Connecting One Minnesota-Broadband Meeting
The Office of Broadband Development hosted the Connecting One Minnesota-Broadband Meeting. The conversations on federal funding were optimistic, yet realistic. Attendees and presenters also discussed more local efforts and resources. (Videos included.)

Ookla ranks MN’s access to fixed broadband (100/20) at 31
Ookla Speedtest Intelligence looks at broadband speeds by location. Here’s what they found for Minnesota:

• Percentage of urban and rural user with access to fixed broadband at 100 Mbps down and 20 up (100/20)
• Urban: 74.3 percent
• Rural: 56.4 percent
• Ranking for overall access: 31
• Ranking for Starlink users who can access 100/20: 13 at 45.97 percent

State News   

• League of MN Cities take on American Broadband Deployment Act permitting bill
• New MN Bill: Minnesota Digital Choice Act with personal digital data (SF4100)
• New MN Bill: Social media platforms requirements for minors (SF4696)
• MN House Bill passes: A bill for an act relating to telecommunications (HF4052)
• Emily Thabes enters race for Minnesota House District 2B – mentions broadband
• New MN Bill: to establish a steering committee that would provide recommendations on current human services IT HF4675
• MN Bill to be discussed April 14: Data Center permitting and environmental review (HF2862)
• The history of 911 in Minnesota from a 911 telecommunicator
• New MN Bill: Counties permission to designate certain agricultural lands unsuitable for power facilities (SF4479)
• New MN Bill: Municipalities prohibited from entering into nondisclosure agreements or contracts that restrict the municipality from disclosing information about projects using public funding
• New MN Bill: establishing an information technology modernization account HF4808
• New MN Bill: relating to local government authorizing online publication when no qualified newspaper is available HF4797

National News

• FCC adopts new rules from the E-Rate Program
• Future of Universal Service Fund (USF) Reform Task Force
• House restores ReConnect Funding in FY2027 USDA Bill
• Libraries, schools and others ask FCC to reject proposed E-Rate bidding portal
• The American Broadband Deployment Act could change broadband permitting and siting
• Benton asks if the changes to BEAD proposed by the Trump Administration are legal
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) FY 2025 Annual Performance Report
• Citizens group aims to eliminate the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities Service

Vendor/Technology News

• Arvig gets $3.4 million from the MN’s Broadband Line Extension to expand to 446 locations
• Mediacom adds more than 400 miles of fiber to services almost 4000 locations
• Should the data center conversation also include broadband expansion?
• How do job-seeking kids feel about AI? Not great
• Midco customers experience broadband outages in the Midwest over the weekend
• Xcel Energy exec talks about the the sheer scale of investment going into data centers
• AI’s impact on unemployment rate is real but minimal and mixed

Office of Broadband Development Updates and News:

• Notes from Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems) SHPO
• OBD Broadband Update April 23, 2026: Conference, Task Force, Line Extension
• Notes from Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems)
• Notes from Training: Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems)
• Office of Broadband Development Update April 8: Upcoming events and funding updates

Local Broadband News

Aitkin
Paul Bunyan Communications starts on major fiber expansion in Central Aitkin County

Fulda and Jasper
Bluepeak expands broadband to Fulda and Jasper MN (Murray & Rock Counties)

Itasca and St Louis Counties
Paul Bunyan Communication expands broadband in Itasca and St. Louis Counties

Leech Lake
Leech Lake Broadband Project Seeks Contact With Individuals Listed on Tribal Allotment Notice

Martin County
Martin County Economic Development Authority is heading to MN State Broadband Conference April 29

Minneapolis
Minneapolis City Council to vote on data center moratorium on May 21

Minnesota
Minnesota is Tops for Hospital telehealth adoption by state

St Francis City
St Francis City Council approves first reading of an ordinance on small cell technology (Anoka County)

Scandia
Midco’s Scandia fiber project nears completion (Washington County)

Stearns County
Stearns County Administrator Mike Williams retires, recognizes for broadband expansion in the community

Winona County
Winona County gets help from the State to combat cyberattack

Worthington
Bluepeak offers 2 Gig broadband speeds in Worthington

Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources

• 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
• Funding Applications are open for U of M Empowering Small Minnesota Communities Program