An update from the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

• OBD, in the field!
• Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, May meeting recap + June meeting plans
• Line Extension Connection Program
• Digital Opportunity updates
• Telecommuter Forward!

OBD, in the field!

Staff from OBD have been out around the state visiting project sites from previous rounds of Border-to-Border and Line Extension funding! This has included:

February saw site visits to Runestone and Arvig Projects.

In March, OBD staff visited project sites with ECE, Charter, SCI, Albany Telephone, Sytek, Gardonville, and Red River.

And in April, visited Meeker and Wiktel projects and closed out a Line Extension Round 2 project for SE MN Wifi. 

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, May meeting recap + June meeting plans

The Broadband Task Force met on Thursday May 15 at 10am. The Task Force head a presentation on the Hopkins Digital Access Initiative from Rebekah Crosby (Co-Founder, Connecting to Thrive), Carolyn Leslie (Co-Founder, Connecting to Thrive), and Beth Kivett (Activity Center Program Coordinator, Hopkins Activity Center) on the collaborative community effort to develop a digital access plan in Hopkin. Jill Huffman (Chief Executive Officer, Spring Grove Communications + MiBroadband) and Kristi Westbrock (Chief Executive Officer/General Manager, Consolidated Telecommunications Company) spoke on a Women in Broadband Leadership Panel to provide perspectives from industry leaders on women’s role in broadband. A huge thank you to the speakers and presenters for sharing their time and expertise!

The Broadband Task Force will be meeting on Wednesday, June 11 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 as usual 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. 

Line Extension Connection Program

The Minnesota Line Extension Connection Program aims to connect residents and businesses that lack access to wired broadband internet service with service providers and assist in the expense of extending broadband to those locations.

Owners of residential and business locations lacking a wired internet connection with access to actual speeds equal to or greater than 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, can submit their address location for bid consideration by entering their information into the Line Extension Connection portal to initiate their interest in receiving broadband internet service. More information on how to submit an application via portal, phone, or mail is available on the OBD Line Extension Connection webpage.

Digital Opportunity updates

On May 9, 2025, DEED received notification from the federal government that it was immediately terminating the state’s $12 million grant from the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program. This funding was intended to reduce gaps in broadband access and expand digital skills and technology availability. All states received the same notification of cancellation.

MN’s Digital Opportunity Plan, a deliverable from this program, focuses on ensuring every Minnesotan has the tools and skills needed to harness the full power of broadband and reap the benefits of a digital economy. The U.S. Department of Commerce had approved MN’s Digital Opportunity Plan as part of the federal Digital Equity Act in 2024.

Due to this federal action, DEED will not be able to provide grants to local governments, organizations and small businesses to ensure these Minnesotans have the tools and skills to access and use the internet and digital technology. DEED is also forced to halt a planned statewide network of local experts to ensure Minnesotans everywhere have equitable access to get online.

Please contact deed.broadband.equity@state.mn.us with any questions about changes to this program. An FAQ is in development and will be shared on the OBD Digital Opportunity webpage.

 

Communities Wishing to Become Telecommuter Forward! Certified: Cities, townships and counties that receive the Telecommuter Forward! Certification have adopted a model resolution that includes a statement of support and commitment to promoting telecommuting. As part of the model resolution the community appoints one employee or department as the single point of contact for coordinating telecommuting opportunities with that community.

By committing to being Telecommuter Forward! these communities are improving the quality of life in Minnesota and encouraging economic vitality.

Communities can find a model resolution template and instructions on becoming certified on OBD’s Telecommuter Forward! webpage.