From the Office of Broadband Development…
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
- Broadband in the news
- Line Extension Connection Program update
- BEAD updates
- Broadband Task Force, October meeting plans
Broadband in the news
OBD Executive Director, Bree Maki (pictured above) on the panel, The Future of Broadband Policy & BEAD Program Implementation at the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) TechExpo25.
More mentions of BEAD in the news include Broadband Breakfast’s story on States race to meet federal broadband funding deadline and the Fierce Network’s States feel pressured to hurry up with new BEAD rules.
Bree Maki and OBD’s new Broadband Environmental and Land Use Coordinator, Megan Messerole, presented at the Minnesota Telecom Alliance 2025 Fall Conference. The event focused on key issues impacting the telecommunications industry, and Megan shared on her new role in working with internet service providers on navigating permitting processes for both state and federally funded broadband projects.
Line Extension Connection Program update
The Round 4 Line Extension bidding window opened, September 26, 2025.
OBD expects the round to have $3.5M in Capital Projects Fund (CPF) dollars available to grant. Information and resources on Line Extension are posted to the OBD Line Extension Connection Program webpage. OBD also expects to run a fifth round of Line Extension with state project funds.
While the window for residential and business sign-ups to be included in the bidding for Round 4 of the Line Extension Connection Program has closed, registration will remain open for future rounds if and as funding is available.
Questions on Line Extension can be sent to deed.broadband@state.mn.us or (651)-259-7610.
BEAD updates
As required by the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the Minnesota OBD submitted its Final Draft Proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), including the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, on September 4, 2025. NTIA has committed to review and approve plans in 90 days.
OBD will continue to revise and update the documents as required by NTIA and as is necessary to ensure all BEAD eligible locations are served as defined by the policy notice.
Updated and additional information will be posted to the OBD BEAD webpage.
Broadband Task Force, October meeting plans
The Broadband Task Force will be meeting on Wednesday, October 15 from 10am-12:30pm in Clearwater, MN at a TelCom Construction Training Facility. This meeting will be held in-person and is open to anyone from the public to attend.
Information on this and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.
