Category Archives: MN Office of Broadband Development

Wishing Diane Wells happy retirement from Office of Broadband Development

Posted on by
Reply

There is only one person who I know for sure has attended more MN Broadband Task Force monthly meetings than I have over the years, and that’s the Office of Broadband Development’s Deputy Director, Diane Wells. Diane is retiring this week. She has earned it, and Jenn Frost will be amazing at the job, but Diane will be missed.

Diane has been working for the State for the better part of 40 years. She has a depth of understanding of the technology, policy and regulation of broadband in Minnesota. Diane was recognized recent for her service to DEED (Department of Economy and Economic Development) and last year for her commitment to broadband access and deployment in Minnesota by the Minnesota Telecom Alliance.

Taking calls from unserved rural residents, she has connected them to providers and/or community resources to help them get connected. Working with grant applications, she has helped communities and providers find ways to fit their technology needs and offerings into legislative guidelines in a way that smoothed the path for better broadband for more Minnesotans. Diane has presented and spoken to numerous policymakers over the years about broadband. It’s a tough subject for most folks to tackle. And even for those of us who think we “get it,” Diane has always been patient with updates on complicated policy issues or even just remembering which town it was when they did the vote of broadband on the hottest day of the year.

I will miss Diane. I’ll miss her calling me out (quietly) when I get something wrong, I miss her sharing news with me and while post COVID, we haven’t been in the same room as often, I’ll miss her dry sense of humor. Mostly, I’ll just miss seeing her and knowing that she can help us all better understand the technology and the rules to get us closer to ubiquitous broadband. She is part of the secret sauce!

The video below is from the last MN Task Force Meeting where the recognized Diane and her work.

OBD Office Hours April 1: Detailed questions about BEAD the applications

Posted on by
Reply

The Office of Broadband Development Office hour today was spent with question about the nitty gritty of filling out the applications. People had detailed questions but that seem like a good sign of interest. Below are notes from the session.

 

Highlights from Comments

  • The Contractor Directory may be available tomorrow.

Questions from the Chat

  • Resources and portal access are available on the OBD BEAD webpage including newly updated resources like the Version 1.1 BEAD Application User Guide and BEAD Affidavit Template
  • Continue to complete the Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory Form. The first directory list will be posted to the website on Wednesday 4/2 and updated weekly moving forward.
  • Please continue to submit BEAD FAQs through the online form, available here: https://forms.office.com/g/jE9EC1Zzpv
  • Register for the next office hours, April 8 here
  • NEW, Application Information Session, 11b, Tuesday May 6, register here
  • Another question on PE Cert. Assuming these pieces need to be submitted in the application regardless of if they have a stamp or not (since you confirmed PE cert isn’t needed until provisional award)?
  • wait – what?  I’m confused?  The PE Certification is not required with application submission??   but rather if and only if a preliminary award is made??
  • Under question 51: 51. Upload other supporting documentation for your application: This is for required or supporting application documents including Application Workbook, PE Certified Design Plan, Match commitments. Budget Schedule Proforma Pricing workbook is required for application evaluation. Preliminarily awarded applicants must provide the following items certified by a Professional Engineer (PE) stating that the proposed network can deliver broadband service that meets the requisite performance requirements to all locations served by the project: A network design and diagram; Detailed project costs; Build-out timeline and milestones for project implementation; and A capital investment schedule evidencing complete build-out and the initiation of service within four years of the date on which the entity receives the subgrant. Financial Match Commitments from a third party NOTE: For all third-party or partner matches in Section 5 question 17, you must upload evidence of the match commitment (Resolution, Meeting minutes, Commitment letter, etc.) here. NOTE: For all third-party or partner matches in Section 5 question 17, you must upload evidence of the match commitment (Resolution, Meeting minutes, Commitment letter, etc.) here.

Questions from the session

Is there a maximum subsidy per grant?
We were aiming for $10M cap – but a waiver request might take care of it. Also you can get a waiver for 100 percent; normally it’s 75 percent for high cost areas.

To confirm your prior comment.  If a subsidy request is $10M+ you are asking that a waiver be prepared (using the standard waiver form (tcm1045-672669)?

For an upload of geospatial map – what formats can we use.
We can let you know if we can’t get it after you upload.

Regarding the application – how detailed to do you want the financials? Is there a template?
Yes. BEAD applicant resources list in the application guide.

Where can we find the BEAD Approved Contractor List
https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/bead/

Is there a question about BABA certification?
It was in the prequalification. Proforma is in Question 51

In your FAQ it says PE Cert isn’t required until provisional award?
Correct

Do you need a PE stamp for every project?
Probably just one. Just need to demonstrate that you’ve had an engineer design the project

Will there be partial awards.  For example if we submit for a large area, will we be selected for only a portion?
Maybe – especially if there are multiple applications for a given area.

In addition to the network form upload. Preliminarily awarded applicants must provide the following items certified by a Professional Engineer (PE) stating that the proposed network can deliver broadband service that meets the requisite performance requirements to all locations served by the project: • A network design and diagram; • Detailed project costs; • Build-out timeline and milestones for project implementation; and • A capital investment schedule evidencing complete build-out and the initiation of service within four years of the date on which the entity receives the subgrant.
Yes

Gov Tech reports on HF2279: expanding the name and duties of the state’s Office of Broadband Development

Posted on by
Reply

I have been following the bill to expand the name and focus of the Office of Broadband Development. It’s always interesting to see what national sources this. Gov Tech reports…

House File 2279: This bill, introduced and first read by Minnesota Rep. Samantha Vang on March 19, would expand the name and duties of the state’s Office of Broadband Development.

The office, housed within the Department of Employment and Economic Development, started its work in 2014. It was charged with distributing grants to Internet service providers for investing in broadband infrastructure.

The new bill would rename the office to be the Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity, and broaden its purpose to include improving broadband access, adoption and related digital inclusion activities.

“These changes will result in better high-speed Internet access, broadband adoption and affordability across the state,” Vang said during a House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee meeting. …

Notably, the bill includes no financial obligations, as Baer emphasized.

Broadband Matters OBD Updates Mar 26: Task Force and BEAD progress

Posted on by
Reply

From the Office of Broadband development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • BEAD updates: First round, 11a, of subgrantee selection open
  • Digital Opportunity update
  • Resource reminder: Broadband Development Tuesday Training Series, Minnesota Department of Transportation
  • Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, March meeting recap
  • Broadband in the news

A warm congratulations to OBD’s Deputy Director, Diane Wells on her upcoming retirement! Diane has worked at the state for 39 years, and been in the Office of Broadband Development since its inception 10 years ago. Diane has led efforts to leverage state and federal funding and is a driving force behind the Border-to-Border Broadband grant program, ensuring that unserved and underserved communities gain reliable and equitable access to high-speed internet, and making the business case for broadband expansion across the hardest, most costly places to serve in Minnesota. Diane’s leadership and deep commitment to public service have shaped broadband policy and access across Minnesota and served a model for states nationally. 

BEAD updates: First round, 11a, of subgrantee selection open
The first round of subgrantee selection, 11a, opened on March 24, and stays open through April 21, 2025, at 4:30pm CST. Resources for this are posted on the OBD BEAD webpage.  The Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory Form has been posted to the OBD BEAD webpage and is open for those interested in being listed. The first version of the directory will be posted next week and continue to be updated on a weekly basis moving forward. This directory is a voluntary list consisting of the names and contact information of the contractors and subcontractors that have requested to be included in the directory. The directory is not an exhaustive list of all the contractors and subcontractors based or working in the state of Minnesota, and OBD does not endorse or vet any of the companies or individuals listed. OBD reserves the right to discontinue the directory at any time. Additional and updated BEAD resources for Minnesota include:   

  • Approved BEAD Applicants from the Pre-Qualification Process were posted 3/24/2025
  • The recording from the March 25 BEAD Application Session for the first round of subgrantee selection, 11a, has been posted online. This session provided a walk through the application requirements and gave an overview of the application process through a demo of the application portal.  
  • Weekly office hours on BEAD continue Tuesdays at 11am through April 15. Registration is open for the remaining April 1, April 8, and April 15 sessions.  
  • Minnesota’s BEAD Project Management Plan, outlining the processes, procedures, and policies that will be followed by OBD in the management and execution of the BEAD, was added under the Additional Resouces dropdown. 
  • Updated FAQs are available on the BEAD Pre-Qualification FAQ and BEAD Subgrantee Selection FAQ. Please continue to submit all questions for the FAQ via online web form, linked below.

Digital Opportunity update
On March 12, OBD staff visited Hopkins, MN to learn about the grassroots digital opportunity efforts the community is undertaking. With coordination from local business Connecting to Thrive, Hopkins city employees, school and library staff, non-profit leaders, and small business owners are strategizing new ways to connect people to the digital supports they need. A big thank you to Rebekah Crosby, Carolyn Leslie, and Beth Kivett for their invitation and leadership!
OBD staff appreciate learning through digital opportunity show-and-tell visits like this. To explore further, please contact deed.broadband.equity@state.mn.us or hannah.buckland@state.mn.us.
Resource reminder: Broadband Development Tuesday Training Series, Minnesota Department of TransportationLast April, OBD hosted the Broadband Development Tuesday Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems). As Minnesota reenters construction season, this series has valuable reminders and resources from agency experts providing an overview of their agency, and information on current processes, timelines, goals, and best practices working on broadband projects and with broadband grantees.The Minnesota Department of Transportation provided guidance specific to MnDOT’s permitting role for any work within MnDOT trunk highway rights-of-way.

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, March meeting recapThe Governor’s Task Force on Broadband met virtually on March 20 and heard from the Department of Natural Resources’, Cheryl Kelley-Dobie, Joe Rokala, and Benjamin Schaefer, on a utility license update. The Task Force also heard updates from OBD on BEAD and Digital Opportunity, a legislative update, and discussed how subgroups could best work together for writing the 2025 annual report later in the year.More information on this and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force’s webpage.Broadband in the newsBroadband grants in Winona were featured in a March 12 article from the Winona Post “Expanding internet access”. OBD’s Executive Director, Bree Maki, was featured in the article and reported on the 5 awards that have gone to Internet Service Providers in Winona County over the past 10 years, which have connected over 2,000 homes and businesses with broadband. More information is available on the Minnesota’s Broadband Grants Program online, as well as map of statewide broadband access.  Federal funding in Minnesota was also featured on March 13 on KSTP 5, “Federal funding to provide millions to expand broadband in Minnesota” on the $652 million in federal funds allocated to the state through NTIA’s BEAD program. Minnesota just completed the BEAD Pre-Qualification process on March 13, and will be entering the first of three expected rounds of subgrantee selection on March 24. More information on the BEAD program is available on Minnesota’s OBD BEAD webpage.  

OBD Office Hour Notes Mar 25: BEAD Application Information Session

Posted on by
Reply

The OBD Office Hour served as a BEAD Application Information Session. OBD walked attendees through the application requirements and an overview will be given of the application process through a demo of the application portal. The session will be recorded and posted to this webpage.

First a few updates:

  • Approved BEAD applicants has been released.
  • MN BEAD Contractor Directory will be posted later this today. It’s a voluntary list. It’s not an exhaustive list. Not endorsements.

Also a quick look at the BEAD Contractor Directory Screenshots

The Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory Form has been posted to the website and is open for those interested in being listed to complete. The first version of the directory will be posted 4/2/25 continue to be updated weekly moving forward.

But the bulk of the meeting was spent on the Portal Walk Through. I captured screenshots and questions. OBD will be posting the full video soon. The screenshots may seen (and be) repetitious as I was trying to capture moving moments.

Q: Do we need to upload a polygon?

Do not need to upload a polygon.

Q: PreAward Risk Assessment:  Questions 40 and 41 do not have a character limit.  Is this correct (other questions state a character limit)?
We will check on this and identify the limit.

Q: Can we submit wireless applications as well for Round 1? or is that only for round 2?
Fiber only for first round.
Under MN’s NTIA approved Initial Proposal Vol. 2, the first subgrantee selection round is for Priority (fiber) projects only. If you submit a non-fiber project in the first round, it will not be considered. OBD intends to update the list of BEAD eligible locations following the completion of the subgrantee selection round to remove those locations that have been preliminarily awarded to a subgrantee selected in the first subgrantee selection round. Therefore, it is unknown at this time, what locations will remain for inclusion in the second subgrantee selection round when fixed wireless providers will be able to submit an application.

Q: Jason, is the example you are showing data that is provided through the portal or example of data the ISP provides?
This data has been pre-populated. It’s the location data. Portal just needs to know technology-type. We need file for post-processing purposes. There are other files (speed/latency) that will be needed eventually.

Q: How does portal know which IDs to select?
It’s a single column list of fabric IDs.

Q: In the Other Supporting Documentation needed for upload bullet 2, Preliminarily awarded applicants must provide the following items certified by a Professional Engineer (PE) stating that the proposed network can deliver broadband service that meets the requisite performance requirements to all locations served by the project. Is this needed now in the application stage or upon award?
The PE certified design plan will be required upon notice of a preliminary award but can be submitted as part of the initial application as well.

Q: Do you have any documentation on reference funding?

Q: How do you find the MN Swift Vendor ID?
There’s info on how to sign up to get a vendor ID.

Q:  Letter of Credit Commitment letter is at 25%, correct?
Need to check to make sure.

Q:  What’s the ETA for the final guidance/ updates being made to the portal?
In the next week.

Q: Will MN’s BEAD application require “evidence of match” be uploaded with the round 1 application, in addition to the letter of commitment for a ILOC?
Yes. Letter of credit does not require evidence of provider match. Also it depends on what the match represents.

Q: I did not see Low Earth Satellite providers on the listing of prequalified providers. There are certainly some locations where wireline and fixed wireless are not financially reasonable in MN to serve. How will this impact the program in MN if low earth satellite providers are not prequalified?
We are waiting for guidance from NTIA. But they can get prequalified. And we can’t force anyone to serve unserved areas.

From the Chat

 

37 providers on the Minnesota BEAD Approved Applicant list

Posted on by
Reply

The list of providers who had applied for BEAD rep-qualification and bee approved is now out. It is interesting to see who is on the list and who is not. The list came out late yesterday. The Office of Broadband Development is hosting their Office Hours today at 11am, where I’m sure they will be willing to take questions. (The hold Office Hours weekly.)

  1. Ace Telephone Association
  2. AMG Technology Investment Group, LLC d/b/a Nextlink Internet
  3. Christensen Communications Company
  4. Consolidated Communications
  5. CTC
  6. EarthLink
  7. East Central Energy Fiber
  8. Emily Cooperative Telephone Company
  9. Federated Rural Electric Association
  10. Frontier
  11. Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Company
  12. Hanson Communication
  13. Harmony Telephone Company
  14. IBT Group USA, LLC
  15. Johnson Telephone Company
  16. KMTelecom
  17. MCC Broadband Data
  18. Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association
  19. Midco
  20. MiEnergy
  21. Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative
  22. Nuvera
  23. Otter Tail Telcom
  24. PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS
  25. PCs for People
  26. Red River Communications
  27. Runestone Telephone Association
  28. SCI Broadband
  29. Sjobergs
  30. Spectrum Mid-America, LLC
  31. Sytek
  32. Tekstar Communications, Inc.
  33. Wikstrom Telephone Company Inc
  34. Windstream Lakedale, Inc.
  35. Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association
  36. Woodstock Communications
  37. Xfinity

Here’s more on pre-qualification from the Office of Broadband Development’s BEAD Pre-Qualification Guidance Document…

Before undertaking a subgrantee selection process and awarding BEAD funds, the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development must pre-qualify all prospective applicants to ensure they meet the minimum requirements for subgrantee eligibility. This document is meant to provide prospective applicants with a clear understanding of Minnesota’s BEAD Pre- Qualification process and what documentation they need to prepare.

This guide outlines procedures, requirements, and necessary steps, as outlined in Minnesota’s NTIA-approved Initial Proposal Volume 2. This guide may change with new guidance from NTIA or as the OBD receives questions from prospective applicants. Any changes made to this guide will be clearly documented in version history and communicated to prospective applicants. Further, the OBD will post all pre-qualification documentation and resources on the Minnesota Broadband website.

Please note that, as described in Minnesota’s Initial Proposal Volume 2, participating in the pre-qualification process does not bind any internet service provider to submit a project area proposal. However, all prospective applicants who are considering participation or intend to submit a proposal must participate in pre-qualification. There will only be one pre-qualification round, so prospective applicants must participate, even if they only intend to apply for BEAD funds in later rounds of subgrantee selection.

Information submitted during the pre-qualification process for an organization will make up part of the score on all proposed projects during each round of subgrantee selection. For more information about project scoring, please refer to Minnesota’s Initial Proposal Volume 2.

MN Legislative Audit Commission hears from MN DEED and MN Office of Broadband Development

Posted on by
Reply

Last week, the MN Legislative Audit Commission heard from MN DEED about their 2025 Evaluation report, which included information on MN Office of Broadband Development (OBD) grants in 2024.

Report overall summary:

Broadband grantees largely met the goals we reviewed. In contrast, the workforce grant programs lack goals, and the performance metrics DEED is statutorily required to report are unhelpful for measuring program success. Additionally, we found that DEED did not comply with certain grants management policies, including the requirement to withhold grant payments for grantees with past-due progress reports. We offer recommendations to DEED and the Legislature to strengthen DEED’s management of grant programs.

More specifics on the Office of Broadband Development (OBD)…

All broadband grantees in our review built broadband infrastructure that met goals outlined in the grant contracts.

For the grants in our review, Connected Nation or DEED validated that all 20 of the broadband grantees met the goal for the total number of locations or area they agreed to serve in the grant contract.26 In total, the broadband grantees in our review agreed to build broadband infrastructure to support 3,002 locations. Most of the broadband grantees reported meeting or exceeding the goal number of locations. Exhibit 2.11 shows the number of locations grantees in our review reported serving.

Exhibit 2.11

Most broadband grantees reported meeting or exceeding the goal number of locations for the grants in our review.

The grant files also showed that all 20 of the broadband grantees built infrastructure capable of providing broadband service that met or exceeded the relevant state broadband speed goals specified in contracts. In addition, most of the broadband grantees successfully completed their projects within the original timeframes specified in the grant contracts.

Three grantees successfully requested extensions for various reasons, such as supply chain challenges, permitting delays, and poor weather conditions.

And here are the PPTs shared with the MN Legislative Audit Commission last week…

 

MN House and Senate Ag budgets are looking very different

Posted on by
Reply

Brownfield News reports…

The Minnesota House and Senate are far apart on agriculture budget funding.

Senate Ag, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development chair Aric Putnam says his committee has been very diligent and thoughtful about spending.

“Unfortunately the House went a little crazy on us about two weeks ago and passed a budget with funny money, which makes it look like what we’re doing is a little bit more I guess sort of conservative and slow.”

The House Agriculture and Policy Committee budget bill appropriates nearly $169 million from the General Fund for the Department of Agriculture, a 10 percent increase from the current amount budgeted and above the $151 million proposed by Governor Walz.

The Office of Broadband Development is part of the Ag budget. I watched the discussion of the budget in the House yesterday. It seemed like even the Representatives in the room had different notions on their version of the budget and bills.

OBD Office Hour Notes: First Round BEAD grants to open March 24

Posted on by
Reply

The Office of Broadband Development held their weekly online office hour. There were 30 people online. Much of the information is the same week to week but I think attendees hear it differently depending on where they are in the application (or understanding) process. There are always a few updates and questions.

Session highlights:

  • Reason codes are now called Non use codes (Why a location eligibility has been removed)
  • First round of grant funding set to open March 24, 2025 and close April 21. This is for fiber projects only
  • There is an application guide for grant on the OBD website now

Questions:

Do you plan to publish the application guide before opening the portal?
Yes

Are you going to announce who has applied for pre qualification?
Yes. We will post on the website for local governments will be able to see who might apply for funding in their area. Support from the local government is helpful to the applicant.

Do you know what the high cost threshold is set at?  if not when will that be announced?
Doesn’t need to be set until the final round – so that’s when we’ll do it. For Round 3. We have some benchmarks but BEAD is different from Border to Border so we may see differences.

When do you think the list of approved pre-qualified ISPs will be published?
Depends on when we get info back from some applicants – hopefully Friday but maybe next week.

From the Chat

Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program / Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program

If you already signed up for March 25 office hours you are already signed up for the application session!

 

EVENT March 19: MN House Committee to discuss HF2279: expanding name and duties of the Office of Broadband Development

Posted on by
Reply

The Minnesota House Committee on Agriculture, Finance and Policy will discuss HF2279: expanding name and duties of the Office of Broadband Development tom March 19…

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 , 1:00 PM

Agriculture Finance and Policy

Chair: Rep. Rick Hansen
Location: Capitol G3
Agenda:

HF44 (Curran) Food manufacturers and brand owners required to report ortho-phthalate testing results of packaged food products to the commissioner of agriculture.
HF2102 (Lee, F.) Local food purchasing assistance program funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF2279 (Vang) Office of Broadband Development renamed to Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity, duties and reporting requirements modified, state’s broadband goals expanded, multifamily dwelling grant program established, and definitions amended.
HF2280 (Hansen) Beginning farmer program provisions modified, grain buyer provisions modified, commissioner of agriculture permissions granted to protect public health against fertilizer and fertilizer by-products, and biodiesel fuel mandate reporting provision repealed.
HF2281 (Hansen) Livestock market agency and dealer licensing provisions modified, farmers’ market or community event food sampling and demonstration provisions modified, food certificate payment provisions modified, and obsolete provisions repealed.

*Additional bills/items may be added.

TESTIMONY AND MATERIALS SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Individuals wishing to testify or submit written testimony or handouts for the hearing must e-mail the committee administrator (Peter.Strohmeier@house.mn.gov) by 1 p.m. the day prior to the hearing. Handouts must be in PDF format with OCR capability. In-person testimony may be limited due to committee time constraints.

AMENDMENT DEADLINE: Amendments must be e-mailed to the committee administrator by 1 p.m. the day prior to the hearing.

Bills Added [I’ve only included the broadband related bill]

HF2279(Vang)
Office of Broadband Development renamed to Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity, duties and reporting requirements modified, state’s broadband goals expanded, multifamily dwelling grant program established, and definitions amended.

Bill introduced in MN House: HF2279 Renaming and modifying Office of Broadband Development

Posted on by
Reply

From the MN House…

Vang introduced:

H. F. 2279, A bill for an act relating to broadband; renaming the Office of Broadband Development to the Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity; modifying the duties and reporting requirements of the office; expanding the state’s broadband goals; establishing a multifamily dwelling grant program; amending definitions for the purposes of broadband development; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 13.598, subdivision 13; 116J.39; 116J.391, subdivision 1; 116J.394; 116J.395, subdivisions 6, 8; 116J.397; 237.012, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.

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; renaming the Office of Broadband Development to the
Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity; modifying the duties and
reporting requirements of the office; expanding the state’s broadband goals;
establishing a multifamily dwelling grant program; amending definitions for the
purposes of broadband development; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections
13.598, subdivision 13; 116J.39; 116J.391, subdivision 1; 116J.394; 116J.395,
subdivisions 6, 8; 116J.397; 237.012, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 13.598, subdivision 13, is amended to read:

Subd. 13.

 

Continue reading →

OBD Broadband Matters: meeting notices, trip to Woodstock Communication in Southwest Minnesota

Posted on by
Reply

From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • BEAD updates
  • OBD weekly office hours, extended through April 15
  • OBD, site visit in Southwest Minnesota  
  • Congratulations to OBD’s Karrie Jansen!
  • Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, next meeting March 20

BEAD updates

The BEAD Pre-Qualification process in Minnesota has been extended, and will now close tomorrow, March 13, 2025 at 11:59pm CST. This change and its impact on future dates has been reflected on the OBD BEAD timeline.  

 Updated BEAD resources for Minnesota include:   

Submit all questions for the FAQ via online web form below. OBD will continue to review responses as a team and with our federal partner, and the FAQs will be updated weekly.

OBD weekly office hours, extended through April 15

Office hours are being extended through April 15, register for the added sessions below!

Weekly office hours provide updates on the federal BEAD program in MN, and are Tuesdays at 11am through April 15. Registration is open for the sessions below:

  • March 18, register here 
  • March 25, register here. This will serve as a BEAD Application Information Session for the upcoming first round of BEAD subgrantee selection. In this session, OBD will walk through the application requirements and an overview of the application process will be given through a demo of the application portal. The session will be recorded and posted to the OBD BEAD page. 
  • April 1, register here 
  • NEW SESSION, April 8, register here  
  • NEW SESSION, April 15, register here

OBD, site visit in Southwest Minnesota

With the unusually warm weather this winter, a site visit was completed on March 3 to Woodstock Communication’s project in Southwest Minnesota near Slayton.

Woodstock was granted $1.3 million in state funds to construct and connect customers to fiber, along with $1.6 million in matching funds from Murray County and Woodstock Communications.

This project near Lake Sarah and Lake Shetek is close to done, connecting 369 customers using 44 miles of fiber.

Pictured left: Terry Nelson, General Manager of Woodstock Communications, and Carol Bossuyt, a Broadband Grants Specialist with OBD.

Congratulations to OBD’s Karrie Jansen!

Karrie was promoted from the teams Broadband Grants Administrator to the Broadband Infrastructure Grants Supervisor! Karrie has worked in the public sector for over 31 years, and worked in County Government before joining the Office of Broadband Development in 2022. Congratulations, Karrie!

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, next meeting March 20

The Broadband Task Force will be meeting on Thursday March 20 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 as usual at the top of the meeting agenda, which will be posted along with other information on past meetings on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

More information on this and past meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force’s webpage.

Please email deed.broadband@state.mn.us or call 651-259-7610 with questions, or requests for additional information on any of the above.

Pictured right: 12-year-old broadband champions, Cooper and Crosby, used last week’s snowfall to create a Broadband Snow Mascot, safety vest and all!

OBD Weekly Office Hours, March 11: New office hours added

Posted on by
Reply

A couple dozen people still show up for the weekly Office of Broadband Development Office Hours where they review what’s happening with BEAD and answer questions. The one-hour meeting is often much shorter than an hour but it’s a good time if/when you do have questions.

Highlights from presentation:

  • Pre-qualification applications are coming in
  • Sub Round 11A opens March 24 – fiber and priority projects. You can propose your own location areas
  • Two new office hours added

From Chat:

Questions:

What about federal changes to BEAD?
We are proceeding under guidance we currently have. But we stayed tuned for changes.

The list posted on 3/3, there are about 10,000 addresses with an asterisk. Is this the final final list?
No there will continue to be changes. If we may see address dropping of the list. But 10,000 seems a lot. Lots of folks said their ACAM projects were going to be getting fiber so that removed a lot of addresses.

OBD Weekly Office Hours, March 4: De-duplication list is out: 80,000 locations in MN are BEAD eligible

Posted on by
Reply

The Office of Broadband Development held their weekly Office Hour meeting. The meetings usually end very early. They are very helpful – worth attending if you have any questions or clarifications. Most of the information is in the slides. Some points of note:

  • Posted new de-duplicated list of BEAD eligible locations. Removed 10,000 locations from the map so there are now 80,000 locations that are eligible.
  • Pre-qualification deadline is March 13. You can get help if you need it.
  • Update on contractor list: needed to look at legal jurisdiction, which means this may turn into a directory than an approved list.
  • Will update volume 2 to reflect change in contractor list
  • Questions

Q How do you get on contractor list?
We will have more info on that soon. There will be a form on the website.

Q: When will portal be open?
They are building it now. Then we test. Should be open March 24 to April 21.

Q: Is there a list of questions that will be on the portal we can look at now?
It is still coming. If you scan through MN Vol 2, you can cull some information.

Notes from CHat:

BEAD Eligible Locations, posted on March 3, 2025.

Bead Pre-Qualification Portal. If you have any technical questions on using the BEAD Grantor Portal, please email mnhelpdesk@ready.net. 

Moving forward, please submit BEAD FAQs through our online form, available here: https://forms.office.com/g/jE9EC1Zzpv

OBD Broadband Matters Feb 26, 2025: Annual report and BEAD pre-qualification details

Posted on by
Reply

The latest news from the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • BEAD updates, Pre-Qualification extended to March 13
  • OBD weekly office hours registration
  • OBD 2024 annual report
  • Digital Opportunity update
  • Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, February meeting recap

BEAD updates, Pre-Qualification extended to March 13

The BEAD Pre-Qualification process in Minnesota has been extended, and will now close on March 13, 2025 at 11:59pm CST. This change and its impact on future dates has been reflected on the OBD BEAD timeline.  

NEW! Submit all questions for the FAQ via online web form below. OBD will continue to review responses as a team and with our federal partner, and the FAQs will be updated weekly. Please also plan to submit all Pre-Qualification portal questions by Thursday March 6.   

Additional resources and reminders on BEAD in Minnesota:  

  • View the BEAD Call for Applications online
  • Registration information and guides on using the portal are available on the OBD BEAD webpage. Any Internet Service Provider (ISP) potentially interested in participating in any of the anticipated 3 rounds of BEAD must complete the BEAD Pre-Qualification Process.  
  • If you have any technical questions on using the BEAD Grantor Portal, please email mnhelpdesk@ready.net.
  • The BEAD Pre-Qualification FAQ was updated with additional questions and is available to download. 
  • A video demonstration is now available to assist with using the Minnesota interactive broadband map from Connected Nation, Broadband State Programs Map. A downloadable PDF is also available as a quick-start guide, BEAD Mapping Portal Guide.

OBD weekly office hours registration

Register now for weekly office hours to hear updates on the federal BEAD program in MN, the BEAD prequalification process, and answer questions on the registration portal. Office hours are Tuesdays at 11am and run through April 1. Registration is open for the sessions below:

For any questions on office hours, please email deed.broadband@state.mn.us.

OBD 2024 annual report

The 2024 Office of Broadband Development Annual Report to the legislature was submitted on January 2025 and is available online. This report includes highlights on the 2024-year, state programs, historic mapping efforts, updates on federal grant programs, and next steps and recommendations on broadband availability in the state.

Digital Opportunity update

New digital opportunity reading materials have been published! On February 18, the Urban Institute released a new report, titled “Expanding Digital Opportunity: A Framework and Roadmap for Strengthening Digital Inclusion.” This report presents evidence-based strategies for increasing access to, adoption of, and use of digital communication technologies for all individuals and communities. These include supporting individual connectivity through subscription subsidies, low-cost or free devices, and free public Wi-Fi and mobile hotspots; protecting digital privacy; and providing clear digital training and navigation, as well as properly equipping and supporting those who train others in these skills. 

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, February meeting recap

The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband met virtually on February 13 and heard a utility panel discussion to better understand the field of aerial broadband across the state of Minnesota. The Task Force also heard updates from OBD on BEAD and Digital Opportunity, and discussed the logistics of future meetings and subgroup work moving into 2025. More information and meeting materials are available on the Broadband Task Force’s webpage.

A big thank you to the panelists who joined the meeting to share their work and expertise and join in discussion with Task Force members: Eric Clement (Manager of Grid Modernization, Minnesota Power), Mary Jo Woolf (Senior Director, Distribution Business Operations, Xcel Energy), and Ty Houglum (Vice President/CIO, East Central Energy).