Office of Broadband Development on Termination of Federal Digital Equity Act
The Office of Broadband Development (OBD) issued an urgent update on the status of Minnesota’s Digital Opportunity Plan after the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) received notification that state’s $12 million grant from the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program was immediately terminating. OBD was going to distribute that funding to local digital inclusion projects around the state.
MN Broadband Task Force May 2025 Meeting: Women and federal changes
In May, the MN Broadband Task Force heard from the Hopkins Digital Access Initiative about local seniors getting and using technology. They also heard from women in broadband, including Women in Technology.
OBD mentioned that the Digital Opportunity funding has been terminated. They are forging ahead with BEAD applications. They received 108 applications but they only proposed to cover 52 percent of BEAD eligible locations. OBD is holding off on opening the next BEAD Round of applications until more is known about federal expectations.
State News
- MN Legislature looks at possible Special Session
- How does labor view the changes in MN broadband installer laws?
- MN Broadband installer bill (SF908) passes on house modifying 2024 legislation
- MN Conference Committee meet on omnibus agriculture and broadband development policy and finance bill
- Congrats to Benya Kraus and Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation for her new position as President and CEO
- MN House updates to HF47: provisions governing the certification of underground telecommunications installers modified
Federal
- Loss of ACP means reduced spending on food and clothing and/or lose access to family and loved one
- Sen Klobuchar and others ask Trump Administration not to delay BEAD funding
- Senator Klobuchar’s Take It Down Act is signed into law
- The FCC releases Internet Access Services Report
- LAST ACRE Act promotes broadband to the farm
- President Trump says he would end the Digital Equity Act
- Re-Introduced Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act put some onus on “Big Tech”
Vendor/Technology News
- Broadband industry associations ask Trump Administration to let states continue with BEAD
- AT&T to Acquire Lumen’s Mass Markets Fiber Business
- Broadband provider, Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association, becomes Meeker Energy
- Should the smartphone-broadband bundle should be on every rural operator’s radar?
- FCC Approves Verizon-Frontier Merger
Office of Broadband Development Updates and News:
- Office of Broadband Development Office Hours: Digital Opportunity Termination Update – BEAD keeps on
- Broadband Development Update May 7, 2025: Next BEAD grant round set to open May 27, 2025
Local Broadband News
Arlington (Sibley County)
Mediacom launches multi-gig broadband in Arlington (Sibley County)
Burnsville (Dakota County)
Burnsville License Center closed due to a fiber internet outage
Cass and Crow Wing
New partnership, Tri-Co, focused on deploying broadband to Cass and Crown Wing Counties
Iron Range
Time to remember timber, taconite, tourism and technology on the Iron Range?
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe shares broadband expansion plans
Pine County
Pine County offers support and possible funding to Mediacom BEAD application
Renville County
Renville County residents are invited to take a broadband survey
St Louis County
CTC is deploying fiber to Breitung Town (St. Louis County)IRRR announces $383,000 broadband grant for Paul Bunyan Communications (St Louis County)
Shoreview (Ramsey County)
Gateway Fiber building broadband in Shoreview (Ramsey County)
Willmar (Kandiyohi County)
Update on Connect Willmar Initiative – open access network in Kandiyohi CountyConnect Willmar Initiative now accepting fiber pre-orders
Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources
- EVENTS June 3 & 4: SmartNorth’s The Future Is Feminine adult career pathway program
- 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