Tag Archives: IIJA

Mpls Star Tribune touts investment in broadband especially for rural Minnesota

Posted on by
Reply

Minneapolis Star Tribune posts an editorial…

Broadband has become so commonplace for so many that it can be hard to remember that not everyone has access to high-speed internet.

In Minnesota, there are at least 136,000 homes and small businesses in mostly rural areas that lack what has become a necessity of everyday life, hindering everything from remote schooling to business competitiveness.

That’s why the news that Minnesota will receive $652 million in federal funding to expand broadband across the state is especially welcome. It comes on top of $100 million the state set aside in this year’s legislative session. Together, these resources should allow for substantial improvements to broadband access across the state and a much-needed revitalization of the outstate economy.

Broadband has become so commonplace for so many that it can be hard to remember that not everyone has access to high-speed internet.

In Minnesota, there are at least 136,000 homes and small businesses in mostly rural areas that lack what has become a necessity of everyday life, hindering everything from remote schooling to business competitiveness.

That’s why the news that Minnesota will receive $652 million in federal funding to expand broadband across the state is especially welcome. It comes on top of $100 million the state set aside in this year’s legislative session. Together, these resources should allow for substantial improvements to broadband access across the state and a much-needed revitalization of the outstate economy.

MN Media take on $650M in federal broadband funding

Posted on by
Reply

On Monday it was announced that Minnesota is allocated $652 million to expand broadband use in the state. Lots of local media is picking up the story. I thought I’d collect a pretty random sampling of what folks are saying. I tried to pick the unique or most perspective driven comments from the various stories:

Willmar Radio…

U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar says a huge federal grant coming to Minnesota — nearly 652 million dollars — in her best estimate will extend reliable and affordable high-speed internet access to all remaining households in the state that currently don’t have it. She says, “We can always supplement later, but this is such a game-changer in terms of the amount of money.” Klobuchar says about 136 thousand Minnesota households and small businesses don’t have broadband internet access — and the expansion will help students and businesses, as well as farmers who want to use precision agriculture. She says grants will start going out next year and predicts companies will make bids to extend service — because although fiber-optic is the priority, satellite and other technologies are also allowed. And Klobuchar says, if any company doesn’t deliver high-speed service as promised, the money can be “clawed back” and go to other internet providers.

ABC 6…

KNSI Radio…

The state will get $652 million on top of the $100 million already put in place by the 2023 state legislative session to connect 33,000 homes in 48 counties and fund 61 expansion projects.

The new federal funding, created by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, will go toward broadband infrastructure deployment grants administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Office of Broadband Development.

Minnesota Reformer via Patch…

Last year, over 290,000 households in Minnesota didn’t have access to broadband with 100 mbps for downloads and 20 mbps for uploads, according to the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband 2022 report. Internet speeds around 100 to 200 mbps are ideal for most households, as they can handle streaming and video chat for multiple users at once.

One in three rural Minnesota households doesn’t have access to 100/20 mbps internet, according to the report.

The governor’s broadband report estimates that it will cost Minnesota over $1.38 billion between 2022 and 2026 to connect the more than 290,000 households to the internet with at least 100/20 mbps speeds. The average cost per connection is $9,500, according to the report.

Minneapolis Star Tribune…

High-speed internet access isn’t an issue that’s exclusive to rural areas. Formerly redlined neighborhoods in Minneapolis have some of the lowest percentages of broadband internet.

Separately, the Minnesota Legislature approved $100 million in state funding for broadband development last month. Between that and the newly announced federal money, Klobuchar said Minnesota is poised to come closer than ever to giving every resident access to high-speed internet.

Minnesota has set a goal of offering high-speed internet to all homes and businesses by 2026.

“Minnesota has an ambitious goal to increase broadband access and a collection of providers ready to expand our high-speed network, and we’re grateful our federal partners are helping us pursue broadband for all,” Gov. Tim Walz said in a statement Monday.

WDIO…

“You’ve got counties like, Pine County, as of last year was at 64% of the residents didn’t have access to high speed,” Sen. Klobuchar said. “There are 136,000 households in our state and small businesses that don’t have high speed. They’re almost all in greater Minnesota”

However, for small businesses operating in rural areas in Northern Minnesota it can be difficult to make a profit when relying on a business website for customers with little to no Internet access. Bryan Nelson, the owner of 218 Handyman Services, provides his services to residents living in rural areas of St. Louis county.

“There’s nothing, not even a cell service. It’s dead,” Nelson said. “It’s okay for camping.” However, Nelson says if he is trying to work he can do a little business while he’s there. “But most of the time I can’t, because there’s nothing.”

Mesabi Tribune…

Minnesota legislators passed a bill in May that allocates $125 million over the course of fiscal years 2024 and 2025 for border-to-border broadband funding. Twenty million dollars per year is dedicated to lower population density program grants. Lawmakers raised the amount of grant awards available per project from $5 million to $10 million. They created a lower population density grant program. In that program, the state could fund up to 75%, instead of 50%, of the cost of projects in unserved and underserved areas of Minnesota.

In 2016, Minnesota legislators decided to set the state’s broadband goal to be to enable all homes and businesses to have at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds by 2022 and at least 100 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload speeds by 2026.

States have until 180 days after June 30 to submit their proposals describing how they will run their grant programs, the U.S. Department of Commerce said.

“The BEAD funding will be used to deploy or upgrade broadband networks to ensure that everyone has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed Internet service,” the department said. “Once deployment goals are met, any remaining funding can be used to pursue eligible access-, adoption-, and equity-related uses.”

 

Minnesota’s federal broadband BEAD allotment is $650 million

Posted on by
Reply

To be more specific, Minnesota has been allocated $651,839,368.20 for the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. This is slightly more than $650 million estimated last summer. It is undoubtedly a large chunk of money, but as noted in an article in MinnPost, it’s not enough.

In October [2021], the state estimated about 88.5 percent of Minnesotans have access to wireline internet like DSL, cable and fiber at speeds of 100/20 Mbps. And in March, before the Legislature approved $110 million for broadband, DEED officials said they would conservatively estimate the cost of meeting the 2026 goal for adequate broadband at $1.3 billion.

The NTIA reports…

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced how it has allocated funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories to deploy affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service to everyone in America. This “Internet for All” initiative is a key component of President Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda.

States, D.C., and territories will use funding from the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to administer grant programs within their borders. The President, Vice President, and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the allocations today at the White House.

“What this announcement means for people across the country is that if you don’t have access to quality, affordable high-speed Internet service now – you will, thanks to President Biden and his commitment to investing in America,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Whether it’s connecting people to the digital economy, manufacturing fiber-optic cable in America, or creating good paying jobs building Internet infrastructure in the states, the investments we’re announcing will increase our competitiveness and spur economic growth across the country for years to come.”

“This is a watershed moment for millions of people across America who lack access to a high-speed Internet connection. Access to Internet service is necessary for work, education, healthcare, and more,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communication and Information Alan Davidson. “States can now plan their Internet access grant programs with confidence and engage with communities to ensure this money is spent where it is most needed.”

“Put simply, high-speed Internet is a necessity in today’s society,” said Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to the President and White House Infrastructure Coordinator. “Just like President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Rural Electrification Act made a historic investment in rural areas bringing electricity to nearly every home in America, President Biden and Vice President Harris are committed to leaving no community behind as we connect everyone in America to high-speed Internet.”

The BEAD funding will be used to deploy or upgrade broadband networks to ensure that everyone has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed Internet service. Once deployment goals are met, any remaining funding can be used to pursue eligible access-, adoption-, and equity-related uses. 

Details related to the allocation for the states, D.C., and territories are available on InternetForAll.Gov.   

States, D.C., and territories (“Eligible Entities”) will receive their formal notice of allocation on June 30, 2023. Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Eligible Entities have 180 days from the date of that formal notice to submit their Initial Proposals describing how they propose to run their grant programs. Eligible Entities can begin submitting their Initial Proposals starting July 1, 2023. Once NTIA approves an Initial Proposal, which will occur on a rolling basis, Eligible Entities will be permitted to request access to at least 20 percent of their allocated funds.

 

Common Sense determines Affordable Connectivity Program is good investment – worth continuing

Posted on by
Reply

Common Sense reports on ACP, as policymakers are deciding whether to continue it and what to do next…

Here are five facts about the impact the ACP is having on families across the country:

  • Roughly 50 million households qualify for the subsidy. That’s nearly 40% of the country.
  • Over 18.5 million households are currently enrolled. That’s more than 14% of the country.
  • In 2023, ACP enrollment grew by over half a million every month, or at a rate of 3.5% per month.
  • Majorities in both parties support the ACP: Sixty-four percent of Republicans and 95% of Democrats.
  • The ACP’s success is bipartisan. Forty-six percent of enrollees live in Republican congressional districts, and 50% live in Democratic congressional districts.

The benefit of the ACP also reaches well beyond eligible households. Our research found that connecting families has a significant positive impact on education, health care, government services, and even workforce development. When more households are connected to high-speed internet, outcomes can improve in each of these sectors. For example, when students remain unconnected, our research found an estimated loss of $33 billion dollars in GDP annually. By connecting students, the country could avoid this loss.

A recent analysis by Cigna noted that telemedicine access lowered the cost of care by up to $141 per visit. The same analysis found that telemedicine increased the number of entry points into the health care system as well as improved outcomes. With more families connected, telemedicine could be an option for more people, both patients and providers. Connectivity also increases employment rates and earnings, creating more than $2,200 in economic benefit for lower-income households.

Both new and established providers need certainty that ACP will remain in place as they decide whether to participate in the biggest new broadband infrastructure program, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, and determine how ambitious they can be in their proposals.

Our recent analysis found that the existence of ACP led to an estimated 25% reduction in the per household subsidy needed to incentivize providers in rural areas. ACP is the linchpin that will turn the IIJA’s massive once-in-a-generation investment in broadband from a program that is just about building networks to one that is helping our most vulnerable communities connect to the benefits of the digital economy.

NTIA awards $930M for broadband: MN will benefit from one award

Posted on by
Reply

The NITA (Internet for All) reports…

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced $930,021,354.34 to expand middle mile high-speed Internet infrastructure across 35 states and Puerto Rico as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All Initiative, the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program invests in projects that build regional networks that connect to national Internet networks.

More info on the award in Minnesota:

Dairyland Power Cooperative
Tri-State Fiber Deployment Project (TSFDP)
Total Project cost: $30,387,913.86
Primary State: WI
Secondary States: MN IA
Counties/Islands Impacted: Barron, Polk, Burnett, and Washburn Counties in Wisconsin, Winneshiek and Mitchell Counties in Iowa, and Fillmore, Freeborn, and Mower Counties in Minnesota.
Purpose: Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC) will implement its Tri-State Fiber Deployment Project (TSFDP), which will retrofit 240.23 miles of fiber optic communications network using mostly optical ground wire (OPGW) on DPCs transmission lines in 3 years. Through the TSFDP, last mile providers in these regions will have enhanced capacity to reach unserved and unserved residents at affordable rates and help bridge the nations digital divide.

More info on the awards…

New Middle Mile Grants

  • The middle mile projects will cover over 350 counties across 35 states and Puerto Rico.
  • The projects will deploy over 12,000 miles of new fiber that will pass within 1,000 feet of 6,961 community anchor institutions.
  • All projects use future-proof fiber as the primary technology.
  • Awardees are investing an additional $848.46 million of outside match funding into the projects.
  • Grants span from $2.7 million to $88.8 million, with an average award amount of $26.6 million.

Background on the Enabling Middle Mile Grant Program

  • Over 260 applications were submitted totaling $7.47 billion in funding requests.
  • Applications for the Middle Mile program were due by September 30, 2022. NTIA extended the application deadline to Nov. 1, 2022, for eligible entities that submitted applications for projects that would deploy in certain areas impacted by natural disasters.
  • To raise awareness of the program and guide prospective applicants, NTIA performed extensive outreach, including hosting 12 public office hour sessions, conducting four public webinars for prospective applicants, and participating in six industry-led conferences to discuss the Middle Mile program.
  • Eligible awardees for the program included states, Tribal governments, utility companies, telecommunication companies, and nonprofit entities. For a full list of eligible entities visit InternetForAll.Gov.

More awards will be announced as applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

US Conference of Mayors on broadband: Yes to money and local control

Posted on by
Reply

Borrowing from the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s recap of the US Conference of Mayors broadband-related resolutions…

The U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted the following resolutions:

  1. Urging Congress to renew and extend the Affordable Connectivity Program funding in 2024 to ensure currently enrolled ACP low-income households continue to have access to affordable high-speed internet, recognizing that closing the digital divide will allow Americans to access the resources they need and strengthen the U.S. economy to compete in the 21st Century.
  2. Requesting BEAD, ACP, and Digital Equity Act funding be allocated with cities and urban centers in mind, recognizing that high density, low-income communities of color are a primary population that the broadband programs seeks to connect.
  3. Calling on the United States Senate to promptly confirm Anna M. Gomez to fill the vacant fifth FCC Commissioner seat and to reconfirm Geoffrey Adam Starks and Brendan Carr for additional terms as Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission.
  4. Opposing the American Broadband Act of 2023 (HR 3557)—which would pre-empt local governments’ rights-of-way compensation and management authority, zoning powers, cable franchising authority, and property rights—and urging the House and Senate not to pass this legislation.

OBD Director Bree Maki talks MN Broadband on Rural-Urban MN Twin Talks

Posted on by
Reply

Fun to see friends online. Jane Leonard started a podcast (Rural-Urban MN Twin Talks) with her twin sister Karin Sonneman to have interesting chats about Minnesota. This week they had Office of Broadband Development Director Bree Maki.

Bree talks about all of the opportunities available at OBD on a practical basis and gives an update on the IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) funding requirements. (We’ll know more at the end of June.) But according to the last MN Broadband Task Force report there are 291,000 unserved homes in Minnesota and it would cost $1.4 billion to serve everyone. A guestimate for the amount Minnesota will get from IIJA is $600 million.

The US needs a National Broadband Strategy – so said GAO study

Posted on by
Reply

The study isn’t new but it was discussed Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives. I’ve tried to pull out the highest-level points. The need for better coordination and collaboration has never been higher as so much gets poured into rural broadband. The amount is not enough to get everyone covered, but certainly there are ways to maximize investment…

How much federal money has been invested and how much to come?

Our prior work found that federal investments from 2009 through 2017 totaled nearly $50 billion for broadband infrastructure in unserved or underserved areas. Starting in 2020, COVID-19 relief laws, along with regular appropriations, have provided an infusion of funding for broadband, including for many new broadband programs. Most recently, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act appropriated nearly $65 billion for new and existing broadband programs. Further, the President has set a goal of universal American access to broadband by 2030.

How many programs are there?

We identified at least 133 funding programs—administered across 15 agencies—that can be used to support broadband access, including support for planning and deploying infrastructure, making service affordable, providing devices, and building digital skills. Some of these programs support broadband as their main purpose or one possible purpose, and others can be used for multiple purposes related to broadband. Eligible recipients for these programs range widely and include: internet providers; other private sector entities; nonprofits; tribal, state, and local governments; education agencies; and healthcare providers. Through these programs, federal agencies invested at least $44 billion in broadband-support activities from fiscal years 2015–2020, according to our analysis of agencies’ data.6 See our report for a list of broadband funding award information by agency and program.

Having numerous broadband programs can be helpful to address a multifaceted issue like broadband access, but this fragmentation can also mean that programs overlap and lead to the risk of duplicative support.

What are the challenges in accessing funds?

  • Identifying relevant programs
  • Administrative complexity
  • Complementary use of programs
  • Unintended results of program restrictions

Is there a plan?

…there is no current overarching strategy that synchronizes these efforts and establishes agency accountability. FCC developed the National Broadband Plan in 2010, and while FCC officials said they still consider the plan relevant as a framework for modernizing policies, they acknowledge it is now outdated.14 Furthermore, officials from several agencies told us that no national broadband strategy of this scope is currently in effect.

What are the recommendations?

In our May 2022 report, we recommended that NTIA consult with relevant agencies, as well as the Office of Management and Budget and other White House offices, and present to Congress a report that identifies the key statutory provisions that limit the beneficial alignment of broadband programs and offers legislative proposals to address the limitations, as appropriate. At the time we issued the report, the Department of Commerce agreed with our recommendation. Since then, NTIA told us it plans to solicit input about statutory limitations and legislative proposals from relevant agencies during interagency broadband meetings. NTIA also told us that it plans to provide a report to Congress by May 31, 2026 that will, among other things, identify barriers and statutory limitations that limit the beneficial alignment of broadband programs and offer potential legislative changes, as appropriate.19

We also recommended that the Executive Office of the President develop and implement a national broadband strategy and that it include a national strategy for closing the gap in broadband access on tribal lands.20 Both strategies should include clear roles, goals, objectives, and performance measures to support better management of fragmented, overlapping federal broadband programs and synchronize coordination efforts. At the time of our report, the Executive Office of the President was considering if a national strategy was needed. As of this testimony, it has not developed a national strategy for broadband. However, the National Economic Council said it is prioritizing broadband coordination, including by chairing a leadership committee attended by key agency heads and convening a broadband working group that coordinates interagency efforts.

There appears to be a timing difference in FCC map challenges depending on whether they are bulk or individual

Posted on by
Reply

Thank you Telecompetitor for asking the FCC about broadband mapping challenges. A quick centering of the story … the FCC created new maps saying that federal funding will be doled out (partly) based on the maps. People and communities are worried because the maps are not always correct. People can challenge the maps in two ways. Individuals can submit a challenge for their location OR a community can submit a bulk challenge. The bulk challenge requires more technical skills; turns out unserved communities don’t always have those skills on the payroll. Individual challenges are more straightforward but that means convincing a lot of people to make a claim; turns out, residents of unserved areas may lack broadband, device and skills to submit a challenge. Never mind time required for either type of challenge.

Now the update from Telecompetitor…

Over the past few months, the FCC and NTIA have recommended filing dates for bulk challenges to the National Broadband Map, which is updated twice yearly. But stakeholders hadn’t seen similar guidance from either agency about individual challenges.

Telecompetitor asked the FCC about this and, based on what a spokesperson told us, individual challenges could be addressed more quickly than bulk challenges – at least when it comes to availability challenges. Details about that later in this post. First, some definitions.

There are some suggested timelines…

Although any type of challenge can be filed at any time, the NTIA and FCC have advised stakeholders of dates by which bulk challenges should be filed in order for them to be adjudicated in time to impact the next version of the map, which the FCC updates twice yearly.

It sounds like the individual challenges can take up to 120 days to be resolved or processed as unserved but that may be quicker than bulk challenges…

Regarding the timing of availability challenges from individuals, the spokesperson noted that after a preliminary review by commission staff, fixed availability challenges are sent to providers, usually within only a few days. Providers then have 60 days to either concede the challenge (in which case the provider’s availability at challenged locations will be removed from the map) or to provide evidence to dispute the challenge.

“If the provider disputes the challenge, it then has 60 days to work with the challenger to resolve the dispute,” the spokesperson said. “We expect that most challenges will be resolved during these initial phases, but if not, the FCC will review the evidence to make a determination of whether the map will continue to show that the provider has availability at the challenged location.”

The results of availability challenges are reflected on “a rolling basis as they are resolved,” the spokesperson said.

Although the spokesperson did not answer our question asking the filing date associated with the most recent availability challenges that had been adjudicated, the timeline outlined above suggests that an individual would have had to make the challenge at least 60 days and possibly more than 120 days in advance of the next broadband map update expected in May or June in order for the resolution of the challenge to be reflected on that version of the map.

Potentially, that’s less time than NTIA expected the FCC to take for bulk challenges. Late last year, NTIA advised stakeholders to file bulk challenges by January 13 in order to have them adjudicated in time to be reflected on the version of the map that is expected in May or June.

 

Report estimates cost for nationwide ubiquitous broadband at $230 billion – that’s not what’s being invested

Posted on by
Reply

Telecompetitor reports…

The cost to the federal government to bring fiber broadband to every U.S. household that NTIA considers “unserved” or “underserved” would be approximately $230 billion, according to a study from fixed wireless equipment provider Tarana Wireless, which gave Telecompetitor an exclusive first look at the study. That’s more than five times the funding that the government has earmarked for broadband deployments in the BEAD and RDOF programs, the study notes.

The $230 billion estimate is the amount of funding needing after factoring in the 25% matching funds that network operators are required to contribute to project costs, Tarana said.

Part of a librarian’s bibliographic instruction 101 is looking at who wrote it and why. Here the author is a fixed wireless equipment provider. They are trying to make the case that it’s too expensive to pull fiber to everyone but that wireless is a viable solution…

Guidelines for the BEAD program established by the NTIA require funding recipients to deploy fiber unless the cost per location exceeds the extremely high cost per location threshold or for “other valid reasons.”

Tarana and other fixed wireless stakeholders are hoping that states will seek waivers of the requirement to deploy fiber broadband so that they can direct funding to less costly fixed wireless builds, thereby reaching more people.

In the absence of those waivers, “we will run out of money and will not be [addressing] the Digital Divide today because of how long it takes to lay all that fiber,” said Carl Guardino, vice president of government affairs for Tarana, in an interview with Telecompetitor.

They aren’t wrong. Fiber is more expensive, but it is more reliable. Wireless is impacted by capacity, weather and line of sight issues. So… Do we reach the most people we can? Or do we reach the areas with the hardest business case to make for investment? Or judge by terrain? And if there is a demarcation of where to deploy fiber and wireless – are we creating future broadband ghettos? Yes, a person without broadband now will happily take a wireless connection – but will new people or businesses move into those areas?

The future is both wired and wireless. Communities, residents and businesses that have both are better poised for success. Maybe we ask for more money.

NPR introduces the Rural Partners Network

Posted on by
Reply

NPR recent ran a story that describes what many readers are experiencing – the excitement of so much money coming becoming available for broadband and other infrastructure projects but nervousness of not knowing how your community is going to apply. So many of the communities that are a good match for funding lack the resources to even look into it.

Rural Partners Network has been set up to help folks. They help with information and are available for help in some communities. Unfortunately, they don’t appear to be available in Minnesota – but I see Wisconsin is on their list.

Learn more from the NPR story – quick to read or listen to it.

Digital equity experts talk about how to sustain the push to improve

Posted on by
Reply

Government Technology posts about what’s happening a Net Inclusion, the annual conference for digital equity folks, hosted by NDIA (National Digital Inclusion Alliance) – they are the folks who have successfully pushed for better understanding of broadband adoption as well as access for years. This article focused on how we can capitalize on the funding that’s coming through federal channels (BEAD and IIJA) even after those funds are discontinued…

Many communities have digital inclusion ecosystems and have for a good while. The work that comes next for digital inclusion is strengthening them. The NDIA also offers guidance on what makes a digital inclusion ecosystem strong.
This includes having programs and policies that address all of the aspects for the digital divide, including affordable and subsidized broadband as well as device ownership. There should also be multilingual digital literacy and skills training available, tech support and digital navigators to guide residents in all of the above. Finally, there needs to be collaboration on digital inclusion work between policymakers, advocates, social service groups, community leaders and, really, anyone else in a given community that holds public sway.
Another absolutely key thing for continuing digital inclusion work long term is data. And not data that shows people why the Internet is important — that question has been answered — but rather data about the specifics of digital equity programs in a community. To keep this work strong and thriving past its moment, Siefer said practitioners need data around how digital equity programs work, why they work, and who is benefiting from them.
That last question is perhaps the most crucial, as its answer is likely to lead to continued interest and funding. Who benefits from digital inclusion work? The answer is most — if not all — of the nation’s biggest industries: health care, education, telecommunications and even retail.

OPPPORTUNITY: MN Dep of Commerce looking to work with or connect tribal communities

Posted on by
Reply

Here is a lot of information (via email) from Minnesota Department of Commerce | Energy Division…

The Minnesota Department of Commerce is seeking to work with and facilitate connections with local and Tribal governments, utilities, businesses, communities and other entities interested in energy-related partnerships. The opportunities outlined below are offered through federal funding opportunities, including those funded by the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Recent and Expected Federal Funding Activity

The federal government issues a variety of announcements related to federal funding opportunities:  Requests for Information (RFI); Notices of Intent (NOI); and Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA). More information can be found on the Commerce Federal Funding Opportunities web page or by clicking the links below. In order to facilitate a quick review of this newsletter, the subject matter of included items is recapped here; full details can be found in the body of the newsletter.

  • Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA), Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD), and Requests for Applications (RFA)
    • DOE Announces $47 Million To Develop Affordable Clean Hydrogen Technologies
    • Onsight Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships
    • DOE Announces $25.5 Million to Improve Biofuels and Bioproducts
    • $74 Million to Advance Enhanced Geothermal Systems
  •  Notices of Intent (NOI)
    • Clean Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands
    • IRA 60114 – Climate Pollution Production Grants
    • IIJA Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects and Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects
    • Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas Program
  • Requests For Information (RFI)
    • Draft Application Guidance for $553.6 Million Program to Ensure the Availability of Clean, Reliable Hydroelectric Generation Capacity
  •  Prizes
    • The Equitable and Affordable Solutions to Electrification (EAS-E) Home Electrification Prize
    • Community Power Accelerator Prize
    • Energy Class Prize
    • Energizing Rural Communities Prize
  • Webinars
    • Designed to Deliver: Lessons Learned from Architects, Engineers, and Contractors in Zero-Carbon Buildings
    • Industry-Perspective Webinar on IRA Tax Implications and Market Opportunities
    • Ecosystem Services of Solar-Pollinator Habitat Webinar
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Climate Planning
    • Innovative AgriSolar Design
  • Conferences
    • DOE’s 2023 Small Business Forum & Expo
    • 2023 National Energy Codes Conference
  • Guides
    • Farmers Guide to Going Solar
    • National Requirements for Zero Energy Ready Single-Family Homes
    • New Energy Justice Mapping Tool for Schools
  • Clean Energy Tax Credit Information
    • Heat Pumps Keep Homes Warm and Bills Low this Winter
    • Geothermal Heat Pumps Tax Credit|Energy Star
    • Solar Investment Tax Credit: What Changed?
    • Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics
    • Zero Energy Ready Homes Are Coming to a Neighborhood Near You
    • Federal Solar Tax Credits for Businesses
    • Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency Residential Tax Credits
    • Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – What it Means for You

— Non-IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)

  • DOE Announces $47 Million To Develop Affordable Clean Hydrogen Technologies
    • Concept papers due: February 24, 2023
    • Full applications due: April 28, 2023.
    • DE-FOA-0002920

This funding opportunity, which is administered by DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, focuses on RD&D of key hydrogen delivery and storage technologies as well as affordable and durable fuel cell technologies. Fuel cell RD&D projects will focus particularly on applications for heavy-duty trucks, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and eliminate tailpipe emissions that are harmful to local air quality.

  •  Onsight Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships
    • Information Webinar: 2/22/2023 – 12:00 PM CT Register here
    • Letter of Intent (optional) Deadline: 2/28/2023 – 4:00 PM CT
    • Full Application Deadline: 4/21/2023 – 4:00 PM CT
    • DE-FOA-0002945

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) announced a $23 million funding opportunity that will establish a regional network of Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs) to help industrial facilities and other large energy users increase the adoption of onsite energy technologies. The Onsite Energy TAPs will accelerate the integration and deployment of clean energy technologies to drive U.S. industrial decarbonization, productivity, and competitiveness. This funding opportunity includes the following topic areas:Topic 1 – Regional Onsite TAPs: Funding for up to 10 entities to serve as regional Onsite Energy TAPs. Each TAP will represent a multi-state region and serve as the primary technical, market, and policy point of contact for end-users and other state and local stakeholders.Topic 2 – Onsite Energy Technical Analysis and Support Center: Funding for one national entity to serve as the Onsite Energy Technical Analysis and Support Center (TASC). The TASC will centrally coordinate technical analysis and programmatic activities of the Onsite Energy TAPs.

–IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)

  • DOE Announces $25.5 Million to Improve Biofuels and Bioproducts

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $25.5 million in funding to enable the sustainable use of domestic biomass and waste resources, such as agricultural residues and algae, to produce low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts.The “Reducing Agricultural Carbon Intensity and Protecting Algal Crops” funding opportunity will improve the production of environmentally sustainable feedstocks for bioenergy through two topic areas:

  1. Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices for Low-Carbon Intensity Feedstocks, and
  2. Algae Crop Protection

Recognizing that decarbonizing transportation and agriculture are inherently linked when it comes to the thoughtful production and deployment of biofuels, this funding opportunity focuses on improving climate-smart agricultural practices that reduce the carbon intensity of biomass feedstocks used for biofuel production, and cultivating and protecting algae crops, an abundant and renewable biofuel source.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a funding opportunity of up to $74 million for up to seven pilot projects that will test the efficacy and scalability of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS).  Through this investment, DOE hopes the research and development from the findings would demonstrate the growth and ultimate potential for geothermal energy to provide reliable, around-the-clock electricity to tens of millions of homes across the country. Applications for the BIL-funded EGS Pilot Demonstrations will be accepted over multiple rounds.

— IIJA Notice of Intent (NOI)

  • $2.5 Billion for Two Carbon Capture Programs
    • NOI
    • DOE plans to release both funding announcements in late February 2023

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), in collaboration with the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), intends to provide up to $2.52 billion to fund two carbon capture programs needed to reduce carbon emissions from the electricity generation and industrial sectors. The Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilots program will include $820 million for up to 10 projects focused on scaling transformational carbon capture technologies. The Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects program will include up to $1.7 billion for approximately six projects to demonstrate commercial-scale carbon capture technologies, pipeline transportation, and geologic storage infrastructure. The pilot program seeks to catalyze earlier stage technologies with great potential, while the demonstrations program will focus on technologies that will further commercialization.

— Non-IIJA Notice of Intent (NOI)

  • Clean Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands – 2023

The DOE Office of Indian Energy plans to solicit applications from Indian Tribes, which include Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations (hereafter referred collectively as “Indian Tribes”), Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations to:

  1. Install clean energy generating system(s) and/or energy efficiency measure(s) for tribal building(s); or,
  2. Deploy community-scale clean energy generating system(s) or energy storage on tribal lands; or,
  3. Install integrated energy system(s) for autonomous operation (independent of the traditional centralized electric power grid) to power a single or multiple essential tribal buildings during emergency situations or for tribal community resilience; or,
  4. Power unelectrified tribal buildings.
  • IRA – 60114 – Climate Pollution Production Grants
    • IRA 60114 NOI
    • Planning Grants announcement anticipated for March 2023

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program will provide grants to states, territories, tribes, air pollution control agencies, and local governments to develop and implement plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution.  Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act provides an investment of $5 billion to support efforts by states, territories, municipalities, tribes, and groups thereof to develop and implement strong, local greenhouse gas reduction strategies. This two-staged grant program provides funding of $250 million for planning grants, and $4.6 billion for implementation grants.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) intends to issue a funding opportunity in March 2023 for up to $300 million to improve the cost, reliability, environmental impact, and climate resilience of energy systems in rural or remote areas across the country with 10,000 or fewer inhabitants. To provide equal opportunity to qualified applicants from rural and remote areas across the United States, this FOA is organized into nine geographic regions to reflect regional diversity in energy consumption and access, varying weather patterns, and climate impacts.The anticipated funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program aims to fund projects with the following three goals:

  1. Deliver measurable benefits to energy customers in rural or remote areas by funding energy projects that lower energy cost, improve energy resilience, and/or reduce environmental harm.
  2. Demonstrate new rural or remote energy system models using climate-resilient technologies, new business structures and workforce models, new financing mechanisms, and/or new community engagement best practices.
  3. Build clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance in rural America in order to enhance ease of replicability in similarly situated communities.

–IIJA Request for Information (RFI)

  • 40333 – Draft Application Guidance for $553.6 Million Program to Ensure the Availability of Clean, Reliable Hydroelectric Generation Capacity
    • Draft Application Guidance
      • A public webinar will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2023 that will provide the public with an opportunity to provide feedback. Registration is required. Additional feedback options are available.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued draft application guidance for a hydroelectric incentive program focused on maintaining and enhancing hydroelectric facilities to ensure generators continue to provide clean electricity, while integrating renewable energy resources such as wind and solar, improving dam safety, and reducing environmental impacts. In releasing the draft guidance, DOE is requesting feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, clean-energy advocates, and local governments and communities on eligibility, application requirements, and timing of incentive payments. Leveraging operational flexibility and energy storage capabilities, hydropower supports energy resource adequacy to ensure the availability of clean, reliable generation capacity allowing all Americans access to clean, resilient, and affordable electricity.

–Prizes

  • The Equitable and Affordable Solutions to Electrification (EAS-E) Home Electrification Prize
    • More Information
    • Concept Paper – Phase 1 due: March 8, 2023
    • Pilot Demonstration – Phase 2 opens October 2023 – submissions due: April 2024

Provides up to $2.4 million in prizes for innovative solutions that advance electrification retrofits of residential homes across all building types and geographies.

  • DOE Launches $10 Million Prize to Accelerate Community Solar in Underrepresented Communities

DOE’s National Community Solar Partnership launched the Community Power Accelerator Prize, a $10 million competition that will bring together investors, nonprofits, developers, community-based organizations, and technical experts to work together to finance more equitable community solar projects. The competition will support developers with technical assistance, an online platform, and a Learning Lab to build a pipeline of credit-ready projects that will connect with investors seeking to fund community solar in disadvantaged communities.

The Energy Champions Leading the Advancement of Sustainable Schools (CLASS) Prize will provide training and cash prizes to school districts working to make energy management a sustainable feature of their communities. The Prize is designed to position Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to make meaningful infrastructure improvements that will reduce utility costs, improve indoor air quality, and improve learning environments long-term. A total of $4.5 million in awards is available, including $3.75 million in cash prizes for selected LEAs to fund energy management professionals-in-training, and an additional $750,000 in technical assistance from Energy CLASS Training Network partners.

The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations is launching this $15 million to challenge individuals and organizations to develop partnership plans and innovative financing strategies to help rural or remote communities improve their energy systems and make progress on advancing clean energy demonstration projects.

Resources

–Webinars

  • Designed to Deliver: Lessons Learned from Architects, Engineers, and Contractors in Zero-Carbon Buildings

Architects, engineers, and contractors (A/E/C) are essential in designing and delivering buildings that offer top value to clients while meeting energy and carbon goals. This discussion will highlight the A/E/C and client barriers to routine design and delivery of zero-carbon buildings, in addition to resources developed by the Better Buildings Design and Construction Allies that address the challenges.

  • Industry-Perspective Webinar on IRA Tax Implications and Market Opportunities

The Business Council for Sustainable Energy, the Federal Performance Contracting Coalition, and the National Association of Energy Service Companies will host a free webinar exploring the Inflation Reduction Act’s tax implications and market opportunities for energy efficiency and sustainable energy projects. The panelists will also discuss tax opportunities and their structures, process and timing, and potential challenges.

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Climate Planning

Climate change disproportionately impacts certain communities, that is why diversity, equity, and inclusion are crucial to consider when creating a climate action plan. Learn how Better Buildings partners ensure their actions respond to the needs of those most impacted by climate change and policy.

  • It’s Electric! Electrified Alternatives to Industrial Fossil Fuel Systems

Learn about the benefits and challenges in implementing electrified systems.

A roundtable discussion

–Conferences

  • DOE’s 2023 Small Business Forum & Expo – Register Now!
    • Don’t miss your chance to gain exclusive access to:
    • Informative keynotes from top administration officials
    • Breakout sessions led by industry leaders and experts in the field
    • One-on-one matchmaking sessions
    • An exhibit hall showcasing the latest products and services for building your business and increasing revenue
    • Countless networking opportunities

Make plans now to join other business owners and government officials to learn how to increase revenue and grow your business. Register by April 30 to take advantage of early-bird savings!

  • 2023 National Energy Codes Conference
    • 2023 National Energy Codes Conference!
    • What: 2023 National Energy Codes Conference
    • When: May 2-4, 2023
    • Where: The Palmer House, Chicago, IL
    • Who: Builders, designers, code officials, policymakers, and code stakeholders of all types!

After three years in a virtual setting, this year’s event will be held in-person in Chicago, Illinois.  With new energy code funding opportunities emerging from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act there will be no shortage of timely discussions, engaging topics, and networking opportunities.

–Guides

  • The Updated Farmer’s Guide to Going Solar – a resource for farms and agricultural businesses looking to solar power their daily operations and diversify their revenue stream. Updated Farmer’s Guide to Going Solar
  • New National Requirements for Zero Energy Ready Single-Family Homes – DOE’s Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program in EERE’s Building Technologies Office (BTO) has released Version 2 of its national program requirements for single-family homes (ZERH V2), the most significant overhaul of DOE’s energy and environmental performance benchmarks in history. The over 12,000 zero-energy certified homes across the country are so energy efficient—often 40 to 50% more than a typical new home—they consistently offset most or all the energy they consume with renewable power. Video: What is a Zero Energy Ready Home?
  • New Energy Justice Mapping Tool for Schools – This new tool is intended to allow users to explore and produce reports for a specific school facility which include but are not limited to the following metrics: whether the school is located in a Disadvantaged Community (DAC); whether it is in a rural location (coded as 41, 42, 43); whether it is designated as a community shelter; the percentage of students who are eligible to receive free and reduced priced meals; and whether the school qualifies for Title I schoolwide programming.  Energy Justice Mapping Tool for Schools

–Clean Energy Tax Credit Information Resources

As of January 1, 2023, households buying an electric heat pump and other high efficiency equipment can claim a 30% federal tax credit of up to $2,000. In addition to federal tax credits, this guide summarizes other new programs that will make heat pumps even more affordable and accessible to consumers.

As of January 1, 2023, households buying a geothermal heat pump can claim a federal tax credit of up to 30%.

The Inflation Reduction Act expanded the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics through a provision known as the Investment Tax Credit. Learn about the biggest changes and what they mean for Americans who install rooftop solar.

This guide provides an overview of the federal investment tax credit for those interested in residential solar photovoltaics.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alejandro Moreno discusses new efforts to help subsidize construction of Zero Energy Ready Homes.

Read about two solar tax credits available for businesses and other entities, such as nonprofits and local and tribal governments, that purchase solar energy systems.

Search for incentives by geography, technology, eligible sector, program type, and more.

–Federal Tax Credits Under the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 created and updated several energy-related tax credits and deductions that may affect federal tax returns for individuals and businesses. For details — including tax credits for clean vehicles, energy efficiency, and other provisions — see Credits and Deductions Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on the IRS website.

–For Stakeholders Planning on Applying Directly to the U.S. Government for Funding

NOTE: Due to the high demand of UEI requests and SAM registrations, entity legal business name and address validations are taking longer than expected to process. Entities should start the UEI and SAM registration/update process immediately as the processing time to complete a registration/update currently may take weeks to months. This includes address and expired registration updates. If entities have technical difficulties with the UEI validation or SAM registration process they should utilize the HELP feature on SAM.gov. SAM.gov will work entity service tickets in the order in which they are received and asks that entities not create multiple service tickets for the same request or technical issue. Additional entity validation resources can be found here: GSAFSD Tier 0 Knowledge Base – Validating your Entity.

The MN Commerce Department is your partner for federal energy-specific funding opportunities

Interested in partnering with the Department of Commerce around funding opportunities? Have questions? Send an email, detailing the program, your organization and contact information to IIJA Initiatives Project Manager, Kellye Rose: fedquestions.commerce@state.mn.us.Sign up for future email updates from the Department of Commerce.
Subscribe here

More follow up from OBD from Connecting One Minnesota Workshop

Posted on by
Reply

Shared from the Office of Broadband Development with permission – lots of ways to get more info…

Thank you for joining us at the Internet for All: Connecting One Minnesota Workshop on January 25. Below are links to the recording of the event and presentations.

 

Recording

Internet for All: Connecting One Minnesota Workshop

 

Presentations

Overview of Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities – Baltazar

Overview of Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities – Boening

Overview of Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities – Karst

Overview of Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities – Roark

Overview of Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities – Rutyna

Next Steps: Barriers and Tools to Break Them Down – Buckland

Next Steps: Barriers and Tools to Break Them Down – Karst

Next Steps: Barriers and Tools to Break Them Down – Wells

 

For more information about the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and their programs, please visit their webpage or you can reach out to:

You can reach out to the Minnesota broadband team at:

And for information about NTIA’s broadband programs, please visit Internet for All or you can email BEAD@ntia.gov or DigitalEquity@ntia.gov for specific questions about these programs. We also encourage you to visit NTIA’s State, Local, and Tribal Nations pages for additional information and resources. If you have any questions for NTIA, please reach out to Tom Karst, Federal Program Officer for Minnesota (tkarst@ntia.gov.)

Need help creating your digital equity plan? Here’s an option

Posted on by
Reply

This isn’t the only handbook and I don’t know that it’s the best but we can all use more help with the funding opportunities that are coming to the communities…

This Handbook offers key principles and best practices that state and local governments should follow in structuring their digital equity plans and establishing and supporting digital equity programs. States, territories, and Tribes are currently developing digital equity plans to meet the funding requirements of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). 1 County, municipal, and local governments also are developing more localized digital equity plans, recognizing the importance of home broadband connectivity and online services to social, civic, and economic participation, and leveraging funding provided under available federal and state programs.

This Handbook focuses on the importance of building “digital equity” into broadband availability and adoption programs. Digital equity requires acknowledging that different individuals and groups of individuals will require different skills, resources, and opportunities to successfully participate in an increasingly digital world, and empowering them to do so.

Broadband availability and adoption programs should be equitable by design, meaning programs should seek to address underlying social and economic inequalities and should focus, as appropriate, on groups, areas, and characteristics of greatest need: low-income groups; rural areas; communities with low rates of literacy and digital skills; aging individuals; persons with disabilities; and minority groups with low adoption rates.