Category Archives: MN Broadband Fund Awards

Federated Broadband Holds Groundbreaking For Martin County Fiber Project

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Explore Okoboji reports...

Federated Broadband officially kicked off mainline construction for its latest Fiber Optic project in rural Martin County with a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday in Welcome.

The project is made possible by a Round 10 Border-to-Border grant, awarded by the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development. It will extend high-speed fiber optic internet services to over 450 households, businesses, and farms in six townships in Martin county.

State Broadband Offices plan to work with BEAD – including MN’s OBD

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

After setting aside “visceral” reactions against the NTIA’s June 6 restructuring policy notice governing the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, state broadband officials Thursday expressed willingness to roll up their sleeves and make it work.

It would be a hard time to be working at a State Broadband Office. So many changes. So many timelines. But last week, the Minnesota Office of sent out a message saying they are moving forward and inviting folks to learn more at their online office hours tomorrow…

OBD is committed to continue our transparency in communications and sharing information and updates as we understand them. We will share this information as it is available on the OBD BEAD webpage, and at a BEAD Office Hours + Information Session, Tuesday June 17 at 11am. Please reach out with any questions or concerns to deed.broadband@state.mn.us.  

OBD Executive Director, Bree Maki, said much the same at the MN Broadband Task Force meeting earlier in the week.

Office of Broadband Development Office Hours: Digital Opportunity Termination Update – BEAD keeps on

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The Office of Broadband Development held their Office Hours as planned. When planned, this meeting was going to talk about the next round of BEAD funding (round 11b) but that is on hold given concerns with federal perspective. Instead, the meeting focused on trying to answer questions and sharing the limited news available.

Notes from the meeting:

Digital Opportunity Termination Update

  • Last Day was May 19, 2025
  • Was $12 million for digital inclusion training
  • MN did create a digital opportunity plan – although it will no longer be funded by the Feds
  • DEED will also terminate the planned network of local experts
  • An FAQ is coming

BEAD Updates

  • Still going through applications
  • It may be several weeks before Round 11B will be announced
  • OBD has been informed of upcoming changes. Feds are looking to streamline and make it more technical – but not certain what that will mean.

Questions

I am hearing wide swings in when folks will get more info – from early June to July – do you have any idea?
We are hearing inconsistencies too.
We have a later final approval date for end of program. We’re still focused on October 3. Other states have earlier final dates. But other states have longer construction seasons.

Can you share more on what you’re seeing with overlapping applications? And what the process will be?
We have multiple applications overlapping in different ways. We want to be good partners – unfortunately, we aren’t sure on what the changes will be so it’s hard to give advice. There has been more overlap than OBD has typically seen in part rounds.

Do you know the timeline?
No but we assume it will take a time. And we may even come back to applicants to ask if they want to make changes or save the proposal for round two (11b)). If you have ideas or concerns, please send them.
In fairness to all of you, there’s a balance we’re trying to meet. We know that you have been working hard as well. We don’t want to dissuade anyone to participate – but we don’t know the changes. And we don’t have a lot of flexibility; we are tied to Volume 2.

It makes sense to not ask providers to make changes without knowing what the Feds are going to make in changes. There were providers who already decided this program was not right for them.

When is the next Office Hour?
The previously scheduled hours have been cancelled. We will schedule more when we know more.

Pine County offers support and possible funding to Mediacom BEAD application

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Pine City Pioneer reports…

Pine County Commissioners agreed to send a letter in support to Minnesota Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) on behalf of Mediacom Broadband, which is seeking to expand broadband access for residents in Pine County through grant funding.

Gerri Jenkins, Mediacom’s government partnership specialist, shared that the project includes Carlton County. In Pine County, 193 miles of fiber optic cable would be laid, connecting 1,104 locations of unserved and underserved homes. The proposed project is a total of 357 miles of fiber optic cable for 2,381 residents.

Mediacom estimates that the project would take three years to complete; services would be launched in phases in order to connect people to the broadband as quickly as possible.

They even invested…

Jenkins was seeking a letter of support from the county in order to bolster their application to BEAD. In addition to the letter of support, Jenkins asked the board for a financial commitment. “We are asking for any level; there is no stipulation of any amount.” She said such a commitment demonstrates to BEAD that the county is in partnership with Mediacom.

In his motion, Hallan proposed the county give $1,000 towards the project. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Josh Mohr and Commissioner JJ Waldhalm were not present.

If the grant is awarded, Jenkins said buildout of the project would begin next year in 2026, mid-year to fall. Mediacom expects to hear back on the grant by fall 2025.

Sherburne County supports BEAD applications with four broadband providers

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The Patriot reports...

The Sherburne County Board has again confirmed its commitment to bring broadband to all areas of the county.

Tuesday, the board approved individual letters of support and a commitment of $500 each to assist Frontier Communications, Midcontinent Communications (Midco), Arvig and Windstream in their pursuits of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program (BEAD) grant dollars for eligible projects located within Sherburne County.

BEAD Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs.

Frontier, Midco, Arvig, and Windstream all plan to submit individual BEAD grant applications for grant-eligible locations in Sherburne County. The application process awards points for both local support and for financial commitment.

Frontier’s project would connect 184 eligible locations in Clear Lake, Haven, and Palmer Townships.

Midco’s projects would connect eligible locations that include the cities of Baldwin and Elk River plus Big Lake, Blue Hill, Clear Lake, Haven, Livonia, Palmer, and Santiago townships. If each of the project areas were awarded funds, over 800 locations would be connected.

Arvig’s project would connect 51 eligible locations in Big Lake Township.

Windstream’s project would connect 294 eligible locations in Big Lake and Zimmerman.

What is local match for MN broadband grants?

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The Minnesota State broadband grants are used to match local funds to deploy broadband in underserved and unserved areas in Minnesota. Historically, the State has matched 50 percent; however, that amount has recently increased to 75 percent and there’s a bill that might increase that to 90 percent. That still leaves a large dollar amount to the local community. So, who pays that local match?

  • Local providers make up the bulk of the local match. It may have been money they have long planned to invest in an area when the opportunity for a grant emerged. Or a company may have been persuaded by the local community to consider their area through matching funds, enthusiasm demonstrated with local surveys or other opportunities for collaboration. Sometimes they use funds from other federal programs, such as Connect America Fund (CAF) or Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM).
  • Local governments, cities, towns, counties, townships, tribal governments have also contributed millions of dollars to local projects. They have used tax levies and held local councils have voted to use other local funds. They have used funds from federal money, such as American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES).
  • Local organizations and businesses have contributed millions of dollars. Organizations such as Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB), Sourcewell, economic development agencies, partnering technology companies and local companies who needed better broadband has contributed to local match.

Untangling the exact source of match has been arduous because the specificity of breakdown seems to have changed over the years. The numbers below are not complete because we are waiting on details from some of the earliest grants, but they demonstrate a public-private partnership that is part of what makes the Minnesota Broadband grant program so successful. It also gives us a roadmap on how to continue successfully down a path of ubiquitous broadband for all Minnesotans. Below is an estimate of local match break down so far. (I am tracking down details on 25 of about 320 funded grant projects.)

  • Local Providers $415 million
  • Local Governments $58 million
  • Local Organizations $7 million

 

MiBroadband building better broadband in Fillmore County with MN State Broadband grant

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KTTC reports…

After receiving millions of dollars in grants, a broadband provider has big plans for Fillmore County.

MiBroadband out of Harmony is working on four projects to bring fiber broadband to hundreds of locations, with the work being done around Fountain and Preston.

Three of the four projects received around $5 million in grants from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development, the fourth is being funded independently by MiBroadband.

Bill introduced in MN House: HF1552 lowering match requirements for lower population density broadband grant program

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The Minnesota House reports…

Skraba and Zeleznikar introduced:

HF. 1552,A bill for an act relating to broadband; modifying matching requirements for the lower population density grant program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.3952, subdivision 2.
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy.

The bill as introduced…

A bill for an act
relating to broadband; modifying matching requirements for the lower population
density grant program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.3952,
subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.3952, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Grants.

Grants awarded under this section may fund up to 75 90 percent of the
total cost of a project and must otherwise adhere to section 116J.395, subdivisions 1 to 6
and subdivision 7, paragraph (b).

EFFECTIVE DATE. 

This section is effective August 1, 2025.

MN Bill introduced: SF883 provide sales tax exemption for fiber and conduit used in broadband

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MN Senate Journal reports…

Senators Putnam and Westrom introduced–
S.F. No. 883: A bill for an act relating to taxation; sales and use; providing an exemption for fiber and conduit used in broadband and Internet access services; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 297A.68, by adding a subdivision.
Referred to the Committee on Taxes.

Current Version – as introduced

Line numbers1.11.21.31.41.5
1.61.71.81.91.101.11
1.121.13

A bill for an act
relating to taxation; sales and use; providing an exemption for fiber and conduit
used in broadband and Internet access services; amending Minnesota Statutes
2024, section 297A.68, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 297A.68, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text beginSubd. 35b. new text end

new text beginFiber and conduit; broadband and Internet access. new text end

new text beginTo the extent not
exempt under subdivision 35a, fiber and conduit purchased or leased for use directly by a
broadband or Internet service provider, primarily in the provision of broadband or Internet
access services that are ultimately to be sold at retail, are exempt.
new text end

new text beginEFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text beginThis section is effective for sales and purchases made after July
1, 2025.

MN Bill introduced: SF868 allow MN Broadband grants to fund fixed wireless and clarifying mapping requirements

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MN Senate Journal reports…

Senator Wesenberg introduced–
S.F. No. 868: A bill for an act relating to broadband grants; allowing broadband grants to be used for fixed wireless broadband and clarifying broadband mapping requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 116J.394; 116J.397.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development.
More details…

A bill for an act
relating to broadband grants; allowing broadband grants to be used for fixed
wireless broadband and clarifying broadband mapping requirements; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 116J.394; 116J.397.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.394, is amended to read:

116J.394 DEFINITIONS.

(a) For the purposes of sections 116J.394 to 116J.398, the following terms have the
meanings given them.

(b) “Broadband” or “broadband service” has the meaning given in section 116J.39,
subdivision 1, paragraph (b).

(c) “Broadband infrastructure” means networks of deployed telecommunications
equipment and technologies necessary to provide high-speed Internet access and other
advanced telecommunications services for end users.

(d) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of employment and economic development.

(e) “Last-mile infrastructure” means broadband infrastructure that serves as the final leg
connecting the broadband service provider’s network to the end-use customer’s on-premises
telecommunications equipment.

(f) “Middle-mile infrastructure” means broadband infrastructure that links a broadband
service provider’s core network infrastructure to last-mile infrastructure.

(g) “Political subdivision” means any county, city, town, school district, special district
or other political subdivision, or public corporation.

(h) “Underserved areas” means areas of Minnesota in which households or businesses
lack access to wire-line or fixed wireless broadband service at speeds of at least 100 megabits
per second download and at least 20 megabits per second upload.

(i) “Unserved areas” means areas of Minnesota in which households or businesses lack
access to wire-line or fixed wireless broadband service, as defined in section 116J.39.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.397, is amended to read:

116J.397 UPDATED BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT DATA AND MAPS.

(a) Beginning in 2016 and continuing each year thereafter, The Office of Broadband
Development shall contract annually with one or more independent organizations that have
extensive experience working with Minnesota broadband providers to:

(1) collect broadband deployment data reflecting all broadband delivery technologies
from Minnesota providers, verify its accuracy through on-the-ground testing, and create
state and county maps available to the public by April 15, 2017, and each April 15 thereafter,
showing the availability of broadband service at various upload and download speeds
throughout Minnesota;

(2) analyze the deployment data collected to help inform future investments in broadband
infrastructure; and

(3) conduct business and residential surveys that measure broadband adoption and use
in the state.

(b) Data provided by a broadband provider under this section is nonpublic data under
section 13.02, subdivision 9. Maps produced under this paragraph are public data under
section 13.03.

MN Bill Introduced: SF740 repeal certain labor standards requirements in MN broadband grant applications

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MN Senate Journal reports…

Senator Westrom introduced–​ S.F. No. 740: A bill for an act relating to labor; modifying grant award requirements for the​ border-to-border broadband development grant program; repealing certain labor standards for​ broadband industry installers; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.395, subdivision 6;​ repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 116J.395, subdivisions 9, 10; 216B.17, subdivision 9;​ 326B.198.​ Referred to the Committee on Labor.

Details on the bill…

Current Version – as introduced

Line numbers1.11.21.31.41.51.61.7
1.81.91.101.111.121.131.141.151.161.171.181.191.201.211.222.12.22.32.42.52.62.72.82.92.102.112.122.132.142.152.162.172.182.192.202.212.222.232.242.252.262.272.282.292.302.31
2.32
3.13.23.3

A bill for an act
relating to labor; modifying grant award requirements for the border-to-border
broadband development grant program; repealing certain labor standards for
broadband industry installers; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.395,
subdivision 6; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 116J.395, subdivisions
9, 10; 216B.17, subdivision 9; 326B.198.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.395, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Awarding grants.

(a) In evaluating applications and awarding grants, the
commissioner shall give priority to applications that are constructed in areas identified by
the director of the Office of Broadband Development as unserved.

(b) In evaluating applications and awarding grants, the commissioner may give priority
to applications that:

(1) are constructed in areas identified by the director of the Office of Broadband
Development as underserved;

(2) offer new or substantially upgraded broadband service to important community
institutions including, but not limited to, libraries, educational institutions, public safety
facilities, and healthcare facilities;

(3) facilitate the use of telehealth and electronic health records;

(4) serve economically distressed areas of the state, as measured by indices of
unemployment, poverty, or population loss that are significantly greater than the statewide
average;

(5) provide technical support and train residents, businesses, and institutions in the
community served by the project to utilize broadband service;

(6) include a component to actively promote the adoption of the newly available
broadband services in the community;

(7) provide evidence of strong support for the project from citizens, government,
businesses, and institutions in the community;

(8) provide access to broadband service to a greater number of unserved or underserved
households and businesses; or

(9) leverage greater amounts of funding for the project from other private and public
sources; or.

(10) commit to implementation of workforce best practices, meaning all laborers and
mechanics performing construction, installation, remodeling, or repairs on the project sites
for which the grant is provided:

(i) are paid the prevailing wage rate as defined in section 177.42, subdivision 6, and the
applicant and all of its construction contractors and subcontractors agree that the payment
of prevailing wage to such laborers and mechanics is subject to the requirements and
enforcement provisions under sections 177.27, 177.30, 177.32, 177.41 to 177.435, and
177.45, which the commissioner of labor and industry shall have the authority to enforce;
or

(ii) receive from the employer:

(A) at least 40 hours of hands-on skills training annually;

(B) employer-paid family health insurance coverage; and

(C) employer-paid retirement benefit payments equal to no less than 15 percent of the
employee’s total taxable wages.

(c) The commissioner shall endeavor to award grants under this section to qualified
applicants in all regions of the state.

(d) The commissioner shall endeavor to award no less than 50 percent of grant awards
from general fund appropriations for the border-to-border broadband grant program under
section 116J.396 for applicants that agree to implement the workforce best practices in this
section. The applicant’s agreement to implement the workforce best practices described in
paragraph (b) must be an express condition of providing the grant in the grant agreement.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective January 1, 2026.

Sec. 2. REPEALER.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 116J.395, subdivisions 9 and 10; 216B.17, subdivision
9; and 326B.198, are repealed.

MN bill introduced: S.F. No. 843: increase State match in Lower Population Density grants to 90 percent

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The MN Senate reports...

Senator Hauschild introduced–
S.F. No. 843: A bill for an act relating to broadband; modifying matching requirements for the lower population density grant program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.3952, subdivision 2.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development.
It would increase the grant amount in Lower Population Density grants to 90 percent of costs…

A bill for an act
relating to broadband; modifying matching requirements for the lower population
density grant program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.3952,
subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.3952, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Grants.

Grants awarded under this section may fund up to 75 90 percent of the
total cost of a project and must otherwise adhere to section 116J.395, subdivisions 1 to 6
and subdivision 7, paragraph (b).

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective August 1, 2025.

Trends Rural Minnesotans can expect in the tech industry

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The Park Rapids Enterprise looks at Trends Minnesotans can expect in the tech industry. There is one question targeting rural Minnesota…

Q: How can rural communities remain competitive in the tech industry?

Investing in robust digital infrastructure, such as high-speed internet, is critical for rural communities – from supporting remote work and digital education to telehealth services. For example, initiatives like Minnesota’s Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program are actively working to close the digital divide by expanding internet access in underserved rural areas.

Additionally, rural communities can foster local talent by partnering with educational institutions and tech companies to provide training in emerging technologies like AI, cybersecurity and cloud computing. Encouraging a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship can attract tech firms and remote workers, enhancing the community’s economic resilience and global competitiveness.

Mower County Board approves of broadband contribution

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Austin Daily Herland reports…

The Mower County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to a Local Contributions Agreement with Charter/Spectrum for a project in Austin Township that will expand broadband network capability. The county is committing $100,000 to the project, which includes Spectrum Mid-America, LLC building 148 passings in the township as part of a Minnesota Border-to-Border grant.

Spectrum is investing $514,698 into the project that will include businesses, farms and more. Commissioners also approved contracts for Law Enforcement Services in three Mower communities — Adams, Lyle and LeRoy. All three cities agreed to a 6% increase in cost for services in 2025 and a 2% increase in 2026 coming to $91,945 and $93,784 respectively.

Corcoran celebrates completion of Comcast broadband expansion to 500 homes (Hennepin County)

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Hometown Source reports…

On Oct. 24, a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated the completion of a Comcast expansion project to provide internet services to nearly 500 homes and businesses in Corcoran. The nearly $4 million network expansion project, which spans over 70 miles, was completed in partnership with the Minnesota Office of Broadband and Minnesota Border-to-Border Broadband grant program and the city of Corcoran.

More info on the project…

The expansion, which broke ground in Sept. 2023, brings Xfinity to area residents and businesses to power hundreds of connected devices at once. The effort is part of Comcast’s investment of more than $525 million in technology and infrastructure across Minnesota over the past three years, focused on network expansion and upgrades.