From the Office of Broadband Development…
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
- Line Extension Connection Program, Round 5 timeline and updates
- Register today! April 29, Connecting One: Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit
- Virtual Broadband Development Training Series, continues Thursday April 9
- Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) in Minnesota
Line Extension Connection Program, Round 5 timeline and updates
The Round 5 Provider Bidding Application and Line Extension Program Guide, with guidance for the fast-tracked round, have been posted to the Line Extension Connection Program webpage along with an expected timeline (dates subject to change):
- Location Addresses Posted for Review: April 7, 2026
- Challenges Due by end of day: April 17, 2026
- Bidding Window Opens: April 22, 2026
- Bids Due: May 22, 2026 by 1:30 p.m. CT
Registration remains open for residents and businesses for future rounds of the Line Extension Connection Program and OBD expects to announce a sixth round of the program with standard timelines using state funds later in 2026.
More information and registration are available on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage. For assistance completing the application or to request a paper form to complete, please call 651-259-7610 or email DEED.broadband@state.mn.us.
Register today! April 29, Connecting One: Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Office of Broadband Development is hosting the Connecting One: Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. This in-person event will bring together national leaders, internet service providers, federal, state, tribal, and local government partners, and broadband advocates from across Minnesota. Connecting people to resources, information, and each other is critical to Minnesota’s economic stability and digital opportunity. The summit will be held at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center (6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center, MN 55434).
We are committed to providing equal access to this conference for all participants. If you need alternative formats or other reasonable accommodations, please contact mndeedevents@state.mn.us by the close of business on Friday, April 17, 2026.Virtual Broadband Development Training Series, continues Thursday April 9OBD has been working alongside other state agencies on streamlining environmental reviews and permitting efforts for broadband infrastructure projects across Minnesota. Originally held in 2024, this April, OBD and state agency partners will offer four new webinar sessions through a revised Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems).
The April 9 session will feature information from the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC) and the Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) on their work with broadband infrastructure projects. This session will be recorded and shared on the OBD Webinars and Recorded Events webpage.
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) in Minnesota
The Office of Broadband Development has made a significant advance in initiating new broadband construction by submitting the selected BEAD project areas to the National Telecommunication and Information Administration’s Environmental Screening and Permitting Tracking Tool. This proactive step helps streamline the necessary environmental reviews and permitting processes, ensuring that Minnesota’s broadband expansion efforts continue to progress efficiently and remain on schedule. The ESAPTT tool will streamline National Environmental Protections Act (NEPA) review for each project. For straightforward projects, this review can take a minimum of around 90 days, and longer for more complex sites, so getting our submissions in now keeps Minnesota’s BEAD program moving steadily toward deployment.OBD continues to update the OBD BEAD webpage as resources are made available. Resources most recently added include:
- NTIA’s BEAD FAQs (updated 4/2/26)
- MN OBD NEPA Project Area Guidance for Grantees (PDF)