ENews is back. Last month, eNews was compiled and posted online, but not sent via email as the email software was getting an upgrade.

MN Broadband Task Force April 2025 hears from Department of Labor and Industry
The MN Broadband Task Force met and heard from the Department of Labor and Industry about training and certification for broadband installers, a timely topic as the MN Legislature looks at amending rules that passed last session requiring training and certification for broadband installers. They also heard from very satisfied customers of the Line Extension program.

State News   

• SF908 passes in Senate to provide revisions on broadband installer training and certification
• MN is one of 11 states that asks the FCC to defend lower cost calls from prison
• MN House passes Agriculture bill that includes funding for Office of Broadband
• X (formerly Twitter) sues Minnesota over state law that bans AI-generated “deepfakes” to influence an election
• 37 Broadband providers are prequalified to apply for BEAD in Minnesota
• Ookla reports MN access to broadband (100/20) increases from 42 to 59 percent between 2023 and 2024
• Minnesota broadband provider tells USTelecom conference Minnesotans expect fiber
• Minnesota House is looking at taking social media companies for collecting customer data
• Reps McEwen and Johnson oppose HF47: a bill that relaxes recent legislation on certification for telecommunications installers
• MN House committee recommends no change to funding for Office of Broadband Development
• MN Senate Committee refers Senate SF0908: revisions on broadband installer training and certification, to Floor
• Bill introduced in MN Senate: SF2224 relieving telecommunications carriers of the obligation to serve certain areas & requiring PUC to resolve disputes

Federal

• How can we help veterans get online? Will Trump Administration changes make that harder?
• Senator Klobuchar’s bipartisan bill to protect online security and stop deepfakes passes Congress
• Institute for Local Self Reliance talks with former BEAD Director Evan Feinman about BEAD
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will no longer cover costs for high-speed internet for rural healthcare providers
• State Legislators (including some from MN) ask Commerce Secretary not to delay BEAD
• Blair Levin details four possible changes to BEAD
• Has delay become the default setting for the American Government?
• Broadband prices are going up and customers are making hard decisions
• Can community/public broadband plans help serve unserved areas?
• Public Interest groups offer four proposals to close the digital divide
• Broadband providers talk about benefits of removing Carrier-of-Last-Resort Laws
• ILSR talks about States wanting defaulted RDOF allocations
• What are potential impacts of DOGE in the FCC?
• Loss of federal Library Funding could impact digital adoption in rural areas
• Experts say new tariffs likely to impact telecom supply chains
• Benton finds connection between ACP and broadband adoption

Vendor/Technology News

• Amazon launches its first internet satellites
• Digital Footprint: Who knows what about you online – and how can you manage that.
• Recent study on consumer takes on various broadband technologies
• Questions about what’s happening with the 5G Fund and how it might impact rural areas
• Arvig recommends redundant fiber connections in Mpls St Paul Magazine
• Two ways broadband providers can serve low-income households: Low Cost Plans and Fixed Discounts

Office of Broadband Development Updates and News:

• MN Office of Broadband Development: Grant deadline moves as do coinciding meetings
• Office of Broadband Development Update April 23: Job opening
• OBD Office Hours April 15: last meeting for BEAD Round 1 – MN forging ahead
• MN House reports on OBD proposed budget report: $1,001,000 in 2026 and 2027
• Broadband Matters April 9 OBD Updates: BEAD deadlines and upcoming meetings
• Broadband Matters OBD Updates April 8: Q&A on BEAD application details
• Wishing Diane Wells happy retirement from Office of Broadband Development
• MN Office of Broadband Development asks NTIA to keep States in control of BEAD funding
• OBD Office Hours April 1: Detailed questions about BEAD the applications

Local Broadband News

Arlington
A view from Arlington MN on current MN broadband legislation

Bemidji
Thousands Gather in Bemidji for GigaZone Gaming Championship & TechXpo

Brownsville
Brownsville City Council supports Acentek application (Houston County)

Carver and Scott Counties
Comcast to expand broadband to Prior Lake, Savage, Victoria and Waconia

Ely
Ely City Council supports HF1740 Equal access to broadband bill

Faribault County
Mediacom brings multi-gig access in Wells and Winnebago MN

Itasca County
Paul Bunyan Communications is expanding the GigaZone to Coleraine and Bovey

North Branch
East Central Energy to bring fiber to North Branch

Park Rapids
Park Rapids MN (Hubbard County Veteran Service Office) get telehealth system for vets

St Louis County
Paul Bunyan Communications adds 350 more locations to fiber expansion plan in Northern MN (St Louis County)
Paul Bunyan Communications to bring FTTH to more than 1,600 more locations in 2025

Sherburne County
Sherburne County supports BEAD applications with four broadband providers

Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources

• May 14-15: AAPB Public Broadband Conference and Hill Day (Washington DC)
• May 15 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• June 11 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• June 12: Speeding BEAD Summit A one-day conference on expediting BEAD
• August 21 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• September 17 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• October 15 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• November 13 MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• December 18MN Broadband Task Force Monthly Meeting
• OPPORTUNITY: Nominate Your Digital Equity Champion
• OPPORTUNITY: Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Community Connect Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025