MN Broadband Task Force meeting Feb 2026: Rural Health Research and Technologist Computers

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The Broadband Task Force met today. Their stated goal is to focus on education in the first few months of the year. Today they heard from folks at the Mayo on rural health research and from a Task Force member Ini Augustine who does digital equity work in Hennepin County through Technologist Computers. They also got an update from the Office of Broadband Development.

Meeting Agenda

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Welcome from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband and approval of minutes from January Task Force meeting.

10:15 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.

Rural Health Research: Understanding Digital Access to Improve Community Health with Tabetha Brockman, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Program Manager, Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS) Rural Health Research Core and Ilaya Rome Hopkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, MCCCC & CCaTS Rural Health Research Core.

Questions:

  • This was a controlled study, but is the bigger issue finding the initial info if I don’t have digital skills or it is continued digital contact?
    We used national health resources. Some of the digital help was connecting people with the technology that made sense to them: text, email, video…?
  • Are there other examples of barriers?
    Rural is an underserved population in research – in part because traditionally, research required in-person visits.

Get more info:

11:00 Ina Augustine from Project Nandi (and Task Force Member)

Questions

  • How do stakeholders find you?
    Social media and email lists from Project Nandi
  • What are barriers to success?
    The surge makes people afraid to leave their homes.
    We only work with Hennepin County.
    We don’t have funds to put training online.

10:55 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).

BEAD

  • Received NIST (Feb 9) & NTIA approval
  • Have until Mar 9 to sign the contract for funding
  • Then have another 30 days to get contracts with providers signed
  • Waiting for guidance from NTIA – such as what does “onerous” mean
  • Will have 90+ BEAD contracts
  • Working on grants management system
  • Having conversations with local governments
  • Just released new maps with 155,000 unserved households
  • National attention on LEO BEAD exceptions
  • IN MN they want same contacts with all providers – not special ones for LEO
  • Construction will be limited by Fall 2026 – more likely 2027

Other OBD Work

  • There was a national meeting to talk about what to do with BEAD nondeployment money
  • MN wants contingency to reallocate money if folks default (slippage)
  • Will speak to MN Seante today at 3pm
  • Will speak to MN House on Monday at 1pm
  • Partners with state orgs a while back to streamline interactions and we’re doing it again
  • April 29 – Connected One OBD conference
  • Line Extensions 1-3 were built by end of 2025
  • Rolling out Line Extension round 4 with Capitol Project dollars
  • Might look at a compressed round 5 because funds must be spent by end of 2026
  • Please sign up for Line Extension grants!
  • Border to Border staff is still closing out projects
  • Staff is working on BEAD contracts
  • Working with Connected Nation for field validation

Questions

  • All approvals are needed before we can move forward – right?
    Approvals are need on environmental and permits.
  • What are other states doing?
    Louisiana is in motion but otherwise many are in similar positions. Some states have asked for extensions. Some states are still waiting for approval.
  • What’s up with the grant management system?
    Several (30ish) states do use the same system. We haven’t used it yet.

11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Open the floor to other business, no meeting in March, and meeting wrap-up.

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