As mandated by Congress in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, states and territories may use BEAD funds to make subgrants to:
Deploy broadband networks to unserved and underserved areas,
Connect community anchor institutions,
Conduct data collection, broadband mapping, and planning;
Install internet and Wi-Fi infrastructure or provide reduced-cost broadband within multifamily residential buildings; and
Increase broadband adoption, including programs to provide affordable internet-capable devices.
In addition, Congress authorized Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Arielle Roth to determine additional uses of these funds to facilitate BEAD’s goals. NTIA’s listening sessions are meant to inform Roth’s determination on additional uses.
Attendees talked about other uses for funds, including the following topics:
Join on a video conferencing device: mn@m.webex.com Video ID: 114 382 750 2
Meeting Agenda
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Welcome from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband and approval of minutes from January Task Force meeting.
10:15 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Rural Health Research: Understanding Digital Access to Improve Community Health with Tabetha Brockman, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Program Manager, Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS) Rural Health Research Core and Ilaya Rome Hopkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, MCCCC & CCaTS Rural Health Research Core.
10:55 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Open the floor to other business, no meeting in March, and meeting wrap-up.
The Post Bulletin posts an opinion column from Bree Maki, director of the Office of Broadband Development…
At the end of last year, the federal government approved Minnesota’s proposal to expand broadband access to Minnesotans who need it most.
Under the plan, my state agency, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, will deploy Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) federal funding to connect 75,000 homes and businesses to high-speed internet and build the infrastructure we need to ensure consistent and cost-effective broadband for Minnesota.
She offers a positive perspective…
The good news is, our BEAD plan will help more Minnesotans access this fundamental resource; in fact, it may impact every Minnesota location that federal officials deemed eligible for BEAD funding. To see if your location is included in the BEAD-eligible locations or if they are funded with state programs, go to our interactive map to learn more .
This is a huge accomplishment. And it happened only because of the close partnership between DEED’s Office of Broadband Development and Minnesota’s private sector internet service providers. Throughout it all, we focused on our shared goal of serving as many people as we possibly could.
And a plan…
So, what happens next? With federal approval in hand, we now aim to award grants to our ISP partners to begin broadband infrastructure construction later this year. Minnesotans in eligible locations can expect faster broadband to be available as soon as late 2026.
But this isn’t DEED’s only broadband program. Long before BEAD, Minnesota has been a leader because we understood and prioritized broadband access. Since 2022, our flagship Border to Border Program has funded 189 large-scale broadband expansion projects, connecting an estimated 122,000 locations to faster internet. Late in 2025, we made our fourth round of awards from the Line Extension program, which connects Minnesotans who have no or slow broadband directly to service providers in their area.
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
Broadband Task Force, meeting in February
Coming soon: Updated Broadband Development Training Series
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) in Minnesota
Line Extension Connection Program updates
OBD and fellow teams at Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) recently visited the Fond du Lac Reservation to deepen their understanding of Tribal-State relations. This important step helps strengthen collaboration and ensure more inclusive economic opportunities across Minnesota.
Broadband Task Force, meeting in February
The Broadband Task Force will meet on Wednesday February 18 at 10 a.m. This meeting will be held virtually and is open to anyone from the public to attend. The Teams link to join the meeting will be included at the top of the meeting agenda which will be posted along with other information on past meetings on the Broadband Task Force webpage.
Coming soon: Updated 2026 Broadband Development Training Series
OBD will be working alongside other state agencies on communicating updates to subgrantees and community partners by offering a revised Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems).
Originally held in April 2024, resources and presentation materials are still available on the OBD Webinars and Recorded Events webpage from state’s Department of Transportation, State Historic Preservation Office, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, Minnesota Historical Society, Office of the State Archaeologist, and Department of Natural Resources.
The revised series will feature a combination of updates from previous presenters as needed and new information from partner agencies with resources for broadband program grantees. OBD expects to finalize and release an updated webinar schedule by March 2026. Watch for webinar registration and dates in this space and on the OBD Webinars and Recorded Events webpage.
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) in Minnesota
OBD continues to update the OBD BEAD webpage as additional updates and resources are made available. This includes updated NTIA BEAD FAQs (2/3/2026).
On December 19, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Minnesota’s BEAD Final Proposal, advancing the state’s plan to expand high‑speed internet with federal funding.
Following extensive engagement, restructuring, and over 18 rounds of curing, Minnesota has been initially approved for:
$378.9 million in BEAD subgrants across 94 projects. These projects are supported by nearly $190 million in matching funds, representing a total anticipated investment of more than $568.8 million
Funds will connect connect 74,739 locations
On Monday February 9, OBD received its BEAD Notice of Award (NoA) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Next steps will include contracting with subgrantees, which must be completed within 6 months of receipt of the NoA.
Line Extension Connection Program updates
OBD is currently in the process of rolling out awards and getting confirmation of award acceptance from providers for Round 4 of the Line Extension Connection Program. Once this process is complete, OBD will publish final awards, which is expected to be in February.
Registration remains open for future rounds if and as funding is available for residents and businesses on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage. OBD expects to run a fifth round of Line Extension with state project funds in spring 2026.
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
Broadband Task Force, January meeting recap
Line Extension Connection Program updates
Broadband updates and in the news
BEAD in Minnesota
Broadband Task Force, January meeting recap
The Broadband Task Force had the first meeting of 2026 on Thursday January 22, at 10 a.m. The Task Force had a legislative discussion and broadband check-in with Senator Putnam (Chair Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development) and presented on the 2025 annual report, including recommendations on meeting broadband goals in Minnesota. Deven Bowdry, (Government Relations Director, Department of Employment and Economic Development) presented a legislative preview, and OBD’s Bree Maki (Executive Director) and Megan Messerole (Broadband Environmental and Land Use Coordinator) gave overviews on broadband updates and Minnesota broadband environmental permitting.
OBD is currently in the process of rolling out awards and getting confirmation of award acceptance from providers for Round 4 of the Line Extension Connection Program. Once this process is complete, OBD will publish final awards, which is expected to be late January or early February.
Registration remains open for future rounds if and as funding is available for residents and businesses on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage. OBD expects to run a fifth round of Line Extension with state project funds in spring 2026.
On December 19, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Minnesota’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal, advancing the state’s plan to expand high‑speed internet with federal funding.
Following extensive engagement, restructuring, and over 18 rounds of curing, Minnesota has been initially approved for:
$378.9 million in BEAD subgrants across 94 projects. These projects are supported by nearly $190 million in matching funds, representing a total anticipated investment of more than $568.8 million
Funds will connect connect 74,739 locations
OBD is awaiting final approval from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and will then begin the contracting process with subgrantees, prioritizing award agreements and readiness activities.
OBD continues to update the OBD BEAD webpage as additional updates and resources are made available, including:
NTIA is hosting the a Discussion on Federal Requirements for BEAD Subgrantees on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 1 p.m. CST. This webinar will discuss the requirements of being a federal subgrantee; while subgrantees contract directly with the Eligible Entity, this webinar will be an opportunity for SBOs and provisionally awarded subgrantees to be reminded of the baseline requirements. Register here.
Minnesota has made measurable strides: as of 2025, 93.84% of homes and businesses have access to broadband at 25/3 Mbps, and 92.11% can reach speeds of 100/20 Mbps. Yet, more than 121,000 households remain without basic service, and nearly 155,000 are underserved at higher speeds.
The report also outlines recommendations to policymakers…
Key Recommendations for Governor and Legislature Affordability, Economic Opportunity, and Workforce Development
• Modernize Federal Affordability Programs – Advocate for federal reforms to the Lifeline program, increasing the monthly subsidy to match the former ACP levels ($30 for most households, $75 for Tribal lands). This would make broadband service genuinely affordable for low-income Minnesotans and help prevent service cancellations due to cost.
• Workforce Development and Local Hiring – Develop and fund Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and registered apprenticeships with Minnesota schools and colleges to address labor shortages and build local capacity for broadband deployment. Encourage grant recipients to implement workforce best practices (outlined in Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116J.395) and prioritize local hiring provisions, ensuring jobs created are family-supporting with fair wages and benefits.
• Support for Anchor Institutions – Prioritize funding for anchor institutions (libraries, schools, community centers) to provide digital literacy training, including resources for software, hardware, staff (such as digital navigators), outreach, and business alignment with these initiatives.
• Statewide Digital Inclusion Initiative – Launch a coordinated, multi-faceted initiative to systematically eliminate barriers to digital literacy and adoption. This includes expanding affordable broadband access, providing devices, and funding community-based programs that address non-technical challenges, such as transportation, childcare, language barriers, and trust-building with service providers. The initiative should prioritize digital skills training for all residents, regardless of foundational literacy level. Mapping, Policy, and Funding
• Advance Inclusive Broadband Deployment – Align deployment strategies with community needs, prioritizing underserved and unserved populations. Strengthen state-supported coordination of community and nonprofit efforts and explore cost-reduction policies to lower barriers in high-cost, low-density areas.
• Expand and Sustain Broadband Mapping – Continue and expand mapping efforts to provide accurate, transparent data that informs policy decisions, identifies service gaps, and supports targeted infrastructure development. As BEAD and other grant programs are completed, ensure mapping efforts evaluate actual locations served, speeds delivered, and infrastructure capabilities.
• Prioritize Funding for Line Extension Connection Program – Provide continued and increased funding for the Line Extension Connection Program, which has proven to be a cost-effective and targeted solution for last-mile deployment. This program empowers consumers, meets demand, and ensures no household or business is left behind as BEAD funding rolls out.
The Broadband Task Force unveiled the Annual Report (I will post on the report very soon) and presented it to Senator Putnam (Chair Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development). They also heard about Minnesota broadband environmental permitting overview.
10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Welcome from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband and approval of minutes from December Task Force meeting.
10:05a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Legislative preview for 2026 with Deven Bowdry, Government Relations Director, DEED
Session should be brief
Session starts Feb 17, second year of biennium, so more policy than budgets
Split House & Senate so not expecting to get much done
There might be a supplemental budget – focusing on urgent items – Fraud security is a hot topic
Governor hasn’t yet announced priorities
Probably see budget in March
They will be looking for informational hearing to fill time
Governor’s bonding proposal has been released
OBD will have a hearing session as will the Broadband Task Force
10:15 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).
BEAD
NTIA approved final proposal – now waiting on approval from NIST
Can’t move forward without NIST approval – but getting ready to be ready
Working to make sure that MN rules and regulations align with BEAD requirements – including emerging federal laws such as related to AI
155,000 are unserved looking at 2026 goals; 76,000 could get service through BEAD but many will not meet state goal of 100/20
There are concerns from providers because of some issues – such a – if you take BEAD funding you will not be eligible for future federal funding, including USF
Once OBD gets approval, they have 6 months to sign with providers/subgrantees
There are tribal locations – and OBD needs consent from tribal partners
Working on how to get back some of the BEAD funding for non-deployment funds
Likely to be 2027 before broadband comes via BEAD
OBD
Digital Equity Act Funding ended – but got approval for capacity grant draw. So OBD got paid.
The planning grant was closed out before spent – we are getting audited as are all the states.
2026 Connecting MN conference April 29 at the Heritage Center
Going through a few audits
GRANTS
Line Extension – 3 rounds. 48 projects all built last year. 2200 locations were built. Trying to use up all of the funds before they expire.
Plan to do Line Extension 5 with state funds. So please sign up and encourage others to do so.
Border to Border – OBD is still busy closing out various grants. 40 are closing and 50 are waiting to be built.
Q: What about the NTIA conference in March? Should the Task Force attend?
A: That meeting might not be a fit but there are many national events and OBD can share those opportunities with the Task Force
Q: When will OBD hear from NIST?
A: Unclear.
10:20 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Overview of 2025 Broadband Task Force Annual Report and recommendations.
11:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Senate Committee Chair legislative discussion and broadband check-in with Senator Putnam (Chair Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development).
The senator appreciates the broadband focus of access that includes
We’ve talked about training – are there any consequences to the changes to requirements for broadband construction folks?
There are 20-30 approved plans. The cold makes good training weather. Haven’t seen full implementation yet.
The deadline for the program was Jan 1 – so too soon to see results. Last summer we were informing folks of the need for training.
Are there specific permitting concerns?
State level permitting is a bottleneck. OBD has been working to help.
Railroad crossings are difficult and cost is unpredictable
MN Legislators have been supportive
(From chat) One Railroads – If I am notified, I general bring in our Federal Senators to help navigate conversations with them.
(From chat) FCC regulations on permitting and joint use agreements with other utilities are found here: Federal Register :: Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructu…
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Minnesota broadband environmental permitting overview with Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD) and Megan Messerole (Broadband Environmental and Land Use Coordinator, OBD)
from one of the slides above:
Environmental Permitting Resources
Minnesota National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Permitting Resources
Planning for MN BEAD Grant Environmental, Historic Preservation, and Permitting Success (PDF) – Coming soon
NTIA Best Management Practices and Mitigation Measures (PDF): Best management practices (BMPs) and mitigation measures to minimize impacts during construction, deployment, and operation of NTIA funded broadband projects.
NTIA Local Permitting Importance and Challenges and Strategies (PDF): Guidance explaining local permitting, providing strategies and examples addressing challenges and increasing processing efficiency. environmental factors in planning routes for deployments.
I know it’s last minute, but sometimes that makes it even easier to attend. Broadband Breakfast is hosting a discussion at 11am…
State broadband offices are now deep into BEAD implementation, managing billions in federal funding while navigating deployment timelines, subgrantee oversight, and compliance requirements. This roundtable aims to bring together state broadband directors and program leaders to share lessons learned, troubleshoot common challenges, and discuss emerging best practices from the field. The conversation will also address how states are measuring progress, ensuring speedy and thorough deployment, and adapting strategies as ground-level realities meet original plans.
Panelists
Bree Maki, Executive Director, Minnesota Office of Broadband Development
Alyssa Kenney, State Broadband and Digital Equity Director, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Join on a video conferencing device: Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com. Video ID: 112 547 437 0
Meeting Agenda
10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. – Welcome from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband and approval of minutes from December Task Force meeting.
10:05 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. – Senate Committee Chair legislative discussion and broadband check-in with Senator Putnam (Chair Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development).
10:20 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Overview of 2025 Broadband Task Force Annual Report and recommendations.
10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Legislative preview for 2026 with Deven Bowdry, Government Relations Director, DEED
11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. – Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).
11:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Break.
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Minnesota broadband environmental permitting overview with Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD) and Megan Messerole (Broadband Environmental and Land Use Coordinator, OBD)
12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Open the floor to other business, February meeting plans, and meeting wrap-up.
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
Line Extension Connection Program
Broadband Task Force, January meeting plans
NTIA Approves Minnesota’s BEAD Plan; Initial $378.9M in subgrants to connect 74,739 locations statewide
OBD BEAD resources
Broadband in the news
Line Extension Connection Program
OBD is currently in the process of rolling out awards and getting confirmation of award acceptance from providers for Round 4 of the Line Extension Connection Program. Once this process is complete, OBD will publish final awards, which is expected to be late January or early February.
Registration remains open for future rounds if and as funding is available for residents and businesses on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage. OBD does expect to run a fifth round of Line Extension with state project funds in late winter/early spring 2026.
The Broadband Task Force will have its first meeting of 2026 on Thursday January 22, at 10am. This meeting will be held virtually and is open to anyone from the public to attend, the link to join will be added to the agenda which is posted on the Broadband Task Force webpage.
During 2026, the Broadband Task Force will plan to meet on:
Wednesday, February 18
Wednesday, April 29
Thursday, May 21
Thursday, June 18
Thursday, August 13
Wednesday, September 16
Thursday, October 8
Thursday, November 12
Thursday, December 10
This schedule, along with other information on past and future meetings, will be posted on the Broadband Task Force webpage.
NTIA Approves Minnesota’s BEAD Plan; Initial $378.9M in subgrants to connect 74,739 locations statewide
On December 19, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Minnesota’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal, advancing the state’s plan to expand high‑speed internet with federal funding.
Following extensive engagement, restructuring, and over 18 rounds of curing, Minnesota has been initially approved for $378.9 million in BEAD subgrants across 94 projects. These projects are supported by nearly $190 million in matching funds, representing a total anticipated investment of more than $568.8 million to connect 74,739 locations. This extraordinary opportunity underscores the dedication and coordination of our team and partners statewide.
The Office of Broadband Development (OBD) is awaiting final approval from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and will then begin the contracting process with subgrantees, prioritizing award agreements and readiness activities.
OBD BEAD resources
OBD continues to add resources and update information on the OBD BEAD webpage as it becomes available. These and additional updates include:
Minnesota’s Broadband Update webinar recording and slides from December 17, 2025 discussing BEAD, Line Extension, and expectations for broadband in Minnesota in 2026.
A press release reports Rural St Louis County is getting better broadband through BEAD and Mediacom and quotes OBD’s Executive Director Bree Maki, “For more than a decade, the residents and leaders of North Star and Pequaywan Townships have done everything right—planning, organizing, and advocating for better connectivity—and this investment finally delivers on that work…BEAD funding is designed to reach exactly these kinds of rural communities that the market alone has not served, and this project will help to ensure families, businesses, and first responders in St. Louis County have access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet that meets today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities.”
Today was likely the last meeting for the MN Broadband Task Force in 2025, especially since the Task Force members in attendance all approved the draft annual report with few medications. I’ll share the video and the screenshots I was able to take of the report as it flew by the zoom window. I tried to capture the recommendations in my notes. It sounds as if much of the background, glossary and other pieces are similar from last year.
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Welcome Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.Approval of minutes from November Task Force Meeting
Recognized that while they are supposed to meet 12 times a year, they only met 10 times in 2025. Proposed dates for 2026:
Jan 22
Feb 18
April 29
May 21
June 18
Aug 13
Sep 16
Oct 8
Nov 12Dec 10
10:25 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.Office of Broadband Development Overview Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD
State grant program has been busy – working on closing 39 projects; 41 closed out in last year.
Will send semi-annual progress report by Jan 15
Preparing for 4th round of Line Extension reports
189 grants have been awarded over all
Connected Nation has verified a lot of locations
Working to re-organize BEAD website to be more subgrantee focused.
Have a meeting for all on April 29 in Brooklyn Center – looking for ideas
Questions/Comments:
NITA has everything they have asked of us at this time. We are just waiting for their decision and feedback.
What does BEAD pay for LEO’s. service?, or something else?
We cannot pay for the monthly service. Our understanding at this point is capacity. These are questions we still have and are waiting for guidance on. NTIA has to provide us more information on milestones for payments to them – such as our choices for number of subscribers, etc.
Senator Klobuchar signed on a letter and also has done press around non-deployment funds.
The team is pivoting as best as we can. Trying to keep positive and make sure we focus on the goal of getting all MN’s households served.
10:45a.m. – EndBroadband Task Force Annual Report – Time to review and refine Broadband Task Force’s Annual Report
Yes! Cheers to the OBD team for your incredible adaptability and resilience as you navigate a constant state of change and uncertainty! Your dedication and teamwork make all the difference!!
Background is intended to support recommendations
Goals Econ Issues/Digital Skills
Ensure affordability
Maximize Economic Opportunity
Cultivate a skilled workforce
Invest in Digital Skills and Adoption
Recommendations from Affordability, Economic Opportunity and Workforce Development Recommendations
Support modernization of Lifeline
Develop career & tech education
Encourage grant recipients to implement best workforce practice
Prioritize funds to support anchor institutions supporting digital inclusion
Establish statewide digital inclusion initiative
Recommendations from Mapping, Policy and Funding
Advance inclusive broadband deployment by aligning strategies prioritize unserved/underserved
From the Office of Broadband Development: Thank you for your continued engagement through 2025! OBD’s work connecting all Minnesotans to fast, reliable, broadband is made possible by our ongoing collaboration with partners statewide.
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
Highlights at the beginning of December 2025 include:
Managed a total of 189 grants from B2B Rounds 7-10 (including Low Density) and Line Extension Rounds 1-3, and there are 78 active projects.
The OBD Grants team have closed a total of 72 projects this year, with 41 of those closed in the past 6 months and 39 projects currently pending closed.
Line Extension Round 2 saw all 13 projects built as of 6/30/2025 and for Round 3, all 16 projects will be built by 12/31/2025.
Between June—November, OBD Grant Staff completed over 50 site visits statewide across broadband projects and programs.
Connected Nation, Minnesota’s mapping vendor, completed field validation for over 70 State and Capital Projects Fund grant projects in 2025, and in the process verified construction completeness at more than 35,000 locations.
Fielded 180+ inquires on Line Extension over phone and email, resulting in nearly 60 registrations for the program, and over 35 registrations from applications submitted by mail.
Broadband Task Force 2026 meeting schedule
The Broadband Task Force will have a final scheduled meeting of 2025 on Thursday December 18 at 10 a.m. This meeting will be held virtually and is open to anyone from the public to attend, the Teams link to join is available on the meeting agenda.
During 2026, the Broadband Task Force will plan to meet:
Thursday, January 22
Wednesday, February 18
Wednesday, April 29
Thursday, May 21
Thursday, June 18
Thursday, August 13
Wednesday, September 16
Thursday, October 8
Thursday, November 12
Thursday, December 10
This schedule, along with other information on past and future meetings, will be posted on the Broadband Task Force webpage.
BEAD updates + resources
OBD continues with rounds of curing with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on the submitted draft of the BEAD Final Proposal. Minnesota expects approval on the Final Proposal by the end of the year, and status of BEAD nationally can be followed on NTIA’s BEAD Progress Dashboard.
Additional updates resources on BEAD include:
An updated OBD BEAD webpage! Additional sections and resources have been added, including Environmental Permitting and National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) resources, Build America Buy America (BABA) compliance reporting resources, and other Federal Guidance & Compliance. A recording from OBD’s webinar, Minnesota Broadband Update, on 12/17 is also available.
NTIA resource, Technical Assistance Hub: Designed as a one-stop shop for resources and tools in support of NTIA’s grant programs, including BEAD.
Upcoming NTIA Webinar: Integrating LEO Satellite Broadband into BEAD-Era Broadband Plans, Thursday December 18 at 2 p.m., CST. Registration link available here.
The Round 4 Line Extension bidding window closed on November 25, 2025.
OBD is evaluating the bids submitted during Round 4 and expects to announce award decisions before year end. Updates will be posted to the OBD Line Extension Connection Program webpage.
While the window for residential and business sign-ups to be included in the bidding for Round 4 of the Line Extension Connection Program closed, registration will remain open for future rounds if and as funding is available on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage. OBD expects to run a fifth round of Line Extension with state project funds.
The Office of Broadband Development gave a year end review this morning. They spoke about what’s happened in the last year, which focused on BEAD. The big news is that they are still waiting to get final approval of the BEAD proposal. They have had 18 rounds of curing the proposal and it sounds as if they are getting close. They hope to hear more before the end of the year. Sonds they are also hoping for State funds in the future.
Lots of details on what the process will be for subgrantees once the proposal is approved.
They are hoping to announce the last round awards for Line Extension funding.
Questions:
Will the OBD release a template Attorney Letter associated with the LoC & Performance Bond?
They are working on what they need. An answer will be available soon.
When/how will we receive the geospatial request and how long will we have to complete that information?
Hi Jamie, when our grantor portal opens, you can upload the project’s geospatial data to the portal. I recommend taking a look at the geospatial data you submitted when you applied and see if it meets the requirements mentioned in the slide and if it includes all of the preliminary awarded locations. There is no limit on how long you have to complete the geospatial data, but the faster you submit, the faster we will be able to review and work through NEPA.
The Us Forestry permitting process can take up to 270 days….
Hi! Should we plan on further location negotiations taking place once there is approval from NTIA?
We will be reaching out to providers/applicants. There will be an opportunity to negotiate but we won’t know how much negotiation is possible given federal rules.
Megan, please explain how requests for permits from US Forestry or MN DNR interface with MN’s NEPA permitting. If the NTIA/MN NEPA determination is that the project should be awarded a CatEX, how does that CatEX expedite permits from US Forestry, Fish & Game or MN DNR.
We recommend getting through NEPA through ESAP tool. That can be submitted this licenses and permits. The agencies will want to see the NEPA info.
Megan following up, on NEPA determination question above, did the NTIA get interagency agreements from BLM, US Forestry to honor the NTIA CatEX determination?
Not positive. Both have released a memo about broadband.
From the Office of Broadband Development… (I plan to post each event separately too, just so folks are sure to see them)
Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates
December webinar + BEAD updates
Line Extension Connection Program update
Broadband Task Force, December meeting plans
Broadband National Expo, State Showcase – Minnesota’s Collaborative Approach to Broadband Deployment
December webinar + BEAD updates
OBD will be hosting a webinar, Minnesota Broadband Updates on WednesdayDecember 17 at 11am to recap Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) efforts in 2025 and go over next steps for what the OBD expects for broadband grant programs going into 2026. This webinar is open to the public and will be recorded and posted to the OBD BEAD webpage. Registration is available below.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) continues to announce approved Final Proposals for BEAD, which can be followed from NTIA’s BEAD Progress Dashboard. OBD expects approval will come through soon, and will be in-line with NTIA’s timeline of reviewing and approving proposals within 90 days of when the Final Proposal was submitted. Minnesota submitted the BEAD Final Proposal to NTIA on September 4, 2025.
Continue to watch for updates! The OBD BEAD webpage will be undergoing changes, along with new and additional resources being added.
Line Extension Connection Program update
The Round 4 Line Extension bidding window closed on November 25, 2025.
While the window for residential and business sign-ups to be included in the bidding for Round 4 of the Line Extension Connection Program closed, registration will remain open for future rounds if and as funding is available. OBD expects to run a fifth round of Line Extension with state project funds.
The Broadband Task Force will be meeting on Thursday December 18 at 10am. This meeting will be held virtually and is open to anyone from the public to attend. The Teams link to join the meeting will be included at the top of the meeting agenda, which will be posted along with other information on past meetings on the Broadband Task Force webpage.
Broadband National Expo, State Showcase – Minnesota’s Collaborative Approach to Broadband Deployment
OBD’s Executive Director, Bree Maki, attended the Broadband National Expo in Orlando Florida, and spoke on the November 20th panel, State Showcase – Minnesota’s Collaborative Approach to Broadband Deployment, alongside Joe Buttweiler (Chief Strategy Officer, CTC) and Brent Christensen (President/CEO,
Minnesota Telecom Alliance), pictured below.
Minnesota is proud of it’s collaborative partnerships and is continuing to see success by these efforts.
An upcoming session from the Office of Broadband Development…
Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 11:00 a.m., Minnesota Broadband Update webinar: Join the OBD for an update on the federal BEAD program in Minnesota, including a recap of BEAD efforts in 2025 and next steps for what the OBD expects for broadband grant programs going into 2026. Register here.
