The 2025 MN Broadband Task Force Annual Report is out!
The Office of Broadband Development and MN Broadband Task Force unveiled the 2025 MN Broadband Task Force Annual Report at the Task Force. It includes a concise description of progress toward the statutory speed goals Minnesota has made measurable strides: as of 2025, 93.84% of homes and businesses have access to broadband at 25/3 Mbps, and 92.11% can reach speeds of 100/20 Mbps. Yet, more than 121,000 households remain without basic service, and nearly 155,000 are underserved at higher speeds. It also includes recommendations for policymakers.
MN Broadband Task Force Jan 2026: Unveiling the Annual Task Force report
The Broadband Task Force unveiled the Annual Report and presented it to Senator Putnam, Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development. They also heard about Minnesota broadband environmental permitting overview.
2026 MN County Profiles – how is your county doing?
A reminder that the MN Broadband County Profiles were posted in late December. Check it out to learn more about your community or see how your county compares to others for access to 100 Mbps down and 20 up, the 2026 MN State speed goal. (You can also learn what you can do with the MN County Broadband Profile.)
State News
- BroadbandCluster: broadband-related information on counties in MSA’s – including MN counties
- A Minnesota view of Broadband Breakfast’s State BEAD Roundtable session
- Minnesota awarded almost all of requested $200M federal grant to boost rural health care
- 2025 Minnesota Rural Health Policy Summit Report: no mention of broadband
- Federal
- Which jobs and workers are most and least able to thrive with AI?
- 32 million people in the US lack tech tools to access government services
- Carr Proposes New Reforms to Ensure that Only Living and Lawful Americans Participate in Federal Lifeline Program
- The Benton Institute looks at model legislation for a People-First Model Chatbot Bill
- Cold weather points out inadequacies of rural broadband
- Minnesota Legislature sets 2026 committee deadlines
- Pew reports on who subscribes to broadband at home
- Policymakers introduce bipartisan rural broadband access bill
- Broadband Prices Increased in 2025
- Local governments don’t agree with broadband providers views on permitting
- Senators introduce the SUCCESS for BEAD Act authorizing BEAD funds for broadband enhancement
Vendor/Technology News
- SpaceX is looking for exemption from certain BEAD requirements
NCTA video on disaster recovery for broadband - Rural broadband is getting better but there are still gaps say’s NTCA’s Shirley Bloomfield
- Doug Dawson has an interesting take on digital literacy with smartphones vs devices
- Starlink plans to lower satellite orbit to enhance safety in 2026
Office of Broadband Development Updates and News:
- Office of Broadband Development Matters (Jan 28, 2026): Updates on Line Extension, annual report and upcoming meetings
- Office of Broadband Development Update Jan 14: Line extension, Task Force meeting dates and BEAD updates
Local Broadband News
Anoka County
A reminder that lack of broadband is still an issue in rural Minnesota (Anoka County)
Balkan
Broadband expansion completed in Balkan (St Louis County)
Bovey
Paul Bunyan Communications completes broadband expansion in City of Bovey (Itasca County)
Hennepin County and Hopkins
NDIA announce 2025 Digital Inclusion Trailblazers including Hennepin County and City of Hopkins
North Star and Pequaywan
North Star and Pequaywan Townships are excited for BEAD funding for broadband (St Louis County)
Pine County
Broadband makes Pine County’s Top 20 2025 list
Pine River
Pine River policymaker says state funding for broadband in near future is unlikely
St Louis County
Rural St Louis County is getting better broadband through BEAD and Mediacom
More on the Broadband in rural St. Louis County
Willmar
Willmar Council votes to accept $7.6M bid to begin broadband deployment
Willmar MN gets nice nod in list of Municipal Networks that Launched in 2025 – for getting so close
Willmar Council to consider awarding bids for Willmar Connect on Jan 20
Willmar City Council delays announcement of Willmar Connect broadband plan
Willmar City Council to decide on broadband plan amidst some criticism
Zimmerman
Zimmerman celebrates “bandwidth revolution is a form of civic power”
Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources
- EVENT Feb 3-5: Net Inclusion 2026 in Chicago
- EVENT Feb 4: The future of communications regulation with FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty
- EVENT Feb 18: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT Mar 9-11: MTA 2026 Annual Convention and Trade Show
- EVENT April 29: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT May 21: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT June 18: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT Aug 13: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT Sept 16: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT Oct 8: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT Nov 12: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT Dec 10: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting