The Broadband Breakfast session with State Broadband Offices was interesting and an easy format in which to engage. [Added 7:30pm Jan 21: Here’s the Broadband Breakfast article on it.] Here’s a quick description…
State broadband offices are now deep into BEAD implementation, managing billions in federal funding while navigating deployment timelines, subgrantee oversight, and compliance requirements. This roundtable aims to bring together state broadband directors and program leaders to share lessons learned, troubleshoot common challenges, and discuss emerging best practices from the field. The conversation will also address how states are measuring progress, ensuring speedy and thorough deployment, and adapting strategies as ground-level realities meet original plans.
Bree Maki from the MN Office of Broadband Development was one of the panelists. I’m sure they will post a full video later but I thought I’d share a view from Minnesota.
Update on MN from Bree
- We have NTIA’s BEAD approval
- We do not have NIST approval
- We are getting everything ready to distribute funds when we do get approval
General notes
- Getting NIST approval seems to be a slow process for everyone
- The issue is that states can’t start without approval.
- One advantage of the slow process is learning more about what NTIA wants from other states
Some compelling questions from participants – and some answers if the question was posed verbally – as opposed to in the chat:
Q: The NTIA T&C say BEAD sub-recipients cannot use “any” USF funds. So that means schools, libraries, health providers who get BEAD connections cannot get E-rate or RHC support. Can state leaders push back on this? It is understandable not to get high-cost support, but why limit E-rate/RHC funding?
Q: Could we get a state officer to address whether or not they need to or will request from US Treasury an extension on unspent ARPA funds by 12-26? If any have sought extensions, have they been granted? If not, what are states doing? If unused ARPA funds have to be returned, what is the state’s plan to replace those funds? Thank you.
A: In MN we simply plan to spend it all in time.
Q: Question for everyone… satellite has been available to rural communities for years now…and uptake is not more than single-digit percentage points. Does uptake impact how LEO providers will be funded? Are they only reimbursed for sites that adopt or for ALL that were designated LEO? How will the SBOs help drive uptake, if at all? Should we just call LEO sites what they are… the new digital divide?
A: In WI, we look at capacity and subscription benchmarks and pay based on subscription rates.
A: In MN, we’re waiting on guidance for what milestones we should be considering. People in the field are wondering what the state is paying for with satellite when it’s already available.
Q: Our state is saying that NTIA is requiring a third-party final speed test that is paid from the sub -recipients. Are there any states that are providing these final speed tests since there can be discrepancies?
A IN MN, last summer we did 35,000 speed tests with our partner.
Q: Is there any concern about NTIA implementing changes to BEAD without submitting a CRA report, potentially making the rules ineffective, and/or causing more delay?
A: Folks seem to think it’s a nonissue.