From the MN Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates BEAD updates Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, April meeting recap Resource reminder: Broadband Development Tuesday Training Series, Department of Natural Resources Join the OBD Team, apply today! Broadband in the news BEAD updates The first round of subgrantee selection, 11a, closed April 21, 2025, at 4:30pm CST. While applications are under active review, OBD will be pausing the BEAD weekly office hours. OBD plans to open the second round, 11b, of subgrantee selection on Monday May 7, 2025.   Reminders on other BEAD resources include: The Application Information Session for the second round, 11b will be held on Tuesday May 6, 11am, register here. This will be recorded, and posted to the OBD BEAD webpage.   Office hours for the second round, 11b, of the subgrantee selection process are open for registration for Tuesday May 13, 11am and Tuesday May 20, 11am.  The Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory continues to be available as a resource and 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. To be listed in the directory, complete and submit the Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory Form.  Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, April meeting recap  The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband met virtually on April 17 and heard from the Department of Labor and Industry’s, Sean O’Neil on updates on the Safety Qualified Underground Telecommunications Installer Program, and a panel of grantees from the Line Extension Connection Program – a huge thank you to Kyle Beuning from Sytek and Scott Reimer from Federated Rural Electric Association for sharing their time and expertise!  More information on this and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.  Resource reminder: Broadband Development Tuesday Training Series, Department of Natural Resources In April 2024, 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 Department of Natural Resources (DNR) held a session on the utility license application and process. The recording from that session is available, along with additional resources on the utility crossing license. Updated reminders from the DNR to applicants include:    Applicants can use the online Utility License Application and payment process.   When submitting license applications across state lands and public waters, it is helpful for the applicants to let the DNR know what has already been completed in the process, for example completed SHPO requirements.  Along with utility license applications, be sure to submit project NHIS and SHPO reply letters. Join the OBD Team, apply today! Apply by April 30, 2025 for the Broadband Grants Specialist. Information on the position and the application are available here: Broadband Grants Specialist – Grants Specialist Senior – Job ID 85586. Broadband in the news Mentions of broadband in the news in Minnesota this month include:  Minnesota was ranked amongst the top three states for biggest year-over-year increase in Speedtest users receiving 100/20 Mbps service: 50 U.S. States Broadband Speed Performance | Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.  More information on broadband speeds and availability across the state of Minnesota are available on the OBD Maps and Data webpage.   In St. Louis County, Paul Bunyan Communications is expanding broadband and will bring its all-fiber optic Broadband network to over 1,600 more locations in 2025. More information is available online here.