From the Office of Broadband Development..

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

• Broadband Task Force, October meeting plans
• Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates
• Line Extension Connection Program, registration open for residents and businesses
• Comcast’s Nowthen Hunt.Fish.Feed and Veterans Memorial donation

Governor’s Broadband Task Force, October meeting plans

The Governor’s Broadband Task Force will meet Thursday October 8 at 10 a.m. CT. This meeting will be hybrid, with an in-person option in Isanti, Minnesota and is open to anyone from the public to attend. Information on this upcoming meeting, as well as past meetings, can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates

The majority of BEAD projects are currently awaiting scope change approvals through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Approvals to scope changes are delayed due to a scheduled federal pause. OBD and BEAD recipients continue preparing contracting materials as able to ensure agreements can move forward as soon as federal review resumes. Updates and resources can be found on the OBD BEAD webpage.

On September 3, 2026, NTIA announced a new BEAD Supplemental Deployment Policy Notice that introduces an updated process for BEAD implementation of new locations determined to be eligible for BEAD. States await additional guidance from NTIA on timelines, and will provide further updates and resources as available to keep partners and providers informed. Currently, the estimated timeline (subject to change from NTIA) for a second Restructured Round is:

Task	Duration
Initial review of the NTIA list	30 days
Publication window	7 days
Challenge period	30 days
Challenge adjudication	30 days
NTIA review of the list and set funding amount	Duration TBA by NTIA
Second Benefit of the Bargain round	NTIA review of Supplemental Deployment Plan

Please contact OBD at DEED.broadband@state.mn.us with questions on BEAD. 

In other federal news, NTIA has extended the application deadline for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) and Native Entities Grant Program by 60 days to November 17, 2026. Additionally, NTIA is seeking feedback on the Internet Use Survey Information Collection and comments are due November 9, 2026.

Line Extension Connection Program, registration open for residents and businesses

Registration remains open for residents and businesses for future rounds of the Line Extension Connection Program. 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.More information and registration are available on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage.

Comcast’s Nowthen Hunt.Fish.Feed and Veterans Memorial donation

On Monday, September 21, community leaders, residents, and partners gathered in Nowthen to celebrate the completion of a major broadband expansion project that is bringing reliable, high-speed internet service to local homes and businesses.The milestone represents the successful collaboration of Comcast, the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development through its Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program, Anoka County, and the City of Nowthen. Together, these partners helped deliver critical broadband infrastructure to an area where many residents and businesses had long awaited dependable connectivity.