Almost 50 people attended the Office of Broadband Development Office hours this week to get updates on BEAD. Also, Megan Messerol, the Land Use Permitting Expert at OBD spoke about rules for federal funding related to land and permits. People had good questions and OBD made clear that they are happy to have open conversations with all partners. NTIA has the final say, so OBD may not always have an immediate answer but tonight we can find it.

I livestreamed the session – but it looks like only 6 minutes have been archived.

Questions & Chat notes

• What happens to the remaining money that doesn’t get doled out?
  We don’t know but we have created a plan to use it all. We remain hopeful
• What happened to the locations that didn’t get bids from providers?
  OBD did direct negotiations with 20,000 locations to because no one bid on those areas in the competitive round
• Note: Project data reflected on the map is subject to change until NTIA approves MN’s Final Proposal and grant contracts are executed with subgrantees.
• Welcome Megan. So happy to have you on the team! Will OBD or NTIA make the Categorical exclusion (CatX) determinations? High level idea of what that will look like?
  OBD will help with exclusion determinations – working with ISPs to gather most of the info. Then OBD will work through the process. NTIA will make the final determination.
• ISPs will not interface with the ESP, but rather OBD?
  Correct
• Link to the OBD BEAD webpage: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/bead/
• NTIA is having a webinar on Tuesday Sep 30 https://broadbandusa.ntia.gov/events/latest-events/permitting-broadband-infrastructure-projects
• You are saying don’t start your project until final approval – we see 47 week in delays in getting fiber. We haven’t even looked at equipment. Can procurement start before final approval? Do we need waivers if prices are growing? Will they be reimbursable?
  There is some guidance in our draft – but it is still a draft/ There is language about what you can purchase in advance. It is up to the NTIA.
• will you please put this deck on the webpage
  Yes – it will be posted shortly!
• any other dates to mention besides Sept. 30 permitting?
  Not at this time