bills that set to change legislation from last year that put training and certification requirements on broadband installers. I’ve written about the various sessions at the Legislature but because of their pragmatic approach, I think the discussion below is easier to follow than Legislative Committee Meetings. As a bonus, two of the speakers are based in Minnesota and one has done a lot of work here.

NTIA report looks at barriers for broadband deployment

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The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) reports…

We asked broadband officials and industry stakeholders to identify challenges they face with deploying broadband to underserved and unserved locations. In response, broadband officials and industry stakeholders identified challenges with the following:
(1) statutory requirements, (2) Notice of Funding Opportunity provisions, (3) supply
chain and labor market shortages, and (4) NTIA’s communication process.

Gigi Sohn counters recent opinion piece in Star Tribune questioning the need for public funding for broadband

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Last month, I wrote about a recent opinion piece in the MN Star Tribune that questioned the need for public funding for broadband. Today, the MN Star Tribune has posted a counter to that piece by Gigi Sohn, the executive director of the American Association for Public Broadband, an organization dedicated to ensuring that communities have the freedom to choose what broadband network best serves their residents.

Community-owned broadband networks are thriving across the country. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s Community Network Map shows a record 795 public networks delivering fast, affordable and reliable internet — hardly the “magical thinking” Annette Meeks described in her recent commentary in the Minnesota Star Tribune on the Connect Willmar Initiative. (“Municipal broadband: A zombie in our midst,” Feb. 24.)

The real “zombie in our midst” is the dark money-fueled misinformation campaigns that keep rising from the dead, recycling the same debunked talking points that big broadband incumbents have peddled for decades. These attacks follow a familiar pattern, aiming to slow the momentum of communities adopting publicly owned networks.

Take the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota, the nonprofit organization that Meeks leads. Like other industry-backed groups, it trots out outdated claims that public broadband is a failure — ignoring the reality that most municipal networks are thriving. Just look at two of these — Idaho Falls and Ammon, Idaho. They are among the oldest and most successful public networks in the country. There are hundreds more examples across the United States.

Ironically, the Freedom Foundation claims to champion “individual freedom,” yet Meeks’ argument seeks to deny Minnesotans the freedom to choose the broadband network that best serves their needs. And since the Freedom Foundation is so focused on values, perhaps it should add transparency to its list: Who funds the foundation’s opposition to public broadband? Why do its arguments conveniently mirror those Big Cable has used for decades? No funders are listed on its website.

The Connect Willmar Initiative wasn’t born out of ideology — it was created because “local internet providers were not interested in improving Willmar’s internet infrastructure,” according to the city. Yet only after the initiative gained traction did Charter Communications swoop in, deploying its usual playbook. It propped up its fake consumer group, the Alliance for Quality Broadband — a front it has used elsewhere to derail public broadband efforts — and blanketed the area with Facebook ads and mailers warning that the initiative would “burn your tax dollars,” even though the city plans to pay for the network using bonds and other financial options, without an increase in taxes.

OBD Office Hour Notes Mar 25: BEAD Application Information Session

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The OBD Office Hour served as a BEAD Application Information Session. OBD walked attendees through the application requirements and an overview will be given of the application process through a demo of the application portal. The session will be recorded and posted to this webpage.

First a few updates:

  • Approved BEAD applicants has been released.
  • MN BEAD Contractor Directory will be posted later this today. It’s a voluntary list. It’s not an exhaustive list. Not endorsements.

Also a quick look at the BEAD Contractor Directory Screenshots

The Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory Form has been posted to the website and is open for those interested in being listed to complete. The first version of the directory will be posted 4/2/25 continue to be updated weekly moving forward.

But the bulk of the meeting was spent on the Portal Walk Through. I captured screenshots and questions. OBD will be posting the full video soon. The screenshots may seen (and be) repetitious as I was trying to capture moving moments.

Q: Do we need to upload a polygon?

Do not need to upload a polygon.

Q: PreAward Risk Assessment:  Questions 40 and 41 do not have a character limit.  Is this correct (other questions state a character limit)?
We will check on this and identify the limit.

Q: Can we submit wireless applications as well for Round 1? or is that only for round 2?
Fiber only for first round.
Under MN’s NTIA approved Initial Proposal Vol. 2, the first subgrantee selection round is for Priority (fiber) projects only. If you submit a non-fiber project in the first round, it will not be considered. OBD intends to update the list of BEAD eligible locations following the completion of the subgrantee selection round to remove those locations that have been preliminarily awarded to a subgrantee selected in the first subgrantee selection round. Therefore, it is unknown at this time, what locations will remain for inclusion in the second subgrantee selection round when fixed wireless providers will be able to submit an application.

Q: Jason, is the example you are showing data that is provided through the portal or example of data the ISP provides?
This data has been pre-populated. It’s the location data. Portal just needs to know technology-type. We need file for post-processing purposes. There are other files (speed/latency) that will be needed eventually.

Q: How does portal know which IDs to select?
It’s a single column list of fabric IDs.

Q: In the Other Supporting Documentation needed for upload bullet 2, Preliminarily awarded applicants must provide the following items certified by a Professional Engineer (PE) stating that the proposed network can deliver broadband service that meets the requisite performance requirements to all locations served by the project. Is this needed now in the application stage or upon award?
The PE certified design plan will be required upon notice of a preliminary award but can be submitted as part of the initial application as well.

Q: Do you have any documentation on reference funding?

Q: How do you find the MN Swift Vendor ID?
There’s info on how to sign up to get a vendor ID.

Q:  Letter of Credit Commitment letter is at 25%, correct?
Need to check to make sure.

Q:  What’s the ETA for the final guidance/ updates being made to the portal?
In the next week.

Q: Will MN’s BEAD application require “evidence of match” be uploaded with the round 1 application, in addition to the letter of commitment for a ILOC?
Yes. Letter of credit does not require evidence of provider match. Also it depends on what the match represents.

Q: I did not see Low Earth Satellite providers on the listing of prequalified providers. There are certainly some locations where wireline and fixed wireless are not financially reasonable in MN to serve. How will this impact the program in MN if low earth satellite providers are not prequalified?
We are waiting for guidance from NTIA. But they can get prequalified. And we can’t force anyone to serve unserved areas.

From the Chat

 

League of MN Cities recap on SF2045: Community TV grants and HF1740 Equal access to broadband bill

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League of MN Cities posts information on two bills ( SF 2045 and HF 1740) going through the MN Legislature right now. I have also been following but nice to see what others day…

During the week of March 17, Minnesota lawmakers considered two bills related to telecommunications and broadband access. The House Legacy Finance Committee reviewed a proposal geared toward supporting local public, educational, and governmental television channels, while the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee examined legislation that would give local governments the authority to franchise internet providers. Both bills received committee support and were laid over for possible inclusion in future omnibus bills.

Check out full article for more details.