From the Office of Broadband Development…
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
- BEAD updates
- Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, meeting in May
- Resource reminder: Broadband Development Tuesday Training Series, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, Minnesota Historical Society, and the Office of the State Archaeologist
- Welcome to our new staff in the Office of Broadband Development!
BEAD updates
The opening date for the second round of subgrantee selection for the BEAD program, 11b, has moved, and 11b is now planned to open on May 27, 2025.
This change in date is a result of the number and complexity of applications submitted during the first round, 11a, of subgrantee selection. To ensure sufficient time for careful review of the applications and revision requests, OBD is extending the period between the close of 11a and opening of 11b. Updates have been reflected on the OBD BEAD webpage and to the BEAD Call for Applications.
The Application Information Session and Office Hours for 11b have been rescheduled. If you signed up, an email was sent with the new dates. If you haven’t yet signed up, registration links are open below:
- Application Information Session, now Tuesday May 20, 11am. This session will be recorded and posted to the OBD webpage.
- Weekly office hours, 11b:
Additionally, 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, meeting in May
The Broadband Task Force will be meeting on Thursday May 15 at 10am. This meeting will be held virtually and is open to anyone from the public to attend. The Teams link to join the meeting will be included at the top of the meeting agenda, which will be posted along with other information on past meetings on the Broadband Task Force webpage.
More information on this and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.
Resource reminder: Broadband Development Tuesday Training Series, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, Minnesota Historical Society, and the Office of the State Archaeologist
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 Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, Minnesota Historical Society, and the Office of the State Archaeologist held a joint session and provided an overview of Minnesota’s two primary statutes governing archaeological resources: the Private Cemeteries Act (Minn. Stat. 307.08) and the Field Archaeology Act (Minn. Stat.138.31-42); a discussion on licensing, including qualifications needed to work in Minnesota; and a consultation with MIAC regarding American Indian cemetery sites, the licensing process, and work standards. Resources from that session, including the presentation’s recording, are available on the OBD webinars page.
Welcome to our new staff in the Office of Broadband Development!
Megan Messerole, Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator
Megan joins us with a background in archaeology and history. As a former Cultural Resource Manager for USDA, she is no stranger to natural and cultural resource compliance for state and federal programs. She looks forward to working with grant applicants, agencies, and other partners to deliver vital broadband services while also preserving our significant resources.
Outside of the office, she enjoys being outdoors hiking and exploring and spending quality time with her husband and toddler. She also enjoys reading and dabbles in watercolor painting.