The Office of Broadband Development reports…
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
- Broadband Task Force, October meeting recap
- Line Extension Connection Program update
- BEAD updates
- OBD in the news
Broadband Task Force, October meeting recap
The Broadband Task Force met on Wednesday October 15 in Clearwater, Minnesota at the TelCom Construction (TCC) Training Facility. The Task Force heard presentations from TCC leadership on their training programs and got hands on experience with equipment demonstrations. Thank you TCC for hosting and sharing their facility and expertise!
More information on this and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.
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.
OBD in the news
Pictured above: Moderator Kevin Sievert (Senior Manager, Broadband Funding) and panelists, Derrick Owens (Sr. VP of Government & Industry Affairs, WTA), Bree Maki (Executive Director, Minnesota Office of Broadband Development), and Marissa Mitrovich (VP, Public Policy FBA).
Earlier this week, OBD staff attended ConneXions 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. OBD’s Executive Director Bree Maki spoke on the panel, the State of Bead. The panel discussed how state offices and internet services providers have navigated the BEAD program’s changes, integrated the new rules into programs, and plan for completion.
Director Maki was also featured on season 6, episode 50 of the Connected Nation podcast, titled Connecting the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The episode, which covered connecting Minnesotans to broadband, can be streamed here.