Office of Broadband Development Updates: Upcoming events and BEAD & Line Extension updates

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Broadband Task Force at August Farmfest
  • Restructured BEAD Round updates + upcoming information sessions
  • Line Extension Connection Program
  • Broadband events and news

Broadband Task Force at August Farmfest

The Broadband Task Force met at Minnesota Farmfest last week to discuss the important connection between broadband and agriculture. This meeting featured a panel discussion with Commissioner Thom Petersen (Department of Agriculture), Miles Kuschel (Board of Directors, District 6, Minnesota Farm Bureau), and Anne Schwagerl (Vice President, Minnesota Farmers Union) on topics around precision agriculture, AI in agriculture, and the future of broadband in agriculture in Minnesota.

A huge thank you to the panelists and attendees for sharing their time and expertise in discussing this important topic.

Restructured BEAD Round updates + upcoming information sessions

OBD is currently reviewing and deconflicting locations from the Restructured Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Round of subgrantee selection.

Next steps and additional resources to watch for on the OBD BEAD webpage include:

  • Registration now open for the Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal Virtual Information Session, Thursday August 28 at 11am CST, which will provide an overview of the Final Proposal, steps for public comment, and next steps for BEAD in Minnesota. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the OBD BEAD webpage.
  • The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal will be posted to the OBD BEAD webpage for a 7-day public comment on Thursday August 28. The Final Proposal is due to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) by Friday September 4.
  • Coming soon: OBD will be announcing regional, in-person Final Proposal Information Sessions on the BEAD Final Proposal. These will be scheduled the first week in September, and open to anyone to attend with no registration required. When finalized, dates and logistics will be posted to the OBD BEAD webpage and shared in another email blast.

If you have questions on the webinars or in-person events, please reach out to deed.broadband@state.mn.us.  

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.

Broadband events and news

The Minnesota Public Broadband Alliance, member of the American Association for Public Broadband, is offering a free event, What’s Next for Broadband in Minnesota on September 10 at 9am in New Prague, MN.

The even will host featured speakers, Gigi Sohn of the American Association of Public Broadband, Christopher Mitchel of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, and OBD’s Executive Director Bree Maki. More information on the event is available online and registration is open below:

Minnesota broadband was additionally featured:

  • Director Maki was also quoted in an August 6 Star Tribune article, on the impacts of the BEAD program on OBD’s work: “[Minnesota] had this big program that we really thought could maximize the state and federal efforts,” Maki said, “and the timing is just taking a little longer than anticipated.”

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