Blandin on Broadband

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Blandin on Broadband

Did FCC exceed their authority when it established the USAC to administer the Universal Service Fund?

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I wrote a little bit about Universal Service Fund and USAC early in the summer; I’m going to borrow heavily from Doug Dawson to give the update and his astute perspective…

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the FCC had exceeded its statutory authority  years ago when it established the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to administer the Universal Service Fund.

The case in front of the court involved Consumers’ Research, which challenged the latest FCC calculation of the contribution factor used to establish the fee that telcos pay into the fund. Consumers’ Research had also challenged the FCC’s authority to establish USAC to administer the fund.

Doug gives a great explanation of the role of USAC in his article, I’m going to shortcut it and say, they manage the funds for the FCC But the FCC makes the calls. Which leads to some questions…

What does this ruling mean? The FCC has to first decide how it wants to respond to the court ruling. It’s been reported in the press that the FCC says the ruling goes into effect in two months if the agency doesn’t  appeal the ruling. If the FCC appeals the ruling, the most routine outcome would be a court ordering business as usual until that appeal can be heard. It’s not certain that the FCC will appeal the case, and if it doesn’t, things get messy very quickly.

The FCC would have to somehow try to take over USAC functions. The agency is not staffed to do so, which would likely result in chaos. It probably wouldn’t be easy, or even possible, for the FCC to somehow absorb USAC staff.

The companies that pay into the USF would be in limbo because the collection process would be disrupted. I picture legal challenges and confusion and possibly lawsuits related to whether telcos owe fees to the FCC, the federal Treasury, or to nobody. Disbursements from the fund would quickly be disrupted. That would be a major problem for the many entities that draw payments from the $9 billion annual fund. It’s hard to picture what happens when schools can no longer pay their broadband bill or ISPs suddenly stop receiving RDOF or other subsidies. Millions of people would likely lose their monthly billing discounts from Lifeline. USAC also has extensive audit powers, and it’s not clear that the FCC could insert itself into existing audits.

The only alternative to the above chaos would be if Congress quickly stepped in to provide some way to keep the USAC functions going. That sounds like a huge challenge in a lame duck session during the holidays. Stay tuned, because this could turn into something extremely messy.

Providers looking to put cell towers in space to reach rural roads

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The Hill reports...

In a recent report, the Federal Communications Commission revealed a worrisome paradox in America’s cellular networks: they reach nearly everyone, but not nearly everywhere. While 95 percent of the U.S. population can receive 5G service from at least one carrier, only 69 percent of the nation’s road miles and 39 percent of its land area have such coverage. In rural America, the numbers fall to 60 percent and 38 percent.

This is the rural-mobile divide. It is not about whether a household can obtain broadband at home. It is about losing mobile service while driving, farming, hiking, fighting a wildfire or responding to an emergency.

The conventional solution is to build more cell towers. Some are still needed. But extending terrestrial networks to every remote road, ravine and mountaintop would be economically irrational. The FCC has approved a plan to provide up to $9 billion to close the remaining gaps in America’s 5G cellular networks. But instead of treating every dead zone as a construction problem, we should consider whether the last cell towers should instead be placed in orbit.

Technology advances now offer a promising alternative to cover this last and most expensive frontier. Direct-to-device satellite service allows an ordinary compatible cellphone to connect directly to a satellite when no terrestrial tower is available. The satellite effectively becomes a cell tower in space. No satellite phone, dish or other specialized equipment is required.

All three national carriers see satellites becoming an integral part of mobile networks.

EVENT Nov 5: AI and data centers talk, Q&A in Winona

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Winona Post reports…

AI has changed the world, and none of us know quite how it will impact us. It creates immense opportunity and could solve many of our problems, but it also poses great risks. From data centers, to students cheating in school, to job loss and existential risk, AI has created many more questions than answers. Mark York will discuss how the technology works, its risks, and what our communities should do to get the good without the bad. Bring your questions, and let’s work together to get a handle on this thorny issue. All are welcome.

Mark York is a farmer from Lake Wilson in southwest Minnesota, a computer scientist, and former White House Fellow. Mark is a proud SDSU grad, is the co-founder and president of FarmYield Africa, and is about to complete his Ph.D. in computer science from Harvard University.

This event will be held on Thursday, November 5, at 7 p.m. at the American Legion, 302 East Sarnia Street, in Winona. Goodwill donation suggested. It will be hosted by the Winona Area Southeast Minnesota Patriots.

Data centers come up in debates in Minnesota House 45A (DFLer Tracey Breazeale and Republican state Rep. Andrew Myers)

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Hartland Signal reports…

Home to the suburbs surrounding Lake Minnetonka, and one of the wealthiest regions of the state, House District 45A may seem like a long shot for Democrats. But the region has flipped back and forth between parties in recent years and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party holds two of the other legislative seats in the area. So why not all three?

These were the stakes at a candidates forum late last month for DFLer Tracey Breazeale and incumbent Republican state Rep. Andrew Myers. During the forum, they argued pocketbook issues like health care and housing as well as data centers.

On data centers…

Breazeale and Myers expressed similar worries about the impact of data centers in their district.

Breazeale said she was concerned over how data centers will impact local energy supplies and water infrastructure.

“I think this is an area where we want to get out ahead of it,” she said. “We want the state to be able to think about what types of legislation can we put in place to make sure that data centers are not impacting local water, that they have to find their own cooling systems, that they supply their own renewable energy and that that’s done in a way that is not negatively impacting the residents.”

Myers added, “We would like to have a little bit more knowledge, information. What’s the energy consumption going to look like? What’s the water use going to look like? And we don’t want that to impact utility costs in our own community.”

Data centers are the only local businesses looking to benefit from data center industry in Minnesota

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MN Star Tribune reports..

Graco has signed a licensing deal with a Swiss company to use its special motors to help cool data centers.

The Minneapolis-based manufacturer announced Wednesday that it signed a deal with ABB, an international electrification and automation company, to supply devices called transverse flux motors (TFM) from a company Graco acquired in 2018.

Graco and Zurich-based ABB have partnered on other industrial applications. This deal will give Graco additional exposure into one of the fastest-growing industrial applications in the rapid build out of datacenters.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Graco is not the only Twin Cities company chasing the data center business. NVent has expanded its local factories because of its contracts, and 3M, Ecolab and Forgent Power also have large data-center businesses.

RESOURCE: League of Minnesota Cities announces a model artificial intelligence policy

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League of Minnesota Cities announces...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how our cities work, offering new ways to save time and improve efficiency. But as AI tools become more common in city operations, they also raise important questions about data privacy, accuracy, and accountability. 

Whether city staff are using AI to draft communications, analyze information, or assist with everyday tasks, it’s important cities establish clear expectations for how the technology can and cannot be used. 

To help navigate these challenges, the League of Minnesota Cities offers a model artificial intelligence policy designed to support the responsible, transparent, and lawful use of AI in city operations. 

MN Letters to the editor on data centers (Sep 24-Oct 22, 2026): data center is an election hot topic

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This is the third segment in my data center collection of public commentaries, including letters to the editors and opinion pieces.

It’s meant as a quick scan of what topics are rising to the top for others. I try to be balanced, but this is more illustrative of what crosses my path in the course of a month.

Ramstad: Readers wonder if an AI chatbot took my job as a columnist
Sep 24, 2026, Minnesota Star Tribune
Ramstad’s views on AI regulation and a new demographic study produced a lot of reader reaction.

Minnesota forum tackles growing anxiety over AI
Sep 24, St Cloud Times
A recent Minnesota forum highlighted public anxiety and policy questions surrounding artificial intelligence.

Jepson talks funding pressures, wakeboats and data centers at candidate forum
Sep 24, 2026, DL-Online
“We’d have to think long and hard about what that data center would bring to Becker County,” Jepson said.

Data centers: Can Democrats regulate and still build?
Sep 25, 2026 MinnPost
It’s not a choice between being pro-environment or pro-growth. With the right safeguards in place, data centers can be both.

Letter: Data center puts profits over human well-being – Post Bulletin
Sep 26, 2026 Post Bulletin
“Supporting building a hyperscale Google data center this close to homes means putting economic interests ahead of the health, safety, and quality of life of the residents.”

One Moment, Please… The Data Center Bait
Sep 28, 2026, Fillmore County Journal
“When we look at the demand for data centers, we need to look in the mirror.”

Candidate’s View: Hermantown data-center proposal a Duluth problem, too
Sep 28, 2026, Duluth News Tribune
From the column: “Even with tech giants scaling back plans and pledging mitigations, the sheer footprint of this industrial campus will alter your local landscape forever.”

Opinion | Small towns can’t wait. We need Walz’s help now.
Oct 2, 2026 MN Star Tribune
“We’re calling on the governor to enact a moratorium on data centers until we have time to build stronger, more centralized state oversight.”

Letter to the Editor: Contributing thoughts on data centers
Oct 3, 2026, Bemidji Pioneer
“The key point for Bemidji to consider would be the power generation package any data center would bring to the table. The right package would add to the local network’s capacity and resiliency, without increasing rates.”

Pro/Con: Let’s not make the cure of AI regulation worse than the disease
Oct 2, 2026, Duluth News Tribune
From the column: “Regulation (sometimes) serves nobody. AI regulation is a minefield that could lead to unintended consequences.”

Letters to the editor: Thankful for freeze on data centers
Oct 5, 2026 Moose Lake Star Tribune
“We want to thank the Carlton County Commissioners for voting in favor of Ordinance no. 42, the Carlton County Data Center Interim Use Study.”

Kathryn Hoffman: MCEA lawsuit seeks full picture on data center
Oct 6, 2026, Post Bulletin
Google didn’t respect our state’s democratic laws and processes. Instead, it published an environmental study that didn’t disclose even basic facts about their proposed project.

Counterpoint: Transparency matters in data center development
Oct 6, 2026, MinnPost
A recent MinnPost Voices piece suggested a proposed Minnesota project met that standard. It did not.

Data Centers Need Minnesotans. NDAs Won’t Win Their Trust.
Oct 6, 2026 Minnesota Times
Developers have legitimate business interests to protect. Minnesotans deserve a meaningful say in projects that could reshape their communities.

Kathryn Hoffman: MCEA lawsuit seeks full picture on data center
Oct 6, 2026 Post Bulletin
Google didn’t respect our state’s democratic laws and processes. Instead, it published an environmental study that didn’t disclose even basic facts about their proposed project.

Despite the controversy, data centers could be attractive to struggling rural towns
Oct 9, 2026, KAXE
All right, if there is one thing liberal Democrats, MAGA Republicans and most Americans in between might agree on, it’s data centers.

Reader’s View: Duluth already home to data centers
Oct 11, 2026, Duluth News Tribune
“Those upset about data centers might check it out.”

Letter: Full disclosure needed on data center proposals
Oct 13, 2026, Post Bulletin
“These tactics appear designed to deliberately bypass community input and shield corporate interests from public scrutiny.”

Brown: What are Minnesota’s human designers to do in this wave of AI slop?
Oct 15, 2026, MN Star Tribune
AI posters and advertisements are everywhere, with a distinctive look that’s hard to describe. So, I talked to some professionals.

Letter: Voters should weigh potential costs of Monticello’s proposed data center
Oct 15, 2026, Monticello Times
Monticello’s proposed data center has become a focal point in this year’s local election. Data centers are also focal points in elections across the country.

Perry: Will the AI backlash leave low-income students behind?
Oct 16, 2026, MN Star Tribune
Wealthier schools are at the forefront of focusing on a more human-centered education that in some cases is cutting out AI altogether.

Letter: Voters should weigh potential costs of Monticello’s proposed data center
Oct 15, 2026, Monticello Times
Monticello’s proposed data center has become a focal point in this year’s local election. Data centers are also focal points in elections across the country.

Data Center Rug Pull & Council Subpoena Power: A Message from Council Member Shaffer
Oct 17, 2026, Minneapolis Times
“That optimism evaporated at the Planning Commission on Tuesday evening.”

Some Projects Are Laying The groundwork for Data Centers
Oct 20, 2026 Stevens County Times
“Where does David and Goliath draw the line?”

Native News Online Survey: Readers Oppose Data Centers Near Tribal Communities, Demand Tribal Say
Oct 22, 2026, Native News Online
Survey finds environmental concerns and tribal sovereignty are central to readers’ views on data centers and artificial intelligence

Residents have reservations about Google’s decommissioning agreement in Hermantown (St Louis County)

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Northern News Now reports…

Ahead of a city council vote next Monday that could clear the way for Google to begin developing its data center in Hermantown, residents are learning more about what will happen when the data center is no longer needed.

A Google representative speaking at a city council meeting earlier this week announced that the company has developed a decommissioning agreement in response to city and resident feedback. City officials say the agreement provides reassurance about the future of the project site. Some residents remain unconvinced.

What Google says…

In response to that concern from residents, Hermantown Economic Development Director Chad Ronchetti says the city initiated the decommissioning agreement with Google.

“It provides protections,” Ronchetti said.

Under the agreement, if the site goes unused, Google will need to keep buildings maintained and file a plan to either repurpose the site or clear it. Ronchetti says the city’s preference is for reuse.

“It keeps the site productive, it keeps it active and it keeps it on the tax rolls,” Ronchetti said.

There is still concern…

“Once a wetland is destroyed by industry, there’s no way to bring it back,” Lofald said.

The decommissioning agreement would be a 50-year agreement. Google did not respond to a request for an interview.

Willmar City Council approves moving forward with the Willmar Connect project

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The West Central Tribune reports…

 The Willmar City Council on Monday in split votes approved moving forward with planning for phase two of the Willmar Connect project.

Willmar Connect is the city’s initiative to install a city-wide, open-access broadband network on which multiple internet service providers can operate. It is owned by the city and managed by Hometown Fiber.

Phase one of the initiative, which will serve all homes and businesses west of First Street South between the railroad tracks and 19th Avenue Southwest, is under construction and expected to be mostly complete by December.

Phase two of the project is everything east of First Street and south of the railroad tracks. Phase three is everything north of the railroad tracks.

Monday night’s action approved the scope of work and professional services proposal from Hometown Fiber and the engineering services proposal from Bolton & Menk for phase two at a cost of $536,506.

Funding was approved…

City administration recommended funding this portion of the project using the Community Investment Fund and then reimbursing the fund later either with bond proceeds or revenue from the network. The motion to do that was approved unanimously.

The article goes on to detail the trials and tribulations of a buildout in a residential area and the financial conundrums of phasing fiber t less populated areas.

Verizon wants to discontinue landlines in MN but that could leave customers without reliable service

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The Minnesota Star Tribune reports...

Major telecommunications companies, including Verizon, are pressing forward to discontinue aging copper technology in Minnesota and nationwide, saying the old networks are obsolete, expensive to fix and used by few. Providers are taking steps forward in a lighter regulatory environment under the Trump administration.

Accelerating the death of the traditional landline is a rule change this spring from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The FCC eliminated certain requirements for telecommunications companies and revised standards of what qualifies as an “adequate replacement” service. Among the newly approved replacement types is wireless, which Verizon is now pitching to Bradley and his neighbors.

As impending disconnection notices land in Minnesotans’ mailboxes, some customers are worried they’ll be forced onto spotty service, or disconnected altogether, especially those living in exurbs or rural Minnesota where fiber networks are incomplete or unavailable.

Satellite also is a less-viable option for those living under heavy tree canopy or in hilly areas. And in remote spots, copper lines can stay live when the power goes out, a comfort in emergency situations.

Scandia Mayor Steve Kronmiller estimates 100 properties in his town are currently outside the fiber network. He fears residents near the St. Croix could have trouble connecting with a 911 operator.

“There’s nothing the city can really do. We’re at the mercy of these providers,” Kronmiller said. “If one person dies, that’s more than we need.”

Verizon spokeswoman Diana Alvear said the company is committed to maintaining telephone service to customers who have no available alternatives, “keeping them connected.”

This extends beyond one provider…

Frontier in recent years fell into the crosshairs of state regulators and telecommunications watchdogs over subpar service and deceptive marketing practices. After closing its $20 billion deal to buy Frontier in January, Verizon inherited a legacy Minnesota service network stretching from the Twin Cities metro to northern lake country.

Since Verizon proposed its plan to begin shutting down the traditional landline network, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has received two dozen protest letters, including from residents of northern Minnesota communities Brimson, Ault and Fairbanks, as well as St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay.

The FCC does not want to force providers to maintain he legacy network…

In its latest rule issued in March, the FCC claims states cannot “force providers to devote resources to maintaining deteriorating legacy networks.” Verizon is relying on that position as the company attempts to leapfrog state regulators.

The telecommunications company filed a lawsuit last month claiming federal approval from the FCC means the company does not need a green light from the state commission to proceed with its plan. The dispute is ongoing.

Customers are caught in the middle and are engaging…

For the better part of a decade, a small committee in Scandia has been working to get broadband internet set up across town, relying on government infrastructure grants.

Residents are hopeful the build-out project by provider MidCo will finish before end of year. But Bradley said construction could stretch into June depending on weather, well past Verizon’s proposed cutoff date.

Even though Bradley and his wife, Claudia, have cellphones and use Wi-Fi calling at home, the landline is essential for when those other options often fail. When his mother-in-law was living with them, she had health problems that required using a landline for ambulance service.

It’s also how family and friends have gotten ahold of the Bradleys at critical moments, like when his twin grandsons were born and went into the neonatal intensive care unit.

“The only way [my daughter] could get ahold of us was through the landline,” Bradley said.

MN 1st Congressional District race faces questions about AI-generated ads

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KTTC reports…

The race for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District is facing questions over alleged altered imagery in a campaign ad.

Last week, KTTC reported on potential legal issues raised over an image featured in a reelection ad for Republican Rep. Brad Finstad. The image shows DFL candidate Jake Johnson alongside Gov. Tim Walz, noting Walz’s endorsement of Johnson.

Johnson’s campaign says the image is fake and was likely AI-generated. …

A proven deep fake election-related violation is a crime, with a conviction carrying possible fines and prison time.

Finstad chimes in…

Finstad called the situation laughable, saying Johnson is “afraid of the fact that him and Tim Walz are good buddies.”

The second-term congressman said he wasn’t concerned about any potential consequences.

The ad continues to air, with Finstad saying he has no plan to remove it.

Data centers come up in race for Steele County Commissioner District 1 seat

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Owatonna’s People’s Press reports…

Justin Ohnstad and Gary Spatenka are vying for the Steele County Commissioner District 1 seat, which is soon to be vacated by James Brady. Ahead of the election, both discussed their perspectives on public safety facilities in Owatonna, data centers and their primary focus if elected.

Here’s what Justin Ohnstad had to say…

As data centers are a major topic of interest in neighboring communities, Ohnstad was asked what his approach would be to the possibility of their construction in the future.

“To my knowledge we’re not being approached for that at this time. There are a lot of questions that need to be asked: location, utility consumption, rate increases and things of that nature,” he said. “How will it impact if it can be a positive impact on the residents of Steele County? It’s definitely worth exploring. Which is not a yes answer. However, let’s ask the questions and figure out what benefits it might bring to the county.”

Ohnstad also discussed the benefits and potential for overreach inherent in the use of Flock cameras.

“I don’t have a ton of research on them. However, my personal belief is I don’t need a camera to take a picture of my license plate three times a day when I come in and out of town,” he said. “That being said, if something were to happen to a community member like an abduction, (Flock cameras) would be an asset for law enforcement and potentially expedite the recovery which could be invaluable. I think government serves a role and it certainly has to have an involvement in people’s daily function, but they are tiptoeing on the line with being too much Big Brother for me.”

Here’s what Gary Spatenka had to say…

His opinion on data centers is contingent on future conversations with the community.

“The big thing right now we have going on in the county is going to be these data centers and that hasn’t really come up yet,” Spatenka said. “I think that we have to sit down as a county and have open meetings to discuss these data centers because we don’t really know a lot about them yet.”

Data centers come up in Eagan City Council race between Paul Bakken, Gary Hansen, Scott Armitage and Jason Narverud (Dakota County)

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Hometown Source reports…

Four candidates for two open seats on the Eagan City Council debated perspectives on local issues at a forum moderated by the League of Women Voters-Dakota County and broadcasted on Eagan Television inside Eagan High School studio.

Eagan constituents will chose two candidates on the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election that includes incumbent council members, Paul Bakken and Gary Hansen, and candidates Scott Armitage and Jason Narverud.

Here’s what they said about data centers…

During the forum, candidates addressed many issues. One question was: “Eagan was the first city in Minnesota to pass a moratorium on new data center development. As a council member, do you support the moratorium as the right way to study impacts like electricity demand and water use before more data centers are built? When the moratorium expires, what specific standards would you want in place before Eagan allows new data center projects to move forward?”

Narverud said he agrees with the unanimous council vote to issue a one-year moratorium, saying “What you do in that year, I think, it is super important as well. What is your end goal? I think being patient is good, but at some point in time, are you deferring the answer and not actually answering it. I don’t want to become too patient. I want to make sure that we answer the questions. We have data centers here and they have been good neighbors for the most part, I would say. I think what we are talking about is hyperscale data centers, what people read in the news. What happens if they decide to walk away? What happens if there’s a leak? What happens if they want to decommission in a certain way? Those are the kind of details that we need to have those questions answered upfront,” Narverud said.

Bakken said the moratorium allowed the city time to study the data center issues, update city ordinances and protect public health and safety. “Some of those things are water usage, noise, light pollution, and other types of negative externalities that are not compatible with existing established surrounding areas. There is a little bit of frustration here because the city Eagan is currently being sued by a would-be data center, so those of us who are on the council are a little bit restrictive in what we can or cannot say,” Bakken said.

Armitage said during his campaigning and door knocking, residents talk about concerns regarding data centers. “Some of the issues, obviously, are the forever chemicals, the noises, the limited employment, the air pollution, but there are opportunities to limit water use and electricity when data centers are built, and the city of Eagan has that opportunity to do that,” Armitage said, adding more data and research needs to known on the longterm effects from data centers.

Hansen said the city’s moratorium allows the city time to collect information and figure out how to best regulate data centers. Hansen said Eagan has four data centers that can be considered smaller data centers that are an auxiliary to businesses. “But we have to be careful about where those data centers are located. They can’t be near residential neighborhoods because of the nuisance that they do, in terms of the noise and the vibration, and we know all about that,” Hansen said.

 

Data centers come up in MN Senate Race: Views from Peggy Flanagan and Michele Tafoya

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MN Star Tribune reports…

The rapid expansion of data centers has become a political flashpoint in Minnesota, as technology companies seek land, electricity and water to power the infrastructure behind artificial intelligence.

Supporters see an opportunity to attract investment and expand the state’s technology industry. Opponents worry that the enormous facilities could strain local resources, increase utility bills and leave communities with little influence over developments that could reshape their surroundings.

The issue has emerged in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race, with Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan taking a more skeptical approach to the industry’s growth and Republican Michele Tafoya emphasizing economic development alongside local oversight.

Both candidates say residents should have a meaningful voice in decisions about new facilities and should not be left paying for their construction or operation. But Flanagan has called for stronger protections against corporate influence, while Tafoya has argued that Minnesota should welcome new investment if developers are transparent about the costs and consequences.

Their positions come as communities across Minnesota debate proposed projects and state policymakers grapple with how to regulate an industry whose demand for electricity and water could have far-reaching consequences.

The article outlines their views on the following data center issues:

  • Data center development and local control

  • Electricity costs and water consumption

  • Transparency and corporate influence

  • Regulations, tax incentives and environmental protections

  • Should data center construction be paused?

Pew outlines 4 cornerstones of broadband to drive State policies

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Pew Research reports…

This issue brief identifies four cornerstones of a state‑level policy framework that, when pursued together, create the conditions necessary for universal broadband access:

  • Dedicated broadband deployment funding.
  • Affordability requirements for broadband service.
  • Minimum speed standards.
  • Network scalability requirements.

These cornerstones are not a prescriptive model that states must adopt in identical ways. Rather, they are a foundational set of policies that can be adapted to each state’s needs and that together address availability, affordability, performance, and long-term quality, creating the conditions for universal access. States should still consider ways of building on these cornerstones, including policies to sustain SBOs, alleviate barriers to broadband deployment, enable program evaluation, and help residents get online and make effective use of their connections, including through digital skills training and access to devices such as computers and tablets. Research indicates that such policies help safeguard affordable access and support competition, investment in scalable broadband infrastructure, and economic return.