Category Archives: Minnesota Advisory Task Force

OPPORTUNITY: Governor’s Task Force on Broadband seeking member applications

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I’ve posted about this before – but the deadline (April 3) is coming up and it seems like there’s a push to get the word out, which means they are waiting to hear from you!

Are you interested in serving with a group to influence broadband policy in Minnesota? Do you have time to volunteer to serve on a Task Force that will make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on digital inclusion and broadband availability across the state? Do you know someone who may be a strong advocate and representative on this topic?  The Walz/Flanagan Administration will be making appointments to the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband soon!

 

The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband was created under Executive Order 19-10 and is a multi-stakeholder body created to advise the executive and legislative branches on broadband policy, including strategies for successfully achieving the state broadband goals, comprehensive assessment of digital inclusion issues and gaps, and strategies for unlocking the benefits of universal access to broadband for all communities in Minnesota. And, the Task Force consists of fifteen members who are appointed by the Governor and have experience or interest in broadband matters. The members must represent a balance of broadband interests, including: residential and business consumers, local governments, libraries, K-12 and higher education institutions, tribal interests, healthcare, broadband providers, economic development, agriculture, rural development, workforce development, and labor interests. The Task Force meets monthly and submits an annual report no later than December 31 each year.  This appointment is through the rest of the current Governor’s Term.  To apply, see the instructions below.

To learn more or read the current Task Force’s report, please visit Broadband Task Force / Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (mn.gov).

For questions, contact the Office of Broadband Development at the MN Dept. of Employment and Economic Development at deed.broadband@state.mn.us or by calling 651-259-7610.

Applications should be submitted no later than Monday, April 3, 2023 to receive full consideration.

 

 

CURRENT VACANCIES

Governor’s Task Force On Broadband

Vacancies: 15 Seats — Member

HOW TO APPLY

Visit the Open Positions page.
Scroll down to find the correct Agency/Board/Council.
Choose the correct seat type, and click button that says APPLY
The system will walk you through creating an application profile.

Page 2 of the application will now allow you to attach the following documents:
• Letter of Interest
• Resume or Biography

Applicants are encouraged to use the online application as the Appointing Authority will have access to your information as soon as it is submitted.

Applications submitted via downloadable application may experience some delay in reaching the Appointing Authority.
Paper applications may be submitted by email to: Official.Documents@state.mn.us

or by mail or in person to:

Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State
180 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155-1299

In accordance with the Minnesota Open Appointments Law, the Secretary of State acts as an administrator in publishing vacancies, receiving applications and recording appointments. Applications will be reviewed and appointments made by the appointing authorities; questions about specific vacancies and appointments should be directed to the appointing authority. Applications are kept on file for a one-year period.

 

OPPORTUNITY: Join the MN Broadband Task Force

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I’ve posted about the opportunity before – but I’ve seen only a few folks apply. The current MN Broadband Task Force will sunset after the next meeting but the State is interested in re-starting anew later this year. They are inviting people to apply for a seat at the table now.

The Task Force meetings (mostly) monthly. The meetings have been (mostly) online since COVID. The job is to write an annual report that makes recommendations to the policymakers about how to get better broadband to everyone.

OPPORTUNITY: Seats open for next iteration of the MN Broadband Task Force

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The current Minnesota Broadband Task Force holds its last meeting this month. They meet monthly and work toward creating a report that offers recommendations to policymakers about how to expand broadband access and use in Minnesota.

Looks like the Task Force is sunsetting for just a short time. In fact, what it really looks like is that they are just opening the doors to a whole new team to apply. If you’re interested in broadband, you should consider an application. I always think they could use people who are still in the thick of need better broadband in their community.

There are 15 openings. You can check out a list of people who have applied in the past, which is often interesting. You can also see the names of current board members.

MN Broadband Task Force Feb 2023: winding down the Task Force

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The theme for the day is really winding down the Task Force. The last meeting will be in March. It sounds like applications for the next iteration of the Task Force will be make available any day now.

The expectation is that broadband funding at the legislature will be part of an agriculture omnibus, which should be made public soon. Non-funding broadband-related bills include an effort to include fixed wireless into the Border to Border grant definitions such as to define served and unserved areas. There’s also a bill to provide tax rebates for fiber purchases.

They also heard a lot about computer science in the schools.

Legislative Update by Deven Bowdry, DEED

Broadband is quiet at the broadband. DEED will put in their ask from the Governor in the next couple of weeks. It will come out as part of an omnibus bill, probably with ag. They should have been released two weeks ago but it’s been very busy.

Two industry bills introduced but neither scheduled for a meeting:

  • HF1441 – add fixed wireless to definition of served/unserved and add mapping
  • HF1792 – tax rebates for fiber purchases between 2018-2023.

Q: Do you think there will be other bills introduced?
There may be some stand alone bills looking at low density issues. But no word yet.

10:20 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Office of Broadband Development Update by Bree Maki, Executive Director

  • OBD hired a new grant administrator Mike Weimer, previously from Mille Lacs County. Looking to hire one more and some other positions.
  • Line Extension is still taking applications: so far they have 1261 applications; 1093 are homes, the rest are business
  • Border to Border grants are due March 2
  • The Task Force has one more meeting but the Governor is looking for applicants for the next Task Force
  • There is a digital inclusion are on the PBD website. We are accepting committee members for planning and there are local grants available for planning – the deadline in March 3.
  • We are working on a pre-giant RFP to get providers in the mix to get future funds
  • We are going to the regional meetings hosted by the townships.

Q: Will there be more state funding rounds this year?
Only if the budget in Leg now passes – not with federal dollars. Even the pre-plan is probably slated for next year.

Q: Is there a timeline for the next Task Force?
They should have already opened up applications but it hasn’t happened yet. They will send an email to the Task Force when it’s open

Overview of Le Sueur County Broadband Activities with Barbara Dröher Kline, Le Sueur County Broadband Initiative

  • MN is a State supervised County run system
  • Got into Blandin programming in 2018
  • Did a survey to track what was happening and to gather email addresses to keep people informed
  • 2019 – partnered with Bevcomm – county put up the money and the townships will pay back – but we can’t do that again. It leads to property tax issues
  • 2020 – we got CARES funding and became an online Blandin Broadband community. We did a lot of broadband work in 2020
  • 2021 – we were RDOF’ed. We could no longer apply for funds because LTD Broadband got dibs on federal funding through RDOF. They were not working with us. We were working with other providers.
  • We have more than 400 applicants for line extension programs.
  • We set up a map to show where we had needs. It’s a map that anyone can use.
  • We joined MAPCED and they are really working on broadband.
  • How do we get counties involved with broadband?
    Look at Blandin report.
    How do we move forward without Blandin? ILSR is doing training – maybe they are try to do it.
    How do we continue the Blandin on Broadband blog?
    Maybe County Extension can do some training? They did it years ago.
    We’re not done getting connected

Q: What questions moving forward?
We have a company that has fiber in the ground but the company was sold so the fiber is unused. We need funding at 75/25 match because it’s too expensive to deploy to the last residents.

Q: For folks who have broadband what is it like?
We have a dentist with 2 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up – so even many of out towns aren’t connected. We will be getting a lot of complaints this week for broadband and the weather. Fixed wireless is fine until the snow and ice come. Schools are doing distance learning and it will be tough.

State of Computer Science Education in Minnesota with Sarah Carter, STEM/Computer Science Integration Specialist, Minnesota Department of Education

  • Minnesota is worst for providing computer science classes
  • Schools with more money in MN have more compsci classes
  • So what is MN doing?
    Integrated computer into all classes
    Starting after school clubs et al
    There’s no compsci license in MN
    MN signed a compsci compact
    Proposing grants to deploy compsci
    Including compsci standards with the rest
    Creating resources for teachers

Current Context of Computer Science Education in Minnesota with Dr. Lana Peterson, Director of Community Engagement for the Learning + Technologies Collaborative at the University of Minnesota

  • Doing research on how to do new things
  • Kids want to learn computers – it’s a class that allows for problem solving and creative thinking
  • Local change agents are essential
  • A centralized nonprofit might be able to make change happen faster than the State

Sounds like one issue is that Minnesota had an organization that focused on computer science in the schools (TIES) and I remember they even provider Internet access to teacher across the state in the 1990s. But for many reasons, they morphed into something different and the edge they had – going back decades ago – were lost.

Public Comment, Other Business, Future Plans for March 27, 2023 Meeting, Wrap-up

 

EVENT Feb 22: MN Broadband Task Force monthly meeting

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Here’s the agenda for the Task Force meeting on Wednesday. It’s worth noting that this iteration of the Task Force is set to sunset after next month. All are welcome; also I will livestream it on Facebook…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

10:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 266 368 782 128 Passcode: CZoDEF

Video Conference ID: 118 170 225 5 Alternate VTC instructions

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Welcome, Task Force Introductions, and Approval of Minutes from January 31 meeting

10:10 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Legislative Update by Deven Bowdry, DEED

10:20 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Office of Broadband Development Update by Bree Maki, Executive Director

10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. Overview of Le Sueur County Broadband Activities with Barbara Dröher Kline, Le Sueur County Broadband Initiative

10:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Current Context of Computer Science Education in Minnesota with Dr. Lana Peterson, Director of Community Engagement for the Learning + Technologies Collaborative at the University of Minnesota

11:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. State of Computer Science Education in Minnesota with Sarah Carter, STEM/Computer Science Integration Specialist, Minnesota Department of Education

11:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. Public Comment, Other Business, Future Plans for March 27, 2023 Meeting, Wrap-u

 

MN Broadband Task Force Meeting Jan 2023 – general updates

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Today the MN Broadband Task Force met to get general updates from Office of Broadband Development and Legislature. There is clearly a concern that there are not strong advocates at the legislature despite the $276 million set in Governor’s budget. Hearing about the federal funding, it is clear that it will not come quickly but there are opportunities for local communities to get involved. For example, Region 9 is looking at hosting a broadband conference for their community.

Next meetings are Feb 22 and March 27.

Here are details.

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. – Welcome, Task Force Introductions, and Approval of Minutes from December 19 and December 22 meetings

10:05 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. – Legislative Update by Deven Bowdry, DEED

  • Governor recommendation is $138Million per year for the biennium
  • Bree and/or Teddy have presented to various Legislative committees
  • No broadband bills yet
  • Lots of new bill makers (Ecklund is gone; broadband in new committee) – so people have questions about mobile vs fiber and what speeds mean

Q: Will there be a day of the hill?
There was a one for the providers – but not others.
MN Broadband Coalition is not in a position to do a day on the hill; apparently we had a bill due but we’re trying to move forward. We need to convene a meeting. We’d like to at least have a lobby day.

10:10 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. How Can the Task Force Advocate for Broadband Funding at the Legislature? – Nathan Zacharias, Technology Policy Analyst, Association of Minnesota Counties

Tips for lobbying

  • Have a factsheet (map of availability with quick facts, available federal funds, speed goals, suggested funding level)
  • Get testimony and/or write letters
  • Work with committee chairs when you can – also vice chairs and minority leads

Q: Can we look for better than 50 percent match? Can we figure out how much of property tax is going into Border to Border funds already?
Some folks don’t have enough of a tax base to match grants.

10:40 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.  – Office of Broadband Development Update by Bree Maki, Executive Director

  • Border conference 242 people in person and 193 online (registered)
  • We heard from past three Task Force chairs
  • We will be doing a survey to see if folks want another conference knowing that we’re missing another conference planner

10:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Line Extension Program Update by Bree Maki

  • $15 million
  • People can apply online or via paper to report their unserved address
  • 856 applicants so far (in 3 months) – 53 are businesses
  • Trying to connect with providers
  • We think we have funds for about 600 line extensions

Q: Any consideration of accelerating the process?
Not with all of the other things are happening. For example some addresses may be served from recent grant recipients.

Q: Le Sueur is the project partner for this project. We have a lot of fiber in the ground but it’s middle mile. How can we as a county engage with the process? DO we need to rely on vendors? Can we get the addresses?
People have to register themselves. Getting the word out there is most important. We can’t share personal address info.

Q: Is the map available on the website?
No.

Q: Is there any thought to recommend to legislature to improve on the $5 million cap and 50 percent match?
The low density pilot project is still being tested. We reach capacity even with 50 percent match so we’re hard to push on that. There is an interest in going to a $10 million cap and it sounds like folks are talking about it. There are a lot of unknowns.
An Analysis of last year’s applications to see how much of state funding was property taxes.
Association of Townships is working on this.

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Border-to-Border Grant Program Update by Diane Wells, Deputy Director, Office of Broadband Development

  • Awarded $100M to 62 projects in December 2022 – leverage was $152M
  • Opened the latest round of grants ($42M in ARPA and $25M State), pre-applications were due Jan 19 – applications due March 2 – hope to announce awards by late Spring
  • 25-30 projects are still open
  • BEAD funding – working with $5M planning grant. Five year plan due July 2023. Each state will receive at least $100M. Goals: 1: reach unserved, reach unserved, get Gig to anchor institutes. Some indication that we might get $650M total (so another extra $550M; we should know mid-June.)
  • First 20 percent of funding might not be released until mid-2024. There will be 4-years for implementation.

Q: ON the maps … just heard there were one million locations added to maps? Has Connected Nation been able to see anomalies? I know of locations that are misrepresented.
Availability of service is best known by person at that location. So we asked folks to report anomalies. The FCC used a fabric developed by Costquest – one option we have is to use them to try to sync with them or we have decided to work with local source to build a map. That will help us challenge. Some providers have reported to the FCC using different methods. Without the fabric in place first, we’re at a disadvantage. We didn’t do a bulk challenges of addresses but it looks like those who did were rejected.

Q: In Le Sueur we made a push to improved maps – but we’re having trouble even getting surveys done online because the broadband is poor.
The OBD staff is all remote and many rural – they are acutely aware of issues. We hope to get more engaged to document in five year plan.

11:10 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.                Break

11:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Digital Equity Update – Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, Office of Broadband Development

  • Digital Equity Act – not BEAD – Due Nov 30, 2023 – then we send in a noncompete application.
  • There are 15 aspects we need to address in the capacity grant application.
  • There are opportunities for communities to get involved and for communities to get funding to get involved.

11:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Input from Governor’s Task Force Members

Q: What can we do to push the issue at the legislature?
We could be at the legislature. Talk to legislators.

11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Public Comment, Other Business, Future Speakers for February 22 and March 27, 2023 Meetings, Wrap-up

EVENT Jan 31: MN Broadband Task Force

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Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
 Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 242 404 479 485
Passcode: uwn3VA
Video Conference ID: 116 345 427 6

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. – Welcome, Task Force Introductions, and Approval of Minutes from December 19 and December 22 meetings

10:05 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. – Legislative Update by Deven Bowdry, DEED

10:10 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. How Can the Task Force Advocate for Broadband Funding at the Legislature? – Nathan Zacharias, Technology Policy Analyst, Association of Minnesota Counties

10:40 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.  – Office of Broadband Development Update by Bree Maki, Executive Director

10:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Line Extension Program Update by Bree Maki

  • About the Program
  • Submissions so far with hot spots
  • Timeline

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Border-to-Border Grant Program Update by Diane Wells, Deputy Director, Office of Broadband Development

  • Past Round and Future Round updates – where at with both grant rounds
  • Money given out and future money coming from NTIA
  • Low-Density Pilot Program

11:10 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.                Break

11:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Digital Equity Update – Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, Office of Broadband Development

11:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Input from Governor’s Task Force Members

11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Public Comment, Other Business, Future Speakers for February 22 and March 27, 2023 Meetings, Wrap-up

 

MN Broadband Task Force Report 2022: State should invest in broadband!

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The Minnesota Broadband Task Force Report 2022 is out. The chair of the Task Force Teddy Bekele presented it to the MN House Agriculture Finance and Policy committee meeting today (Jan 17, 2023).

They have recommended annual funding for the Border to Border grants through 2026 to meet the speed goals of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. According to the chart (show below) the cost to the State would be $273,784,250 per biennial (for two years, which is the legislative cycle) if the grant match continues to be 50 percent. That number increases to $569,773,625 with a 75 percent match.

They have also recommended that the cap per award be lifted from $5 million to $8 million to allow for larger projects and cover the increasing cost to reach the households that are hardest to reach.

The other recommendations include:

  • Mapping
  • Affordability
  • Adoption Goals
  • Usage and Navigation

Details are included in the report.

MN House Agriculture Finance and Policy hear about broadband and see the 2022 Broadband Task Force Report

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Today the MN House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee heard presentations by the Office of Broadband Development and an overview of the Governor’s Broadband Task Force Annual Report. (You can access a better video archive of the meeting on the MN House site.)

Bree Maki spoke on what’s happening with the Office of Broadband Development. Teddy Bekele spoke about the work of the MN Broadband Task Force and their most recent annual report.

Here are the questions for the Office of Broadband Development

Q: how did you leverage federal funds?
A: With line extension and low population. We’ve always used MN funds in the past. There is an opportunity to use more federal funds. WE don’t know the allocation yet.

Q: Do we need legislation to allow better than 50 percent match?
A: yes

Q: Line extension is designed for unserved – how can they get online to register?
A: We accept paper applications and posting in local papers. WE has 540 applicants at the end of 2022.

Q: Digital equity goal is thrive – who judges?
A: WE need people to be able to use technology. We are looking to partner with folks who are doing the work.

Q: WE have $167 million to broadband to invest … how much business can the industry handle that?
A: We have providers who have been working with communities for years. They know the needs; they are ready. And rumor has it, the supply chain is opening up.

Q: Do you have numbers on grants and manufactured home communities?
A: no. But we recognize the importance.

Q: Is there a special plans for reaching manufactured home parks?
A: We are trying to be inclusive. WE have brought housing authorities into our plan.

Q: There are 540 line extension applications – how are they prioritized?
A: WE do a review every 6 months and try to match applicants with willing providers.

Q: Broadband in rural areas can be expensive  … wouldn’t satellite be a better option? I know there’s a long waiting list. Can we help people jump the queue?
A: We are technology neutral.

Q: What about metro areas? How do you reach low income neighborhoods? In a rural area I saw broadband get deployed in an Amish area and they’ll never use it. So how about urban areas?
A: We are trying to get a gauge on better maps. We do state mapping and there’s an FCC map.

For the Task Force

Q: what’s the makeup of the Task Force?
A: it is selected by the Governor and they try to keep it diverse.

Q: What about the 50 percent match? What would be a better match?
A: We’d like to give latitude to the OBD to make the judgement on a case by case basis.

Q: Are we past the turf war battle?
A: Minnesota is big with collaboration, including cooperatives. So there are more than the traditional options. It takes us all to work together. Yes there is opportunity for competitive markets.

MN Broadband Task Force Dec 2022: Reviewing Draft Annual Report: Next meeting Dec 22

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The Task Force went through the draft annual report. When they group met in person there was always a public copy of any draft made available. That’s not the case online – but I was able to screenshot the pages as they discussed them.

There are a few practical issue that seem to be sticky wickets: changing the 50 percent match requirement to allow entities to apply for a greater portion of their budget and the $5 million cap on grants. It seems as if they may be able to recommend removing a cap but not suggesting an amount this year. Also there seemed to be interest in reducing percentage of match required from applicant.

The Task Force is continuing this meeting Thursday at 10am to finalize change so there may be more info then. Also, we were reminded that the Task Force is disbanding in April 2023.

Welcome, Task Force Introductions, and Approval of Minutes from November 17, 2022 meeting

 

Welcome to Barbara Droher Kline

Barb grew up in MN; moved to Oakland and worked in child protection and became a county coroner. Moved back in early 1990s. Worked to change use of property taxes. Is great community activist and mental health advocate. We moved back home; I ran for office. I door knocked and heard a lot of broadband. I worked with the Blandin Foundation. It’s challenging to get things done with grants. CAF 2 funding in the area has not been spent. RDOF maps have made us ineligible for funding. But we keep communication going.

Comments on report:

  • Concerned about challenge process at local level. Counties that have been challenged should be able to speak.
  • Concerned about RDOF – it’s more than the lose of funding – it’s lost of opportunity and we have doubts that the money would have been well spent.

Office of Broadband Development Update, Bree Maki, Executive Director

  • Announced the $100 million in grants that went out 2 weeks ago
  • We will open next round of funding today
  • Working on kick off even on January 25 in Prior Lake
  • Line Extension funding applications is open 400+ applications
  • Encourage people to check out the FCC map

Q: Will ODB challenge the FCC maps? Seems onerous for residents to have to do the work.
A: We have a lot going out and that has been challenging to out ability to lead the challenge. We are working at MNGEO. We have our provider map. If you challenge our maps, your best bet is to challenge the FCC maps because we don’t have a deadline for challenging the MN Maps but there is a deadline to challenge the FCC map and that’s Jan 13.
OBD has encouraged involvement but a decision is still being made at the State. There are some legal ramifications to the specific dates.

A: The challenges to the FCC maps submitted by Jan 13 will impact the funding allocations. But apparently only the broadband availability challenges – not location challenges will be considered. You can challenge after Jan 13 but that will not impact BEAD funding allocation announced on June 30, 2023. After June 30, groups (such as OBD or a provider) can challenge at that point too.

Q: I don’t think this is a role for OBD but a role for the Governor as well as an opportunity to talk with Congressional folks.

Q: There are 471 line extension applications – is that from providers or residents?
A: The homeowner has to apply.

Part One of Final Report Scott Cole, Collectivity

A public copy of the draft report was not made available. But I was able to do screenshots of the pages shared/discussed during the meeting.

Q: In executive summary – let’s not speak as if this is going to be one-time funding.

Q: Legislators need to understand that there are areas (such as counties) that do not qualify for all funding
Q: In Key Challenges:

  • we need to mention that RDOF funding isn’t going away but will be redistributed through BEAD
    Another member wonder where that info comes from
    Tom Karst winders where that comes from and is under the belief that RDOF funds will stay with RDOF
    Really meant that since RDOF proposed recipient is no longer qualified those areas are now able to qualify for other funding.
  • permitting is a top concern – let’s prioritize i
  • Can we emphasize the fact that we feel behind when we lost a season of grants
  • This is a good place to remind folks that federal funding is complicated and not available to everyone
  • Do we mentioned the 60 percent match anywhere? That’s really important in rural areas
    Scott will share notes from small group that apparently explain why 50 percent match is not covered

Q: Key Challenges – Mapping

  • Need to emphasize the lack of capacity in some areas to address potential funding
  • 2.4 – Jaune 30, 3023 is the date that NTIA is saying they will make allocations
  • Counties and township need help with more than mapping Le Sueur was lucky to have Blandin but many counties don’t have that
    Folks were interested in expanding the American Connection Corp (sponsored by Land o Lakes)

Q: Key Challenges – Affordability – We need to mention multi-unit dwelling – there are areas where people spend more on broadband than subsidized rent.

Q: Key Challenges – Use & Navigation – will be using term training instead of literacy since literacy could be pejorative – then decided that skills would be better term

Q: Recommendation – Funding Goals

  • Can we add a discussion on 50 percent match? Piecemeal planning is difficult
    We need to address this sooner rather than later
  • Can we address the issue of challenge increase and how detrimental it is to the community to when a few homes (or even 100) are removed from a project because of a challenge.
    This will have to keep until 2023
  • The $5 million cap is removed – do we want to recommend a new cap?
    We can recommend that the pilot test (now in place) to become permanent
    Can we modify the legislation? This is too limited
    What if we said $8 million? It feels like a double hit to the fund if we remove the 50 percent match and remove cap.
    NTIA talks about 75 percent match – but unless something changes in the State we’ll be beholden to the 50 percent match
  • Should we craft new text
    That would take time and we’re running out
    We could keep this loose and give OBD the flexibility
    We need to do it now – this has been put off for too long
    The Task Force is disbanded in April, we could take this on before then

Recommendations – Adoption Goals

  • why are we bringing up American Connection Corp on two slides?
    Because they address two issues
    Allude to first mention instead of second mention

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Update, Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Public Comment, Other Business, Future Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

Next meeting will be Thursday 10am – it’s actually a continuation of this meeting so that they don’t need to worry about open meeting laws such as posting a public notice (and presumably link) to the meeting 24 hours before the meeting.

Barbara Dröher Kline is newest addition to MN Governor’s Task Force On Broadband

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Big news for broadband advocates, there’s a new member of the MN Broadband Task Force…

Barbara Dröher Kline – New Prague, MN

Governor’s Task Force On Broadband

Member

Effective: November 28, 2022

Term Expires: April 2, 2023

Replacing: Bernadine Joselyn

Barbara is an excellent addition to the Task Force. She has lived on the wrong end of the digital divide quite recently and still has the fire to want to make it better for everyone in her community. She has the drive, the experience and the expertise to make a difference.

MN Broadband Task Force Nov 2022: Workshopping the report draft: reliability and costs

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Today the Task Force went through drafts of their annual report. As much as possible, I have screen shots of the draft (in PPT form), which is really last year’s version with some updates. Then I have the documents they used to discuss the challenges and recommendations made by both sub-groups Affordability and Adoption Sub-Group AND Funding, Mapping and Usage Sub-Group. The screenshots of a Google Docs are really where the beef is.

The was discussion on consumer perception of broadband reliability with a leaning toward making sure that the provider perspective was understood as well. That very the problem isn’t with the connection but with the user and/or user equipment. There was also discussion about trying to come up with a cost to bring broadband to everyone in Minnesota. The average cost per household was penciled in as $9300. That is not far off previous numbers; I suspect it’s hard to anticipate shortages, price increases and natural barriers in reaching the last households. Also folks were wondering if broadband meant wired solutions only.

There was also an update from the Office of Broadband Development. They are currently hiring two grants managers and are looking at hiring more positions soon.

Full notes Continue reading →

EVENT Nov 17: MN Broadband Task Force monthly meeting

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I will be livestreaming on Facebook, but all are welcome to attend the meeting directly…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Thursday, November 17, 2022

10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Microsoft Teams meeting

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Meeting ID: 211 376 886 577
Passcode: GaoY7A

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mn@m.webex.com

Video Conference ID: 118 214 531 6

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+1 651-395-7448,,631853343#   United States, St. Paul

Phone Conference ID: 631 853 343#

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10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.                Welcome, Task Force Introductions, and Approval of Minutes from October 24, 2022 meeting

10:05 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.  Office of Broadband Development Update Bree Maki, Executive Director

10:10 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.  Walk Thru of Draft Report Scott Cole, Collectivity

10:20 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Affordability and Adoption Sub-Group

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Break

11:10 a.m. – 11:50 p.m. Funding, Mapping and Usage Sub-Group

11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Update

Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

12:00 p.m. – 12:05 p.m. Public Comment, Other Business, December 19, 2022 Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

MN Broadband Task Force Oct 2022 Notes: BEAD

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The Broadband Task Force gathered today on site and online. They heard from the NTIA Minnesota contact about how to prepare for BEAD funding. They also got updates from the subcommittees on recommendations for the annual report. The mapping committee shared an interesting chart details costs to get broadband to everyone and impact the various potential funding sources could have to contributing to that investment. Although it wasn’t clear whether they were looking at speeds of 25/3 or 100/20. They changed the label of the table but not clear whether the numbers given looked at the slower of faster speeds.

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EVENT Oct 24: Minnesota Broadband Task Force

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Happening tomorrow … I will be livestreaming it on Facebook …

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
Monday, October 24, 2022
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Land O’Lakes
1150 County Road F West
Arden Hills, MN 55112
Park in North Parking Lot near Visitor Entrance – Building C Main Entrance
Room C2-217

OR Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting URL: https://landolakes.zoom.us/j/91861197956?pwd=aWxuZDdxVzhMWXBoMFJXTENCS3dRUT09&from=addon
Meeting ID: 918 6119 7956
Passcode: 0J9DrpCr

  • 10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Welcome, Task Force Introductions, Attendee Introductions and Approval of Minutes from September 29, 2022 meeting
  • 10:05 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. NTIA Grants (BEAD and Digital Equity) and role of Task Force in Plan Preparation
    Tom Karst, Federal Program Officer, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth
  • 10:35 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Effects of Broadband Grants on Businesses and Townships
    Pete Johnson, Supervisor of Sunrise Township
  • 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Break
  • 11:15 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. Affordability and Adoption Sub-Group
  • 11:40 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Funding, Mapping and Usage Sub-Group
  • 12:05 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Update
    Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
  • 12:15 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. Public Comment, Other Business, November 17 Meeting Plans, Wrap-u