From the MN Office of Broadband Development…
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
- Register today! Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems)
- Line Extension Connection Program, Round 5 awards + registration open for residents and businesses
- Governor’s Broadband Task Force, October meeting recap
- Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates
- Office of Pipeline Safety and State Safety Oversight:
Statute and Update Review MeetingRegister today! Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems)
Thursday December 3, 10 a.m. CT, join OBD and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in a new addition to the PLUS webinar series, Untangling Railroad Rights‑of‑Way Disputes in Minnesota. Michelle Rebholz, Supervisor of Economic Analysis (Energy and Telecom) Minnesota PUC, will provide an overview of railroad rights of way disputes in Minnesota and the Public Utilities Commission’s role in the process.
This session will be recorded and posted to the OBD Webinars and Recorded Events webpage.
Line Extension Connection Program, Round 5 awards + registration open for residents and businesses
The Office of Broadband Development awarded the fifth round of the Line Extension Connection Program in two tranches beginning on May 29, 2026. In total, this round has contracted $8,711,731.63 to expand wired broadband delivering at least 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload to 1,137 locations across 29 counties. Internet providers carrying out the projects matched $2,316,415.93 for a total investment of $11,028,147.56.
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.
Round 5 award information will be available online soon. Currently, registration is available on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage.
Governor’s Broadband Task Force, October meeting recap
The Governor’s Broadband Task Force met Thursday October 8 in Isanti, Minnesota. Hosted by Midco, the Task Force learned about Midco’s service to 154 communities and toured a headend in Wyoming, Minnesota with Elly Boroughs (Government Relations Manager), Jason Sachs (Director Field Operations), and Andrew Curly (Vice President of Government Relations). Additionally, updates were shared from OBD’s Executive Director Bree Maki and the Task Force broke into subgroups to continue work on the annual report.
Information on upcoming and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.
Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates
The majority of BEAD projects are awaiting scope change approvals through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Approvals to scope changes in Minnesota have been delayed due to a scheduled federal pause and are expected to go in front of the NTIA Committee later this week. OBD and BEAD recipients continue preparing contracting materials as able to ensure agreements can move forward as soon as federal review resumes. As OBD waits for more confirmation on a likely approval date, the Rebid locations are being updated on the map and OBD is evaluating running a Rebid Round 2 alongside the Benefit of the Bargain (BOB) 2 Round, which will not begin until updated Broadband Data Collection (BDC) data is released in November. Updates and resources can be found on the OBD BEAD webpage.
Please contact OBD at DEED.broadband@state.mn.us with questions on BEAD.
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 BOB 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 90 days NTIA review of Supplemental Deployment Plan 90 days Office of Pipeline Safety and State Safety Oversight:
Statute and Update Review MeetingThe Office of Pipeline Safety and the Office of State Safety Oversight is holding a webinar Friday, October 30, 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. CST. The webinar will focus on a review of current state statutes and areas for potential updates.