Want a flavor of each of the 87 counties in Minnesota? Check out UofM Extension
Minnesota 87: Extension in every county gives a snapshot of each county through the lens of what Extension has done in the area, which provides nice local flavor.
2026 Tribal Broadband Midwest Summit in Prairie Lake
The National Tribal Telecommunications Association hosted the 2026 Tribal Broadband Midwest Summit in Minnesota. The first full day included presentations from Office of Broadband Development and MN Telecom Alliance; day two the conversation was all about AI.
MN Broadband Task Force June 2026
The Minnesota Broadband Task Force heard from local providers who are going through the BEAD process and members of the Office of Broadband Development. They are still in a holding position. The Task Force also heard an overview of the Mayo Clinic HOUSES Index, a tool developed to provide individual-level socioeconomic measure with relevancy to broadband and exploration of potential benefits. It is used for a number of applications from homelessness to healthcare and could be used to track broadband adoption.
How does you MN County rank for broadband adoption?
BroadbandClusters.org tracks broadband adoption by state, zip and county. There is a ranking of broadband adoption for counties in Minnesota.
State News
- Klobuchar talks about plan for MN (including broadband) in Moorhead
- IRRR shares Notice of Grant Opportunities
- MinnPost says data centers will be an election issue is Midterm Elections
- Telehealth helps with access to mental healthcare for rural Minnesota’s communities of color – when they have broadband
- Cautionary tale of permitting pricing in MN
- Notes: Technology Advisory Council (TAC) Full Council Meeting (June 12)
National News
- Folks in education are concerned about losing E-Rate funding for broadband in schools
- NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth updates Congress about BEAD
- The Wireline Competition Bureau pauses the phase-out of Lifeline program support for voice-only services
- In 2024 77 percent of E-Rate dollars went to the highest-need category
- New AI Data Center Moratorium Act bill introduced in US House
- E-Rate Advocates Want FCC to Reconsider Bidding Portal
- US Senate passes Bill requiring FCC and GAO reviews of federal tool used to track broadband deployment spending
- The USDA announces a reorganization of Rural Development to consolidate loan and grant processes
- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to look at regulations related to AI and hyperscale data centers
- Some BEAD recipients are backing away from the federal funding
- What can community planners looking at data center planners can learn from old nuclear plants?
- NTIA chief counsel says BEAD will be the last broadband deployment program the US needs
- Sen Klobuchar and others introduce bipartisan legislation to improve competition in the Digital Marketplace
- Rep. Delaney calls out Commerce Department for unlawfully withholding funds for Universal Broadband
- Pew outlines the importance of the State Offices of Broadband Development
- A glimpse at the job of an American Connection Corps Digital Navigator
- Previously unused Rural Health Care Program Funding carries forward to 2026 applications
- Trump releases memorandum on use of AI with Military and Intelligence Community
- Electric cooperatives concerned with BEAD changes (fiber and pole attachments)
- National Skills Coalition asks small manufacturers about their use of AI and technology
- OMB Proposes Changes to Federal Grant Administration – including BEAD
Vendor/Technology News
- Fiber Broadband Association updates FCC on fiber deployment stats
- How is AI changing network patterns? And what does that mean?
- Nextlink expands Aviat Networks deal for rural broadband buildout
- Star Tribune Names Arvig a Top 200 Workplace in MN
- Starlink rural customers are seeing price increases
- ImOn communications breaks ground on $100 million fiber network in Duluth to serve 51,000 homes by 2027 (St Louis County)
Office of Broadband Development Updates and News:
- OBD Broadband Update July 1: Funding updates and upcoming meetings
- OBD Broadband Update June 17: Line Extension, Task Force meeting and updates
- OBD Broadband Update June 3: Line Extension, Task Force meeting and updates
Local Broadband News
Hopkins
How the NDIA helped MN Hopkins Digital Access Initiative get people connected
Inver Grove Heights
Inver Grove Heights City Council approves one-year moratorium on data centers (Dakota County)
Itasca and St Louis Counties
More info on recent Paul Bunyan Communications upgrades in Itasca and St. Louis counties
Paul Bunyan Communications broadband expansion in Itasca and St. Louis Counties
Steele County
RadioLink closure in Southern MN leaves customers without options
Internet provider RadioLink Internet formerly serving Ellendale closes doors (Steele County)
Tribal Areas
Tribal Internet Networks Census Update tracks networks in MN and beyond
Twin Ports
Work progresses with ImOn Communications’ FTTH deployment across the Twin Ports
Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources
- EVENT July 8: AI and Workforce – Combatting Job Displacement
- EVENT July 15: Litigation Update: Minnesota Telecom Alliance v. FCC
- EVENT Aug 6: Innovate with AI in Red Wing
- 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
- OPPORTUNITY: NTIA Announces Two New Funding Opportunities to Expand Broadband Connectivity on Tribal Lands
- OPPORTUNITY: LSTA Professional Development Travel Grants
- OPPORTUNITY: Minnesota e-Health Advisory Committee is looking for members