Minnesota ranks 18
BroadbandNow has released the results of a recent survey on broadband pricing and today’s budgets. Minnesota ranks 18 for average cost of broadband (highest cost being number 1).
MN Technology Advisory Meeting
The TAC is a permanent body to advise Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) and executive branch agencies on strategic information technology initiatives and service delivery. Meetings are open to the public. They heard about technology use in Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).
State News
- Federated Rural Electric to buy Windomnet for $7.5 million
- MN Daily looks at environmental aspects of data centers
- CleanCore forms to joint venture to build a data center in Minnesota
- MNIT activates statewide cybersecurity response to support affected communities and protect critical infrastructure
- Senator Klobuchar Asks AI Expert About Cybersecurity Against AI Attacks
- Brookings looks at data center regulation in various states, including Minnesota
- Minnesota Rural Electric Association signs the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge
- The courts are turning into the place for data center discussions in community across Minnesota
- Data centers may be an election issue this year in Minnesota
- KSTP/SurveyUSA poll finds Minnesotans are concerned about data centers
- MN University professors are creating tools and toolkits to help communities understand impacts of data centers
- State Broadband Chiefs, including Minnesota’s Bree Maki, talk about guidance on $21 Billion of remaining BEAD funds
- Minnesota Supercomputing Institute using AI and Tiny Worms for Discovery
- The Patriot gives a Minnesota-specific description of data center projects
- Minnesota noted for using accessibility to improve maps’ communication
- U of M Extension creates AI video to spoof cover crop research
- Wireline Competition Bureau announces counties where conditional forbearance from Lifeline obligation applies – include all 87 MN Counties
- Practical look at Minnesota Government Data Practices Act in the Age of AI
National News
- Administration plans to study the 4.4 GHz band for full-power commercial licensed use
- US Senate Panel talks about permitting Reform and fiber to supporting growth of AI
- House Communications and Technology Subcommittee questions broadband programs and mentions a national broadband strategy
- Some are skeptical about the Whitehouse Ratepayer Protestor Pledge
- GOP governors in line with Trump pledge designed to shield ratepayers from data center costs
- Government Accountable Office looks at IIJA and IRA
- US Senate passes Modernization, Accountability, and Planning for Broadband Funding Act
- School and libraries are working to preserve E-Rate funding
- A look at the new FCC strategic plan compared to the previous plan
- Benton explains the recent ruling of the Digital Equity Act’s race provision as both unconstitutional and severable
- Congressperson introduces Broadband Infrastructure Extension Act to extend ARPA deadline
Vendor/Technology News
- WCB Announces Lifeline Minimum Service Standards and Indexed Budget
- FCC isn’t currently considering environmental effects of data center in space
- Five things to know as data centers spread across rural America from MinnPost
- The data center debate, part one on 1A (Part two on Aug 4)
- US House Committee approves bills aimed at modernizing the nation’s grid for AI data centers
- OpenAI says its AI models went rogue and hacked another tech company during test
- FCC to make changes to Broadband labels for consumers and streamline process for providers
- Concerns About Proposed Broadband Label Changes
- Adams MultiMedia of East Central Minnesota chime in on data center discussion
- Orbital seeks FCC Approval for 100,000 data center satellites
- Benton Institute for Broadband and Society posts primer on Starlink
- Bluepeak Reaches 500,000-Passing Milestone Across Six States – including MN
Office of Broadband Development Updates and News:
- MN Office of Broadband Development announces first signed BEAD deal
- Office of Broadband Development Update July 29 2026: East Central Energy (ECE)
- OBD Broadband Update July 15: BEAD, Tribal Broadband funding opportunities & line extension
Local Broadband News
Aitkin County
Update from Paul Bunyan Communications on Broadband Expansion in Central Aitkin County
Apple Valley
Apple Valley enacts one-year data center moratorium (Dakota County)
Blue Earth
Blue Earth has two decenters and looking at adding one more (Faribault County)
Rolls-Royce invests $24M in Mankato expansion in bid to profit from data center boom (Blue Earth)
Brooklyn Park
How is Brooklyn Park Police Department using AI? (Dakota County)
Carlton
Carlton County Board will consider data center moratorium
Dakota County
Local residents ask leaders to remove permitting barriers for Gateway Fiber expansion in North Metro area (Dakota County)
Dakota County Chamber of Commerce supports AI and data centers
Eagan
Eagan faces lawsuit over data center moratorium (Dakota County)
Elk River
Elk River data center developer withdraws application (Sherburne County)
Elk River City Council denies data center application and considers moratorium (Sherburne)
Faribault
Faribault City to set data center performance standards (Rice County)
Faribault city still has questions about Environmental impact of proposed (and delayed) data center (Rice County)
Faribault City council seeks more data center information after court ruling (Rice County)
Grand Sky (North Dakota)
Grand Sky (North Dakota) gets a mobile data center
Harmony
Residents of Harmony are talking about data centers before the City County meeting on Aug 5 (Fillmore County)
Views of Harmony City Council Meeting on data centers on Aug 5 (Fillmore County)
Hermantown
Residents pack forum as questions continue over proposed Hermantown Data Center (St Louis County)
Isanti
Isanti City approves 30-month moratorium on hyperscale data centers (Isanti County)
Itasca and St Louis Counties
Update from Paul Bunyan Communications on Broadband Expansion in Itasca and St. Louis Counties
Kandiyohi
Kandiyohi County Board approves fiber expansion to Svea
Kenyon
Kenyon Leader looks at local leaders’ thoughts on data centers
Lino Lakes
Lino Lakes City Council holds preliminary discussion on data centers (Anoka County)
Lonsdale
Lonsdale legislators share their thoughts on data centers (Rice County)
Mankato
70 people attend public meeting on data centers in Mankato (Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties)
Mankato City Council Approves Data Center Moratorium (Blue Earth County)
Mankato Free Press urges communities to think critically about data centers
Mankato Free Press says Generation Alpha choosing AI-compatible professions
Minneapolis
Data center developer set to buy Minnesota Star Tribune’s North Loop printing plant (Hennepin County)
Minneapolis City Council stops new data center developments until November
Minneapolis officials host conversation on data centers and zoning – includes video (Hennepin County)
Monticello
Planners share proposed data center development application with City of Monticello
Mountain Lake
Community raises concern about public notice for data center in Mountain Lake (Cottonwood County)
Nicollet
Nicollet County Commissioners place one-year moratorium on data centers
North Branch
North Branch sets six-month moratorium on data centers (Chisago County)
North Mankato
More info on Monday’s (Aug 3) North Mankato city council meeting on data centers
Northfield
Northfield considers broadband franchise fee as cable subscriptions decrease
Otsego
Otsego City Council unanimously approves a one-year moratorium on data centers (Wright County)
Pine Island
Pine Island residents have differing views on data center noise and health concerns (Goodhue County)
Pine Island data center on hold until court ruling (Goodhue County)
MinnPost letter to the editor outlines possible impact of MN data center legislation – especially in Pine Island
Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce hosts Pine Island data center discussion for local businesses (Goodhue County)
Rochester
Lawsuit alleges Mayo Clinic cuts corners with AI
Winona
Winona resident speaks out on impact of losing ReConnect funding in their area
Wright County
Views on data centers from Wright County Officials
Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources
- EVENT Aug 5: Harmony City Council meeting to discuss data center ordinance (Fillmore County)
- EVENT Aug 6: Innovate with AI in Red Wing
- EVENT Aug 13: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT Aug 24: Carlton County Board to discuss a data center moratorium
- EVENT September 9, 2026 (Brainerd): Entrepreneurs on Tap Fall 2026
- EVENT Sept 16: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT Sep 30- Oct 1: MTA (Minnesota Telecom Alliance) Fall Conference
- EVENT Oct 8: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT Nov 12: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
- EVENT Dec 10: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting