The Minnesota House Committee on Agriculture, Finance and Policy discussed HF2279: expanding name and duties of the Office of Broadband Development today…

HF2279(Vang)
Office of Broadband Development renamed to Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity, duties and reporting requirements modified, state’s broadband goals expanded, multifamily dwelling grant program established, and definitions amended.

Laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill.

From Rep Vang

• A1 amendment: prevails (technical issue)
• A2 amendment:  change digital equity to digital opportunity – also no funds attached. Prevails.
• Millions of dollars are coming into MN for broadband. Most funds are going to rural areas to build broadband. That’s important. BUT there are areas in the TCs that are unserved or underserved, often to affordability. Also Western Hennepin County has sketchy service because of rights or way. In urban areas there are apartment building that aren’t wired.
• The bill expands scope of OBD and increased annual goals to include adoption and include greater reporting.

Testifiers:

Mike Baer (Hennepin County)

• From a rural area. Bad broadband made education more difficult.
• Broadband changed everything once we had it. Earned several degrees.
• Precision ag has helped family business.
• Many residents in Hennepin County aren’t online because of access, skills and affordability.
• DEED Digital Opportunity Plan includes many people and this people adheres to that plan better than current bills.
• Would require another OBD annual report.
• No financial obligation in bill.

Questions:

I get it but aren’t there other forms of broadband than fiber that might work?
Another testifier could help.
[Henn County Dep of Broadband] Yes, fiber works today. Satellite works for some areas. There may be more options in the future. We support the bill because we think drill for fiber isn’t enough. People will need more. It’s not a build it and they will come issue. We need to help people adopt broadband.

We’re looking at broadband adoption and that was the goal of the whole department – but computer access might be a much wider scope. How does that impact federal funding?
[OBD Bree Maki] MN is part of the Digital Equity Act, which is $12 million. Out plan written for that does include things mentioned in the bill.

What about last mile? Do we fund their broadband subscriptions?
Our job is to be able to get one good provider to locations MN. We currently don’t have a subsidy program. ACP was that program but it was cancelled. Some providers offer low-income options.

We have $650 million coming into MN. We need to decide how to use it. Maybe we need to look at how urban areas can tap into that to get devices and subsidies.

In rural areas, speeds vary greatly. What is served?
less than 25/3 is unserved; less than 100/20 is underserved. When we award grants, we require providers to install 100/20.

SO is fiber the only option?
Fiber is most long term and reliable. We are tech agnostic – so if there are options that meet those needs, we are happy with that. The federal funding requires us to get broadband to everyone and that might open the door to satellite.