write about the importance of State Offices of Broadband Development for Pew…
States continue to make headway on the implementation of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a $42 billion federal initiative to connect all Americans to high-speed internet. As state broadband offices (SBOs) collaborate with other government agencies, internet service providers (ISPs), and communities to meet BEAD’s rapid four-year construction deadlines, state lawmakers should ensure that SBOs continue to have sufficient authority and capacity to effectively use BEAD funds and address statewide connectivity needs.
The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development opened in 2014 and has remained open since. Having an office has made is possible to advocate and distribute funding wisely – that includes but not exclusively mean BEAD funding.