From the Office of Broadband Development…
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
- Out and About in Greater MN
- Restructured BEAD Round updates
- Line Extension Connection Program
- Remembering Senator Bruce Anderson’s impact on broadband
Out and About in Greater MN
Representative Nathan Nelson, ECE President/CEO Justin Jahnz, Senator Aric Putnam, and OBD Executive Director Bree Maki.
Along with staff from East Central Energy (ECE), officials from the Minnesota Legislature and the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development met in Pine City on July 17 to observe speed testing and review progress tied to state-funded broadband grants as part of the ongoing ECE Fiber broadband expansion project. Senator Aric Putnam, Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development, and Representative Nathan Nelson (District 11B) joined the site visit to better understand the progress of rural broadband deployment by electric cooperatives. The group observed performance testing and mapping verifications to ensure compliance with network speed and coverage requirements.
OBD staff have been busy with additional site visits across the state, and have seen updates on state Broadband Grant Programs and the Line Extension Connection Program through visits with: Access Networks, Midco, Garden Valley Technologies (GVT), Otter Tail Telcom, Savage Communications, Inc (SCI), Interstate Telecommunications Company (ITC), Bevcomm, Arvig, Federated Rural Elective Association, Southwest Minnesota Broadband, and KMTelecom.
Outside GVT office for annual site visits: GVT Chief Facilities Officer Jon Smith, GVT Chief Financial Officer Kristi Benson, OBD Staff Samantha Ernst, and GVT CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman.
Restructured BEAD Round updates
Minnesota saw the close of it’s Restructured Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Round of subgrantee selection, which ran July 14 through July 24, 1:30pm CST. OBD has begun review and deconfliction of the submitted applications.
Updates as they are available will be posted to the OBD BEAD webpage, including a direct negotiation process for locations that did not secure bids and posting the Final Proposal for public comment (posted by August 28) in compliance with National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) guidelines.
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. Applicants should complete every applicable question including providing additional comments that will help explain the critical need of broadband for the household/business, including any barriers. More information on how to submit an application via portal, phone, or mail is available on the OBD Line Extension Connection webpage.
Remembering Senator Bruce Anderson’s impact on broadband
The Office of Broadband Development would like to extend gratitude to the late, Senator Bruce Anderson for his lifelong work in understanding and expanding broadband access for his constituents and across Minnesota. Reflection and recognition of Senator Anderson’s impact on key issues through his service on the Senate Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee have been recognized by many, including an article published by Minnesota Public Radio.