The Broadband Task Force unveiled the Annual Report (I will post on the report very soon) and presented it to Senator Putnam (Chair Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development). They also heard about Minnesota broadband environmental permitting overview.
10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Welcome from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband and approval of minutes from December Task Force meeting.
10:05a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Legislative preview for 2026 with Deven Bowdry, Government Relations Director, DEED
- Session should be brief
- Session starts Feb 17, second year of biennium, so more policy than budgets
- Split House & Senate so not expecting to get much done
- There might be a supplemental budget – focusing on urgent items – Fraud security is a hot topic
- Governor hasn’t yet announced priorities
- Probably see budget in March
- They will be looking for informational hearing to fill time
- Governor’s bonding proposal has been released
- OBD will have a hearing session as will the Broadband Task Force
10:15 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).
- BEAD
- NTIA approved final proposal – now waiting on approval from NIST
- Can’t move forward without NIST approval – but getting ready to be ready
- Working to make sure that MN rules and regulations align with BEAD requirements – including emerging federal laws such as related to AI
- 155,000 are unserved looking at 2026 goals; 76,000 could get service through BEAD but many will not meet state goal of 100/20
- There are concerns from providers because of some issues – such a – if you take BEAD funding you will not be eligible for future federal funding, including USF
- Once OBD gets approval, they have 6 months to sign with providers/subgrantees
- There are tribal locations – and OBD needs consent from tribal partners
- Working on how to get back some of the BEAD funding for non-deployment funds
- Likely to be 2027 before broadband comes via BEAD
- OBD
- Digital Equity Act Funding ended – but got approval for capacity grant draw. So OBD got paid.
- The planning grant was closed out before spent – we are getting audited as are all the states.
- 2026 Connecting MN conference April 29 at the Heritage Center
- Going through a few audits
- GRANTS
- Line Extension – 3 rounds. 48 projects all built last year. 2200 locations were built. Trying to use up all of the funds before they expire.
- Plan to do Line Extension 5 with state funds. So please sign up and encourage others to do so.
- Border to Border – OBD is still busy closing out various grants. 40 are closing and 50 are waiting to be built.
Q: What about the NTIA conference in March? Should the Task Force attend?
A: That meeting might not be a fit but there are many national events and OBD can share those opportunities with the Task Force
Q: When will OBD hear from NIST?
A: Unclear.
10:20 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Overview of 2025 Broadband Task Force Annual Report and recommendations.
11:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Senate Committee Chair legislative discussion and broadband check-in with Senator Putnam (Chair Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development).
- The senator appreciates the broadband focus of access that includes
- We’ve talked about training – are there any consequences to the changes to requirements for broadband construction folks?
There are 20-30 approved plans. The cold makes good training weather. Haven’t seen full implementation yet.
The deadline for the program was Jan 1 – so too soon to see results. Last summer we were informing folks of the need for training. - Are there specific permitting concerns?
State level permitting is a bottleneck. OBD has been working to help.
Railroad crossings are difficult and cost is unpredictable
MN Legislators have been supportive
(From chat) One Railroads – If I am notified, I general bring in our Federal Senators to help navigate conversations with them.
(From chat) FCC regulations on permitting and joint use agreements with other utilities are found here: Federal Register :: Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructu…
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Minnesota broadband environmental permitting overview with Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD) and Megan Messerole (Broadband Environmental and Land Use Coordinator, OBD)
from one of the slides above:
Environmental Permitting Resources
Minnesota National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Permitting Resources
- Planning for MN BEAD Grant Environmental, Historic Preservation, and Permitting Success (PDF) – Coming soon
- MN BEAD EHP Grantee Questionnaire (PDF) – Coming soon
- MN BEAD EHP Grantee Questionnaire Instructions (PDF) – Coming soon
- Minnesota Broadband and Railroad Rights-of-Way (PDF)
- Environmental Historic Preservation (EHP) Requirements (PDF) BEAD final proposal requirement documenting MN Environmental and Historic Preservation responsibilities.
NTIA NEPA and Permitting Resources
- NTIA Permitting Needs Checklist (PDF): Details how to structure a permitting needs assessment and access considerations
- NTIA’s ArcGIS Pro Permitting and Environmental Information Tool (APPEIT): Tool for federal broadband grant recipients and subgrantees to identify permits and environmental factors in planning routes for deployments.
- NTIA Best Management Practices and Mitigation Measures (PDF): Best management practices (BMPs) and mitigation measures to minimize impacts during construction, deployment, and operation of NTIA funded broadband projects.
- NTIA NEPA for BEAD NEPA Milestone Schedule and Timeline (PDF): Guidance on requirements established in Section 13B of the BEAD Terms and Conditions.
- NTIA Local Permitting Importance and Challenges and Strategies (PDF): Guidance explaining local permitting, providing strategies and examples addressing challenges and increasing processing efficiency. environmental factors in planning routes for deployments.
- Sample Project Descriptions and Maps for BEAD Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Review: Provides guidance to assist Eligible Entities in preparing ESAPTT project descriptions and maps.
Other NEPA and Permitting Resources
12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Open the floor to other business, February meeting plans, and meeting wrap-up.