Category Archives: Minnesota Advisory Task Force

Loss of federal Library Funding could impact digital adoption in rural areas

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NDIA (National Digital Inclusion Alliance reports…

Since 2020, the digital navigator model has spread like wildfire. Programs with trusted guides who assist community members with ongoing, individualized support for accessing affordable and appropriate connectivity, devices, and digital skills are now in hundreds of communities across the U.S.

Thirty-nine states and territories included digital navigator programs in their state/territory digital equity/opportunity plans, many of whom included libraries as key community partners.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is one of the reasons this model was developed and went to scale so quickly. Just yesterday, staff at the Institute for Museum and Library Services were placed on leave, meaning there are no staff to manage current grants.

Digital Navigation was one of the priorities mentioned by the MN Broadband Task Force in their latest report…

Support Digital Literacy: Standardize digital literacy definitions across agencies and fund Digital Navigators for anchor institutions to teach digital skills and connect residents to resources. Create a searchable digital literacy resource directory available in multiple languages and accessible formats. Provide greater opportunities for partner organizations to build capacity, and work to strengthen existing relationships.

The NDIA talks about the loss of IMLS federal funding and the potential impact on rural libraries and communities…

Most public libraries are primarily funded by city and county taxes. Small and rural libraries with limited local funding will feel the loss of their IMLS grants the hardest. Losing millions of dollars in grant funds from IMLS will drastically impact the ability of these anchor institutions to deliver critically needed services for their community members–from getting people online to teaching them the skills they need to support workforce development, education, and telehealth.

MN Broadband Task Force meeting March 2025: presentation from DNR and updates

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The MN Broadband Task Force met today. They gave Diane Wells a nice send off. The also heard from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on rights of way and permitting processes and issues.

Notes and PPTs: Continue reading →

MN Broadband Task Force Meeting February 2024 (Pole Attachments)

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The MN Broabdand Task Force met today. They got a very quick update on what is happening with the Office of Broadband Development. Then a panel of broadband and power providers on pole attachments. It was an interesting look at the pole attachment process and cost from the provider perspective. Also, a very quick update on MN Legislature. A reminder that there’s no funding for broadband but no updates on broadband-related bills that have been introduced.

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.               Welcome
Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
10:05 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.               Approval of minutes from January Task Force Meeting

10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.               Minnesota Legislative Updates

  • Governor released budget – broadband is not in the budget
  • Total general request from DEED was $1.5 million/year
  • Folks are still interested in broadband

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.               Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates
Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD

  • Jenn Frost is new Federal In-State Manager. Congrats!
  • Hiring for new jobs
  • OBD presented to House and Senate – Task Force may also be invited to present
  • Still working on grant closeouts
  • Planning site visits
  • NTIA cancelled state broadband conference last week.
  • Holds on funding will impact on the providers.
  • Digital Equity continues to work on RFP
  • They have weekly office hours for BEAD
  • BEAD eligibility list is up on website
  • Pre-qualification closes Feb 27

Questions:

  • Any details on the meeting on the Hill?
    Folks are concerned with federal dollars. The legislature is looking at compliance.

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.               Pole Owner Panel Discussion
Background and overview of approaches to setting pole attachment rates as pole owners and open up for discussion from Task Force members on implications of this on the federal BEAD program.
Eric Clement, Manager of Grid Modernization, Minnesota Power
Mary Jo Woolf, Senior Director, Distribution Business Operations, Xcel Energy
Ty Houglum, Vice President/CIO, East Central Energy

Questions:

  • With all of the requirements of pole attachments – make ready seems to be a big hurdle. What does that mean in term of costs?
    Making the pole ready for an attachment, we first look at last person to attached to see if damage happened. They call them cost causers. If it’s a pole we’ve identified as needing replacement, we cover the cost.
    We have replaced 2200 poles (2 per mile) in our project.
  • How does weather impact your work?
    Heavily weighted to construction months (May-November) but we do work most of the year. Temperatures below zero are most difficult. We do work all year round because we are so busy.
  • Pole attachment agreement fees have been an issue for many years. Broadband providers have said this is a barrier to coming into rural areas. We had a project fail in Southern MN because of pole attachment. Every dollar spent on make-ready means a dollar less on fiber.  And we work with pole owners who have done no maintenance on their poles.
  • The Task Force is almost entirely unaware of the issue. Typically we look at issues and then bring them to the Governor’s office.
  • We cover rural areas. Crossing the road usually measures 15ft 6in; providers design for minimum but really we need to education them to make room for any equipment.
    Is overhead always the answer? Maybe not. But in some areas, it’s too expensive to bury it.
  • Make ready cost for cable providers is biggest concern. It’s why most have gone underground.
  • If it’s a power supply issue or simple maintenance (like overgrowing weeds) – we can take of that because we’re the pole owner.

11:40a.m.—12:00 p.m.                 Other business: Feedback on future meetings, Task Force subgroup topic considerations for 2025, March Meeting Plans, and Wrap-up

  • Meetings are virtual for the time being; seems better for the technology.
  • Looking for future topics and speakers, send any suggestions.
  • The goal for the Task Force is to listen for first 6 months, then focus on report.
  • Looking at subgroups we used last year. An email will go out for feedback on that format.

No questions.

EVENT Feb 13: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting Feb 13, 2025

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Here’s the agenda for the next meeting…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
February 13, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 237 262 132 670
Passcode: Fw7TN3E7
Dial in by phone
+1 651-395-7448,,979854165# United States, Minneapolis Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 979 854 165#
Join on a video conferencing device
Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com
Video ID: 113 936 924 5
More info
For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in PIN
10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.               Welcome
Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
10:05 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.               Approval of minutes from January Task Force Meeting
10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.               Minnesota Legislative Updates
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.               Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates
Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD
Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD
Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.               Pole Owner Panel Discussion
Background and overview of approaches to setting pole attachment rates as pole owners and open up for discussion from Task Force members on implications of this on the federal BEAD program.
Eric Clement, Manager of Grid Modernization, Minnesota Power
Mary Jo Woolf, Senior Director, Distribution Business Operations, Xcel Energy
Ty Houglum, Vice President/CIO, East Central Energy
11:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.               Break
11:40a.m.—12:00 p.m.                 Other business: Feedback on future meetings, Task Force subgroup topic considerations for 2025, March Meeting Plans, and Wrap-up

Broadband Matters OBD Updates Jan 30, 2025: Pre-Qualification Portal is Open – Task Force meets Feb 13

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From the MN Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • BEAD updates + Pre-Qualification portal now open!
  • OBD weekly office hours registration
  • Digital Opportunity update
  • Broadband Task Force, February meeting plans
  • OBD is hiring – Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator

BEAD updates + Pre-Qualification portal now open!

The Office of Broadband Development would like take a moment to acknowledge the current uncertainty in working with federal partners. The team remains committed to moving forward with the work given to us by the Minnesota Legislature, and to follow current guidelines administering federal programs, on behalf of all Minnesotans

Updates and additional resources on the federal BEAD program in Minnesota available on OBD’s BEAD webpage include:  

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 will be Tuesdays at 11am and run through April 1. Registration is open for the sessions below:

Please email deed.broadband@state.mn.us with questions on the webinar or office hours.

Digital Opportunity update

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) recently released a new report titled The State of Digital Inclusion in the States. This report offers a comprehensive assessment and celebration of states’ digital opportunity work across six areas. Rather than looking only at state broadband offices, this research takes a broad approach, incorporating digital opportunity work occurring across state agencies. Minnesota is highlighted in the areas of affordability/adoption and data – OBD appreciates these efforts immensely as we all work toward a connected Minnesota. 

Broadband Task Force, February meeting plans

The Broadband Task Force will be meeting on Thursday February 13 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.

OBD is hiring – Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator

Apply by February 7, 2025 for the Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator position. This position is responsible for overseeing and coordinating professional program coordination for DEED’s state and federally funded broadband grant projects. Key duties include providing coordination, consultation, training, and technical guidance, as well as ensuring compliance with state and federal permitting laws and land use policies.

Find more information on the position and the application here: State Program Administrator Coordinator – Broadband Environmental/Land Use Coordinator – Job ID 83472

MN 2024 Broadband Task Force report: Affordability and Digital Equity , Economic Opportunity and Workforce Development and Mapping, Policy, and Funding

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The Minnesota 2024 Broadband Task Force report is available on the Office of Broadband Development site. From the letter from the chair…

While Minnesota has made significant progress toward expanding broadband access, challenges persist. More than 162,000 households lack access to basic broadband speeds of 25/3 Mbps, and an additional 229,000 remain underserved without access to 100/20 Mbps speeds. With the discontinuation of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), nearly 245,000 low-income households risk losing essential access to high-speed internet, further exacerbating the digital divide. Workforce shortages, permitting delays, and policy gaps, including the lack of sales tax exemptions for broadband materials, are compounding these challenges, particularly in rural areas where deployment costs are highest.

The recommendations in this report outline a clear path forward to ensure equitable broadband access across Minnesota. Key actions include reinstating a program similar to the ACP, supporting local workforce training initiatives, streamlining permitting processes, and addressing funding gaps to meet the state’s broadband goals by 2026. Sustaining and expanding programs like the Line Extension Connection Program will ensure that no community is left behind in this critical effort.

From the executive summary…

To address these critical challenges, the Task Force urges the Governor and Legislature to act on the following priorities:

Affordability and Digital Equity

  • Reinstate a Program Similar to ACP: Develop a statewide program or advocate for federal solutions to provide affordable broadband access, targeting low-income households.
  • Modernize Federal Lifeline Benefits: Support reform to increase the Lifeline subsidy to match ACP levels—$30 for most households and $75 for those on Tribal lands.
  • Support Digital Literacy: Standardize digital literacy definitions across agencies and fund Digital Navigators for anchor institutions to teach digital skills and connect residents to resources. Create a searchable digital literacy resource directory available in multiple languages and accessible formats. Provide greater opportunities for partner organizations to build capacity, and work to strengthen existing relationships.

Economic Opportunity and Workforce Development

  • Build Local Training Pipelines: Invest in programs through DEED to train broadband technicians, splicers, and engineers, focusing on local talent development.
  • Incentivize Best Practices: Encourage grant recipients to implement workforce best practices outlined in Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116J.395, ensuring jobs created are family-supporting with fair wages and benefits.
  • Promote K-12 and Higher Education Collaboration: Develop Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs with Minnesota schools and colleges to address broadband labor shortages.

Mapping, Policy, and Funding

  • Support Statewide Mapping: Fund ongoing mapping initiatives to ensure accuracy in identifying unserved and underserved areas. Conduct a post-BEAD evaluation to measure program success and remaining gaps.

  • Address Sales Tax Barriers: Enact legislation clarifying that broadband materials (fiber and conduit) qualify for sales tax exemption, reducing costs for high-speed deployment.

  • Sustain the Line Extension Program: Provide continued funding in 2025 to connect smaller groups or individual homes, avoiding project delays as BEAD funding rolls out.

  • Expand Local Capacity: Establish a fund for local governments and nonprofits to hire digital prosperity experts. These experts would assist with broadband planning, grant applications, and outreach in underserved communities.

They did a cost analysis of a few broadband development scenarios…

CTC Technology and Energy, a consulting firm who has performed similar analysis for other states, was selected to complete the cost-gap analysis. CTC used CostQuest data, NTIA data, and data from OBD’s past state Border to-Border and Line Extension Connection Program grant rounds to perform a set of cost modeling exercises. CTC’s findings were:  1) to cover every location in Minnesota with fiber would require $2.08 Billion in funding;  2) to reach all BEAD-eligible locations with the state’s allocated funding of $628 Million, the optimal technology mix is 90.8% fiber, 0.7% fixed wireless, and 8.5% satellite.7 Further, CTC found that an “incumbent expansion” model scenario results in less required funding than new entrants, largely due to incumbent cost benefits around existing network infrastructure, pole attachments, existing conduit, etc. CTC’s analysis also determined that there are small numbers of extremely remote and high cost areas that may require up-to $64,000 in funding per location.

They look at a Blandin report from 2017 that  looked at impact of public investment in broadband on the local economy and more.

MN Broadband Task Force Jan 2025: unveiling the MN broadband annual task report

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The MN Broadband Task Fore met to discuss the annual report. Unfortunately, the audio was not good for the first half of the meeting. I’ve done the best I can to follow the conversation. It looks like they got three legislators to attend the meeting; one attended remotely.

There was a quick update on the upcoming legislative session, which is very unsettled as the makeup of the legislature is still being decided.

Agenda (I’ve posted any slides below.) Continue reading →

EVENT Jan 13: MN Broadband Task Force Jan 2025 meeting

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From the

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Monday January 13, 2025

10:00 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.

Centennial Office Building, Ladyslipper room

658 Cedar St.

Saint Paul, MN 55155

OR

Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 223 569 996 305

Passcode: BL7Uq3EW

Dial in by phone +1 651-395-7448,,517724186# United States, Minneapolis Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 517 724 186#

Join on a video conferencing device Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com

Video ID: 118 751 942 5 More info For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in PIN

Agenda

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Welcome

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

10:05 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Task Force Annual Report and Legislative updates with State Representatives

Senator Putnam, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development

Representative Anderson, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development

Representative Hansen, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Approval of minutes from December 2024 Task Force Meeting

11:05 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates

Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD

Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD

Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Legislative update for 2025

12:00 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. Other Business, Feedback on 2024, February 2025 Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

EVENT Jan 13: MN Broadband Task Force January meeting

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Information on MN Broadband Task Force January meeting

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Monday January 13, 2025

10:00 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.

Centennial Office Building, Ladyslipper room

658 Cedar St.

Saint Paul, MN 55155

OR

Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 223 569 996 305

Passcode: BL7Uq3EW

Dial in by phone +1 651-395-7448,,517724186# United States, Minneapolis Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 517 724 186#

Join on a video conferencing device Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com

Video ID: 118 751 942 5 More info For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in P

  • 10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Welcome
    Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
  • 10:05 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Task Force Annual Report and Legislative updates with State Representatives
    Senator Putnam, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development
    Representative Anderson, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development
    Representative Hansen, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development
  • 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Break
  • 11:00 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Approval of minutes from December 2024 Task Force Meeting
  • 11:05 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates
  • Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD
  • Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD
  • Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD
  • 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Legislative update for 2025
  • 12:00 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. Other Business, Feedback on 2024, February 2025 Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

MN Broadband Task Force December meeting: cost scenarios for investing BEAD money in MN

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Today the Task Force heard a Presentation on MN Broadband Cost Analysis Report, CTC Technology & Energy. They created three scenarios of how to spend the BEAD money.

  • Wireless access to 100/20 (MN broadband Speed goal): Grant funds required: $2.1 Billion
  • Wireless access to 25/3 (BEAD standard) : Grant funds required: $1.1 Billion
  • BEAD coverage: Grant funds required: $628 million

More slides available below…

The expound on the middle scenario…

“The optimal technology mix model to reach the BEAD-eligible unserved + underserved locations, assuming the most-likely, conservative costs (Cable Expansion scenario) and the state’s $628M BEAD allocation, is 90.8% fiber, 0.7% fixed wireless, and 8.5% satellite.” But they are saying that’s 0.4% of households in MN.

Also, the task force went through the latest (last?) iteration of their annual report. I have tried to capture screenshots of the report ASIS – but it’s difficult.

Continue reading →

MN Broadband Task Force Nov 2024: line extension, BEAD updates and annual report preview

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The Broadband Task Force got updates from the Office of Broadband Development, including an in depth report on the Line Extension programs as they distribute their Round 3 funding.

Also the Task Force members were able to see and react to the annual Task Force report. Here are paraphrased recommendations:

Affordability Recommendations:

  • Digital literacy – a searchable directory online and printed of resources
  • Grant funding that addresses access, should also have funding for barriers (list of barriers includes childcare, language …)
  • Use social services and libraries to reach people and fund more digital literacy advocates
  • Looked at Northstar Digital Literacy Standards – we want a version of it

Economic Opportunity Recommendations:

  • Reestablish ACP or similar
  • Authorize research on economic impact of digital exclusion (like Blandin did in the past)
  • Ensure market creates family-supporting jobs
  • Digital job straining through DEED
  • Work with MN high ed institutes to develop digital training for k-12

Mapping, Policy & Funding Recommendations:

  • Continue monitoring investments in broadband
  • Post- BEAD evaluation
  • Evaluate success toward meeting 2026 MN speed goals
  • Recommend funding Line Extension in 2025
  • Promote Line Extension
  • Continue mapping

Here are more compete notes: Continue reading →

EVENT Nov 26: MN Broadband Task Force November meeting

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Tuesday November 26, 2024

10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

 

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

180 E 5th St Suite 1200

St Paul MN 55101

OR

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

[More detail below]

 

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 October 21, 2024 Task Force Meeting

10:15 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.               Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates

Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD

Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD

Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD

10:35a.m. – 11:00 a.m.                 Line Extension Program updates  Jennifer Frost, Broadband Grants Supervisor, OBD

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.               Break

11:10 a.m.—12:20 p.m.                Task Force review of annual report first draft

12:20 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.               Other Business, December Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

MN Broadband Task Force October Notes

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The MN Broadband Task Force met in October. I wasn’t able to make it but I got handouts from the Office of Broadband Development website and happened to be in a meeting where Diane Wells gave an OBD update, similar to what she would have given at the meeting. (I will add the minutes from OBD when they post them.)

Here’s the agenda with information I have plugged into the right space:

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 September 24th, 2024, Task Force Meeting

10:15 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates
Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD
Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD
Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD

[Again this following is a presentation Diane Wells gave two days after the TF meeting so likely to be very similar.]

Round 10 Grants were Announced:

  • 40 applications 18 awarded for Border to Border
  • 27 applications 8 awarded for Lower Population Density awards

Line Extension Update

  • $13 million requests for $7.5 million of funding. Providers tried to group requests to get Line Extension to make best use of funding available.
  • They will announce locations by county once awardees have been informed.

Staffing updates:

  • Hired new staff.
  • Will be hiring a permitting person soon.

BEAD Update

  • Finished with Adjudication; working to finalize data then will go to NTIA. NTIA may take a couple of months.
  • We need work with NTIA liaison to submit final program Oct 3, 2025.
  • If final proposal is approved – then the contracting can begin. But that timing may not suit MN weather – given 4 year deadline
  • Looking for new grant management system with better reporting facilities

Questions:

  • We should get providers to apply for BEAD. They need to apply on portal for pre-qualification?
    Yes.
  • The end goal is to get funding to places that need it. So we’re working on updating the maps and getting the information out. But they definitely don’t want to fund in an area that is now being served. So they’re doing their best to keep maps updated.
  • The focus is on unserved over underserved due to BEAD rules.
  • Will you look at geographic diversity?
    That’s not a federal focus.
  • There are providers that say they won’t participate. Their backbones are located near unserved areas. Can we find a way to flag those areas or work around the non-participants?
    Yes – through other funds such as Line Extension.
  • Any news on broadband tech assistance grants?
    Haven’t heard anything. No plans for ReConnect for a while – at least 2 years.

10:35a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Presentation from Connected Nation
A non-profit organization that works nationally, and in Minnesota, with the mission to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand the access, adoption, and use of high-speed internet and its related technologies.
Wes Kerr, Director of Community Solutions

 

11:05 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Break

11:15 a.m.—12:20 p.m. Work time for subgroups on annual report draft
Affordability & Digital Equity
Economic Opportunity & Work Force Development
Mapping, Funding, and Policy

12:20 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Other Business, November 26th Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

Office of Broadband Development Updates: Task Force Meeting notes

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • BEAD updates + resources
  • Updates from NTIA on available funds for Tribal Nations
  • Digital Opportunity Update
  • Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, October meeting recap

BEAD updates + resources

Recent updates and resources for the federal BEAD program in Minnesota include:

  • Minnesota’s BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 was officially approved by NTIA on October 3, 2024 which starts the 365-day shot clock for the submission of Minnesota’s Final Proposal by October 3, 2025.
  • The BEAD Challenge process has concluded with OBD completing the adjudication phase. The data is now being reviewed for accuracy and formatted per NTIA guidelines before being submitted to NTIA for approval. OBD anticipates submitting the final list of BEAD eligible locations by late November/early December 2024.
  • OBD is also working to establish a Grants Management System for the BEAD program. When that system is available, a prequalification process will be established where interested applicants can submit specified documentation to support their financial, managerial, technical and operational capacity to participate in the BEAD program as a subgrantee. OBD hopes to implement the prequalification process by January 2025.
  • Upon NTIA’s approval of the final list of BEAD eligible locations (NTIA’s timeline is unknown but anticipated by March 2025), OBD will issue a Request for Proposal for the BEAD grant application rounds. The first round (11a) will be focused on fiber projects and applicants will be able to select their own project area. For BEAD subgrantee selection rounds 2 and 3 (Rounds 11b and 11c), NTIA is requiring that OBD establish the project areas for which an application can be submitted. Rounds 11b and 11c will also include consideration of alternative technologies (coax, fixed wireless, satellite) per NTIA’s requirements.
  • To meet the deadline for submission of the Final Proposal by October 3, 2025, including meeting with NTIA, notifying the provisionally selected subgrantees 14 days after that meeting, and then a 30 day public comment period, the three rounds of subgrantee selection are anticipated to occur between March and early August 2025.
  • The BEAD FAQ was updated 10/16 and is available online here, as well as a downloadable PDF.

Updates from NTIA on available funds for Tribal Nations

NTIA opened the application window for the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program for Native Entities on September 25, accepting applications from eligible tribes and other Native entities through February 7, 2025. Visit NTIA’s website to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity and locate other applicant resources. NTIA will also host webinars to provide application guidance. Links to register are available below:

Digital Opportunity Updates

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) has opened applications for local government units to be recognized as Digital Inclusion Trailblazers. Digital Inclusion Trailblazers are municipal, county, or regional governments that are paving the way and providing excellent models for digitally inclusive communities, demonstrating how local governments can support their own digital inclusion ecosystems. Each year, NDIA honors Trailblazers at its Net Inclusion conference.

Applications are due November 1. See NDIA’s website for more information.

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, October meeting recap

The Governor’s Task Force met at the DEED Headquarters in St. Paul, MN on Monday October 21, 2024. The Task Force heard from presenter Connected Nation on mapping updates in Minnesota, and more on the processes of the BEAD Challenge. The Office of Broadband Development also provided general, as well as BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates. Task Force subgroups (Affordability & Digital Equity; Economic Opportunity & Work Force Development; and Mapping, Policy, & Funding) moved forward with crafting a draft and recommendations for the annual report, due in December.

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

EVENT Sep 24: MN Broadband Task Force Sep Meeting

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Happening tomorrow…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

 Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association

800 Central Ave N, Brandon, MN 56315

OR

Microsoft Teams

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 293 633 223 894

Passcode: yLxAZz

Dial in by phone

+1 651-395-7448,,793355672# United States, St. Paul

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 793 355 672#

Join on a video conferencing device

Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com

Video ID: 112 142 827 5

More info

For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in PIN

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Welcome + approval of minutes from August 19th, 2024, Task Force Meeting

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

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Introduction to Gardonville Coop Telephone Association

Dave Wolf, CEO, Gardonville Coop Telephone Association

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.  Introduction from Senator Putnam

Senator Aric Putnam, Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.   Sub-Group progress share out + updates

Affordability & Digital Equity

Economic Opportunity & Workforce

Mapping, Funding, & Policy

11:00 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.  PCs for People

Casey Sorenson, CEO, PCs for People

Susan Miller, National Manager – New Markets, PCs for People

A nonprofit that provides computers, low cost internet and computer repair to low income families. We fund our mission by providing secure, responsible electronics recycling as a free service for businesses and use the proceeds and equipment to provide the life changing benefit of digital access

11:25 a.m. – 11:35 a.m.               Break

11:35 a.m.—12:00 p.m. HealtheMed, Inc. – A MN-based Public Benefit Corporation

Steve Pontius, CEO, HealtheMed (formerly founder of MinuteClinic)

Ron Mandelbaum, Executive Vice President & Co-Founder, HealtheMed

HealtheMed is a mission driven and innovative tele-health provider dedicated to enriching the lives of underserved populations all across the State of Minnesota. Through our innovative “Clinic@Home” digital system of health we keep Medicaid waivered participants in the community longer by enabling coordination and access to the essential supports they need, in the comfort of their own home.  We want these important citizens to become more independent and live as fulfilling a life as possible which they are now able to achieve with our technology enabled high-engagement system. Closing the digital divide and bringing broadband to the underserved is a necessary and key driving force in creating greater health equity.

12:00p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Office of Broadband Development Overview + BEAD and Digital Opportunity Updates

Bree Maki, Executive Director, OBD

Diane Wells, Deputy Director, OBD

Hannah Buckland, Digital Equity Program Lead, OBD

12:15 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. Other Business, October 21st Meeting Plans, Wrap-up

12:20 p.m. – 12:35 p.m. Sub-Group meeting time

12:35 p.m. – 1p.m.  Tour of Gardonville Coop headquarters & demonstration

Tour for in-person attendees; meeting adjourned at 12:30pm for virtual guests