Broadband Clusters looks at broadband adoption by state, zip and county

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I learned about BroadbandClusters.org from the NDIA listerv. I’m going to follow up (very soon) with a look at the data by county – because I know we all want to know how we are doing locally. But for now, just the overview. Here’s the explanation shared there…

BroadbandClusters, a tool now covering 500+ metros and all 50 states that helps identify which ZIP codes have device and internet adoption gaps.

I wanted to share a few recent updates that I think will be useful to this community:

State-level explorer

I’ve heard from many in the NDIA community asking for better visibility into how rural communities and villages are affected by adoption gaps. The new State Explorer addresses this directly. You can now filter ZIP codes by concentration of seniors, Indigenous residents, veterans, children, race, and more. Set your threshold and only those communities surface, making it easy to compare how they perform against the statewide average.

Here’s the map and information for Minnesota…

I like the last graph and how is shows the correlation between various factors and broadband adoption. Many of the factors are beyond the scope of technology but the top and bottom aren’t. That seems like an area where folks could concentrate if they want to improve broadband adoption.

Continue reading →

EVENT June 17: AI Impact Hour for Nonprofits

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From Tech Soup…

AI Impact Hour for Nonprofits

Jun 17, 12:00 – 1:00 PM (CDT)

Events at TechSoup

About this event

This isn’t just another webinar — it’s a meeting with nonprofits from around the world coming together to learn, share, and explore how AI can support their missions. If your organization has used AI in any way (big or small), or if you’re just getting started, we want to hear from you.

AI Impact Hour is a practical, interactive conversation designed for executive directors, staff, board members, and volunteers who want to understand what AI can realistically do in a nonprofit setting. You’ll see simple demonstrations and real examples, and you’ll have a chance to share your experiences, challenges, and insights with the group.

What makes this different:

  • It’s for you  — small to large nonprofits from around the world
  • We want to hear from you — how your nonprofit has been experimenting with AI
  • You’ll learn from each other — not just from the presentation

Who should attend:

  • Nonprofit leaders, staff, volunteers, and anyone curious about how AI can support their work, regardless of experience level.

Would you like to be a guest panelist to share your experience with AI?

Email Aretha Simons asimons@techsoup.org and put “panelist” in the subject line.

OMB Proposes Changes to Federal Grant Administration – including BEAD

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The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society reports…

On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposes to revise the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance. The proposals might be among the most consequential changes to federal grant administration in more than a decade, particularly in the breadth of its policy conditions. OMB is proposing to rewrite the foundational rules that govern how nearly every federal grant dollar—including broadband, digital equity, research, and community development funds—is awarded, conditioned, and potentially terminated. Every entity that receives federal grants or cooperative agreements—states, local governments, Tribes, universities, nonprofits, hospitals, and for-profit organizations—could be impacted. That impact includes recipients of broadband funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) (Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, Digital Equity Act programs), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (ReConnect), the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Capital Projects Fund), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (Universal Service Fund programs, including Lifeline and E-Rate). The proposed rule would embed the current Administration’s policy priorities—including prohibitions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities—directly into the terms and conditions of federal awards. The proposal would also significantly expand agencies’ power to terminate awards mid-stream, require E-Verify participation by all recipients, and shift OMB’s “guidance” into binding regulation. The public comment period closes July 13, 2026.

The article goes on to detail the proposed changes and highlight the potential impact on BEAD recipients.

OPPORTUNITY: Minnesota e-Health Advisory Committee is looking for members

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From the MN Secretary of State Office…

— The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State (OSS) is providing notice that various state boards, councils, committees, and task forces are accepting applications for open seats.

New vacancies are listed below. See the complete list of 498 seats on the OSS Open Positions webpage. Use the search fields on that webpage to find a specific board or position. Or click on the hyperlinks below to learn more about boards and their respective positions.

If position descriptions aren’t listed for the seats you’d like to apply to, contact the board staff for more information on member duties, qualifications, required application material, and more. See the Request Information section below for tips on contacting board staff.

Apply for a Position

Detailed instructions on finding a position, submitting an application, and related information are provided on the Boards & Commissions Help & How To webpage.

And the positions that I thought might be of interest to readers…

Minnesota e-Health Advisory Committee
Vacancies: 3 Seats — Academics and Research
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Community Clinics/Fed Qual. Health Centers
Vacancies: 2 Seats — Consumer Member
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Health Care Administrator
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Health Care Purchasers and Employers
Vacancies: 2 Seats — Health IT Vendors
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Health System Chief Information Officer
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Hospital Representatives
Vacancies: 4 Seats — Licensed Health Professionals (Physician/Nurse)
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Long Term and Post-Acute Care
Vacancies: 2 Seats — Professional with Expert Knowledge in Health IT
Vacancies: 2 Seats — Rotating Professionals – Additional Health Settings (Dentists, Pharmacists, Behavior Health Laboratory, Home Health, Social Services, etc)

Get more info

MN eNews June 2026: End of MN Legislature, figuring out funding

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MN Broadband Task Force May meeting: Native networks, Clearfield on BABA, data centers and OBD updates
The MN Broadband Task Force heard from the National Tribal Telecommunications Association on the Connect New Mexico Broadband Tribal Working Group and overview of leadership on the National Tribal Telecommunications Association 2026 NTTA Broadband Midwest Regional Summit as well as from Clearfield Inc.on workforce development and BABA compliance and its practical implications on broadband deployment. Data centers (including micro-scale data centers) and AI were hot topics in both presentations.

Rural broadband advocates in MN hopeful that new law will prevent missed future funding
The Minnesota Star Tribune tells of grant funds lost because of light scrutiny on applicants for federal funding, in areas such as Le Sueur County. Broadband advocates are hoping that a new law will help protect loss in the future

State News   

National News

Vendor/Technology News

Office of Broadband Development Updates and News:

Local Broadband News

Aitkin
Paul Bunyan Communication announces Broadband Expansion in Central Aitkin County

Iron Range
IRRR’s 2027 budget includes infrastructure/broadband

Scott, Waseca, Nicollet, Le Sueur and McLeod Counties
Mediacom Communications announces 5-Gig in parts of Scott, Waseca, Nicollet, Le Sueur and McLeod Counties

Southwest MN
Telehealth is going mobile in the 18 counties of southwest Minnesota

Superior (WI)
City of Superior (WI) expands ConnectSuperior broadband by 1000 locations

Twin Cities
Student works with seniors to create online world that merges current and historical look of neighborhood

Willmar
Groundbreaking for Willmar Connect, a city-owned, citywide broadband project, happened May 12
Willmar Council seeks bids to turn former wastewater treatment plant into the network operations center for Willmar Connect.
EVENT May 12: Windom City Council to hear Windomnet acquisition proposals

Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources

Telehealth is going mobile in the 18 counties of southwest Minnesota

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Yahoo News reports…

Telehealth is going mobile in the 18 counties of southwest Minnesota.

Federal funding is making it possible to install telehealth communication systems in 109 ambulances operated by 54 Emergency Medical Service systems serving 27 hospitals.

Each ambulance will be connected to an “hub” in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There, a team of board-certified emergency physicians, experienced paramedics, and nurses will be in virtual contact with the ambulance crews during emergency calls.

Simultaneously, the local hospital’s health care team and emergency room are connected as well.

“A major milestone,” is how Ann Jenson, executive director of the described the arrival of mobile telehealth to the region. Jenson was joined by representatives of state transportation and public safety services, the, Avel eCare, and health care staff with the in Dawson for a ceremonial ribbon cutting on May 27.

Some details…

A $9.9 million grant that was part of the $1 billion Biden-Harris Administration’s bipartisan infrastructure law is making the telehealth system possible. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar helped secure the release of the funding, and sent a letter to participants at the ribbon cutting applauding what she described as an innovative project.

The University of Minnesota will be assessing the new system during the upcoming years to determine its life-saving value and long-term sustainability.

The grant will provide funding for five years. The long-term hope is to find on-going funding to sustain it, according to Becky Vande Kieft, vice president and general manager of emergency services at Avel eCare.

The Daily Yonder looks at policy perspective changes of satellite

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The Daily Yonder reports on policy change that impact satellite…

In a proposed rulemaking adopted unanimously on May 20 the FCC asked whether LEO satellite broadband should be treated as a sufficient substitute for terrestrial infrastructure in the most difficult-to-serve areas, and whether continued support for land-based deployments in those locations constitutes unnecessary “overbuilding.”

In its proposal, the FCC claimed “nearly all” remaining U.S. locations without a fiber, cable or fixed wireless broadband connection are now considered to be served by “a LEO satellite provider.”

Many of those locations are in sparsely populated rural areas, where the high cost of deploying terrestrial broadband infrastructure has historically left residents with few connectivity options.

In its filing, the FCC reinforced its policy that “providing support in areas of the country where another voice and broadband provider is offering high-quality service without government assistance is an inefficient use of limited universal service funds.”

New report on impact of broadband access on modern life

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Public Knowledge has released a new study on the impact of digital inclusion and modern life…

This paper by Public Knowledge Broadband Policy Director Alisa Valentin, Ph.D., and UnidosUS Senior Civil Rights Policy Advisor Claudia Ruiz, reveals that affordable, reliable high-speed internet is a foundational prerequisite for participation in modern-day life. Unfortunately, millions remain on the wrong side of the digital divide.

Here are the key findings…

  • Consumers possess a sophisticated understanding of solutions needed to bridge the digital divide, but they face systemic barriers due to policies that prioritize concentrated wealth over community needs. False narratives and associated policies rooted in scarcity have diverted resources away from those who need them most.
  • The digital divide compounds every other challenge struggling households already face. Communities do not face barriers to broadband access and adoption in isolation. Instead, these obstacles intersect with challenges with housing stability, healthcare, employment, and education, which makes it imperative that these issues are addressed in concert with the closing of the digital divide.
  • Past policy approaches to closing the digital divide have failed to center community wisdom. Effective solutions meet people where they are so they are empowered to strengthen grassroots solutions, such as by embedding digital resources in frequently visited places or integrating digital navigation programs in existing areas of community support to meet their needs.
  • The Universal Service Fund must be urgently reformed to provide a robust broadband affordability benefit of approximately $40 (or more if someone is in a high-cost area or living on Tribal lands) that reflects the market costs and the reality of competing costs of household expenses.
  • Network resiliency must be strengthened by shifting high-cost program support toward operational expenses and network hardening.
  • Broadband adoption must be prioritized through sustained federal investment in digital skills, device access, and culturally responsive training and digital navigation programs.

Mediacom Communications announces 5-Gig in parts of Scott, Waseca, Nicollet, Le Sueur and McLeod Counties

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Global Newswire reports...

Mediacom Communications today announced the launch of its new 5-Gig Internet service, the fastest residential speed tier ever offered by Mediacom, reinforcing its continued investment in next-generation network capabilities to meet evolving consumer needs.

The new 5-Gig Internet service will be made immediately available to more than 500,000 homes passed nationally. Many Minnesota communities including Belle Plaine, Hutchinson, Montgomery, St. Peter, and Waseca will be included in the initial rollout. Mediacom expects to extend 5-Gig availability to more than one million homes by the end of the year as part of its multi-gig deployment strategy.

IRRR’s 2027 budget includes infrastructure/broadband

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The Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation reports their budget for 2027; it includes funding for infrastructure, which includes broadband.

Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

The FY27 IRRR budget was approved. The $77 million investment strategy exemplifies IRRR’s unwavering commitment to fostering a more prosperous living and working environment in the Taconite Assistance Area. Strategic priorities and funding include:

  • Improve conditions for economic growth with $31 million of resources in community and workforce development. Funds include a $6 million program to promote the preservation, rehabilitation and investment in regional housing stock and neighborhoods with a focus on construction of new homes and/or apartment buildings.
  • Support public works infrastructure, broadband and business and industry with spending of $19 million. Infrastructure funding assists communities in modernizing, redeveloping and replacing foundational assets in order to attract business investments and expansion.
  • Invest funds in natural and recreational assets, Giants Ridge and regional trails to generate diversification and economic impact while contributing to the quality of life in the region.
  • Produce a fiscally sound spending plan that includes reserve funds for unforeseen future needs.

Community Networks offers a look at fiber in the US via Fiber First conference

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The Institute for Local Self Reliance (aka Community Networks) reports…

As reported by Telecompetitor, Bolton said, there are now over 1,500 active fiber providers operating nationally, with 42 new market entrants and 715 providers that doubled their footprints in just the past six months.

Meanwhile, he said, independent ISPs, electric cooperatives, and municipal networks together accounted for about 40 percent of all fiber deployment in 2025 – “a sign that the buildout is increasingly being driven by community-rooted operators, not just national giants.”

But the conference’s panel sessions made it clear that translating increased fiber demand into deploying networks is getting harder and more expensive, with one panelist describing it like going “from a sprint into a marathon.”

During a Broadband Breakfast Live event at the conference, Josh Summit, director of outside plant engineering and construction at Glo Fiber/Shentel, said that there has been a roughly 300 percent increase in pole make-ready costs over the past five years and that rural fiber deployments that once cost between $20,000 and $25,000 per mile are as expensive as $100,000 per mile, which he attributed to stricter pole loading requirements and “preexisting noncompliance being charged to new attachers.”

The conference also highlighted the mounting opposition and tensions related to the construction of AI hyperscale data centers, which panelists said are increasingly following cheap rural electricity away from traditional hubs like Loudoun County, Virginia while running into local opposition in communities across the country, as some states consider data center moratoriums.

Still, despite the challenges, there was an air of optimism from conference organizers, as the FBA said it is seeing record membership growth – up 16 percent year-over-year, with more than 8,000 broadband professionals now represented.

OPPORTUNITY: Community Connect Grants applications due June 29 2026

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From the USDA…

Community Connect Grants

Applications are being accepted from May 13, 2026, until June 29, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. EST.

What does this program do?

The Community Connect Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where service does not exist.

Who may apply?

Eligible applicants include:

  • Incorporated organizations
  • Federally-recognized Tribes
  • State and local units of government
  • Any other legal entity, including cooperatives, private corporations, or limited liability companies organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis

How do I submit an application?

Applications must be submitted via the Community Connect Application Intake System.

What is an eligible area?

Rural areas that lack any existing broadband speed of at least 10Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream are eligible.

  • The Application Guide provides guidance on rural areas currently eligible for Community Connect Grants.

The Rural Utilities Service publishes all Community Connect Proposed Funded Service Areas (PFSAs) through its Public Notice Filing (PNF) process. Incumbent service providers may challenge the eligibility of a PFSA by filing a Public Notice Response (PNR). More information on the PNF/PNR process can be found by visiting the Rural Development Public Notice Filings Portal User Guide. For a demonstration on how to search for PNFs, submit a PNR, subscribe to PNF notifications, and more, watch the PNF Demonstration of the Public Filing Tool video. Those interested in receiving email notifications whenever a new application has been submitted and the PNF has been published can do so by signing up for our Public Notice Filing Subscription Service.

How may the funds be used?

  • The construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, spectrum, land or buildings used to deploy broadband service for:
    • All residential and business customers located within the Proposed Funded Service Area (PFSA)
    • All participating critical community facilities (such as public schools, fire stations, and public libraries)
  • The cost of providing broadband service free of charge to the critical community facilities for 2 years.
  • Less than 10% of the grant amount or up to $150,000 may be used for the improvement, expansion, construction or acquisition of a community center that provides online access to the public.

Are there other grant requirements?

  • Buildings constructed with grant funds must be located on property owned by the awardee
  • Leasing expenses will only be covered through the advance of funds period included in the award documents
  • Grantees must have legal authority to provide, construct, operate and maintain the proposed facilities or services
  • Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private and non-profit entities are encouraged
  • Matching funds of at least 15% from non-federal sources are required and can be used for operating costs

What governs this program?

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

The Community Connect program helps rural communities extend access where broadband service is least likely to be commercially available, but where it can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for people and businesses. The projects funded by these grants help rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the Internet for jobs, education, healthcare, public safety, and community development.

EVENT May 27: The State of Broadband Deployment: Progress, Gaps, and Early Outcomes

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From Broadband Breakfast on an event happening May 27 at 11am (noon EST)…

Broadband deployment is accelerating across the country, but progress isn’t uniform, and the real impact is just beginning to take shape. This session brings together companies tracking, mapping, and analyzing network buildout to examine where networks are being built, where gaps remain, and how deployment patterns are evolving as funding flows into the market. What can we learn from the latest deployment trends? And what do early outcomes suggest about the next phase of broadband expansion?

Panelists

  • Bryan Darr, Vice President, Government Affairs, Ookla
  • Paroma Sanyal, Principal, Brattle Group
  • Karen White, Vice President, National Broadband Practice Michael Baker International
  • Alexei Monsarrat, Director of Broadband Projects, Vermont Community Broadband Board
  • Brian Allenby, Director of State Solutions, CostQuest Associates
  • Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Paul Bunyan Communication announces Broadband Expansion in Central Aitkin County

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Paul Bunyan Communications announces…

Paul Bunyan Communications started on its broadband expansion across Central Aitkin County in late April and the project is progressing as planned so far. The project area includes the cities of McGregor, Palisade, and Tamarack, as well as portions of Clark, Haugen, Jevne, Libby, Logan, McGregor, Shamrock, and Workman Townships. Once completed over 2,400 homes & businesses will have access to the all-fiber optic network and the services it provides.
Currently crews are working in the city of Palisade, areas east of Palisade/north of McGregor, and construction recently started within the city of McGregor. JCSinc, a business member of our cooperative out of Shevlin, MN is the contractor doing the construction. Their vehicles are marked and there will also be magnets on some with the Paul Bunyan Communications logo to help identify the project.
The first stage of the construction process is installing the main fiber network which is followed by installing the connections up to individual homes and businesses that have signed up to be connected. Once those two stages are completed, our clean up/restoration crews will come through, and our team will work to splice the fiber network. Once it is operational in a project area, customers who signed up for service will be contacted to schedule service installations. A video on how the construction process works is located on the Paul Bunyan Communications YouTube channel at:


For those unfamiliar with Paul Bunyan Communications, we are a member-owned broadband cooperative that has served northern Minnesota since 1952. There are no membership fees or annual dues, membership is gained when a resident or business subscribes to local phone service or GigaZone® Broadband Internet service. The cooperative headquarters is in Bemidji with a Customer Service & Technology Center located in Grand Rapids.
Sign Up Now to Ensure Fiber Optic Connection Residents and businesses in these expansion areas are encouraged to sign up for service now, before construction crews move on to ensure the fiber optic connection is brought up to the location. That can be done quickly and easily online at paulbunyan.net or in person at one of our office locations.
Services Available Upon Completion Once the network is live, customers will have access to Paul Bunyan’s GigaZone® services, including high-speed fiber-optic Internet with speeds up to 10 Gig and dependable, low-cost unlimited local and long-distance GigaZone® voice services.

Senators Barrasso and Lummis introduce bill to increase access to Broadband on Federal land

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Senator John Barrasso website reports…

 Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to increase access to high-speed internet on federal land. The CLOSE THE GAP Act will streamline the permitting process for broadband and telecommunications infrastructure on federal land to expand access to high-speed internet in rural areas. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

More information…

Background:

In order to streamline the permitting process for broadband infrastructure, the CLOSE THE GAP Act requires federal land management agencies to issue new regulations that would streamline the process for broadband applications on federal land. The bill also promotes online application tracking for broadband infrastructure projects through the existing Permitting Dashboard established under the FAST Act.

The bill also accelerates broadband deployment by expanding categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and limiting additional environmental and historic preservation reviews for certain broadband projects on federal land. The exclusion criteria would apply to:

  • Projects involving existing public safety communications facilities on federal land
  • Projects located on previously analyzed federal land
  • Federal land with existing authorized utilities, powerline facilities, or roads

The bill would establish online portals for submission of Standard Form-299 applications. It would also establish a special account at Treasury for each land management agency to deposit cost recovery fees for their own use related specifically to broadband deployment. Lastly, the bill would establish a working group between each federal land management agency to periodically meet to coordinate and expedite the review of applications.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.