Tag Archives: Line Extension

Office of Broadband Development Updates Oct 8: Conferences. Line Extension and BEAD Updates

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Broadband in the news
  • Line Extension Connection Program update
  • BEAD updates
  • Broadband Task Force, October meeting plans

Broadband in the news

OBD Executive Director, Bree Maki (pictured above) on the panel, The Future of Broadband Policy & BEAD Program Implementation at the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) TechExpo25.

More mentions of BEAD in the news include Broadband Breakfast’s story on States race to meet federal broadband funding deadline and the Fierce Network’s States feel pressured to hurry up with new BEAD rules.

Bree Maki and OBD’s new Broadband Environmental and Land Use Coordinator, Megan Messerole, presented at the Minnesota Telecom Alliance 2025 Fall Conference. The event focused on key issues impacting the telecommunications industry, and Megan shared on her new role in working with internet service providers on navigating permitting processes for both state and federally funded broadband projects.

Line Extension Connection Program update

The Round 4 Line Extension bidding window opened, September 26, 2025.

OBD expects the round to have $3.5M in Capital Projects Fund (CPF) dollars available to grant. Information and resources on Line Extension are posted to the OBD Line Extension Connection Program webpage. OBD also expects to run a fifth round of Line Extension with state project funds.

While the window for residential and business sign-ups to be included in the bidding for Round 4 of the Line Extension Connection Program has closed, registration will remain open for future rounds if and as funding is available.

Questions on Line Extension can be sent to deed.broadband@state.mn.us or (651)-259-7610.

BEAD updates

As required by the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the Minnesota OBD submitted its Final Draft Proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), including the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, on September 4, 2025. NTIA has committed to review and approve plans in 90 days.

OBD will continue to revise and update the documents as required by NTIA and as is necessary to ensure all BEAD eligible locations are served as defined by the policy notice.

Updated and additional information will be posted to the OBD BEAD webpage.

Broadband Task Force, October meeting plans

The Broadband Task Force will be meeting on Wednesday, October 15 from 10am-12:30pm in Clearwater, MN at a TelCom Construction Training Facility. This meeting will be held in-person and is open to anyone from the public to attend.

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

Office of Broadband Development Update Sep 24, 2025: BEAD mapping and Line Extension

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Mapping + data updates for providers
  • BEAD updates
  • Line Extension Connection Program update
  • OBD in the field
  • Broadband Task Force, September meeting recap

Mapping + data updates for providers

Reminder for internet service providers!

The Office of Broadband Development, in partnership with our mapping vendor, Connected Nation, does perform a Fall update to the broadband coverage in Minnesota that is published on the interactive map at the end of the year. Because a busy construction season is wrapping up and we are planning to offer a fifth grant round of Line Extension at the new year, OBD wants to remind all providers that this data collection is the major mapping update for the Minnesota Broadband map. If you have completed construction of a broadband project since your last mapping data submission to Connected Nation in Fall 2024, please take this opportunity to have that updated coverage information included in this annual mapping update.

The deadline for submitting coverage information for this effort is Thursday October 2, 2025.

If you have questions about submitting coverage data, or didn’t receive outreach from Connected Nation, feel free to contact the Office of Broadband Development by email at deed.broadband@state.mn.us or by phone at (651)-259-7610.

BEAD updates

As required by the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the Minnesota OBD submitted its Final Draft Proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), including the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, on September 4, 2025. NTIA has committed to review and approve plans in 90 days.

OBD will continue to revise and update the documents as required by NTIA and necessary to ensure all BEAD eligible locations are served as defined by the policy notice.

On September 22, NTIA released for the first time in writing the following cost thresholds for the BEAD program. The percentile is based off of the cost estimate that NTIA has determined. Every state has different numbers based on NTIA’s decisions and Minnesota’s federally determined cost thresholds are as follows:

  • 65-85th percentile, $10,000 to $20,000 per BSL – provider needs additional explanation for cost
  • 85th to 85th plus 15%, $20,000 to $23,000 – possibility for extraordinary circumstances to be explained by provider and try to get price under $20,000
  • Over 85th plus 15% percentile, $23,000 – providers have 72 hours to renegotiate price

Updated and additional information will be posted to the OBD BEAD webpage.

Line Extension Connection Program update

After the location addresses were posted for review on September 15 and challenges are submitted by September 24, the Round 4 Line Extension bidding window will open September 26, 2025.

OBD expects the round to have $3.5M in Capital Projects Fund (CPF) dollars available to grant. Information and resources on Line Extension are posted to the OBD Line Extension Connection Program webpage. OBD also expects to run a fifth round of Line Extension with state project funds.

Questions on Line Extension can be sent to deed.broadband@state.mn.us or (651)-259-7610.

OBD in the field

Commissioner Ida Rukavina of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) and OBD Executive Director Bree Maki at the State of the Range event.

OBD has been busy attending events statewide like the Broadband Public Alliance meeting, Association of Minnesota Counties annual meeting, State of the Range (pictured above), and Minnesota Cable Association reception to provide updates on state broadband programs and BEAD in Minnesota.

Since August, OBD staff have gone on over 15 site visits for Mediacom, Savage Communications, Inc (SCI), Gardonville, Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC), Arvig, Acentek, Harmony/MiEnergy/MiBroadband, Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC), East Central Energy (ECE), Johnson Telephone Company, Frontier, Benton Communications, Meeker, and Lismore projects.

Pictured below: Trucks hauling and installing main line fiber conduit at a Round 10 site visit for an Acentek project in Canton Township. 

Broadband Task Force, September meeting recap

The Broadband Task Force met on Monday September 22. The Task Force heard presentations from Communication Service for the Deaf on their programs and work for individuals in the deaf and hard of hearing community, and state speed goal updates from the Pew Charitable Trusts. Thank you to presenters for sharing their time and expertise!

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

Office of Broadband Development Updates: Upcoming events and BEAD & Line Extension updates

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Broadband Task Force at August Farmfest
  • Restructured BEAD Round updates + upcoming information sessions
  • Line Extension Connection Program
  • Broadband events and news

Broadband Task Force at August Farmfest

The Broadband Task Force met at Minnesota Farmfest last week to discuss the important connection between broadband and agriculture. This meeting featured a panel discussion with Commissioner Thom Petersen (Department of Agriculture), Miles Kuschel (Board of Directors, District 6, Minnesota Farm Bureau), and Anne Schwagerl (Vice President, Minnesota Farmers Union) on topics around precision agriculture, AI in agriculture, and the future of broadband in agriculture in Minnesota.

A huge thank you to the panelists and attendees for sharing their time and expertise in discussing this important topic.

Restructured BEAD Round updates + upcoming information sessions

OBD is currently reviewing and deconflicting locations from the Restructured Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Round of subgrantee selection.

Next steps and additional resources to watch for on the OBD BEAD webpage include:

  • Registration now open for the Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal Virtual Information Session, Thursday August 28 at 11am CST, which will provide an overview of the Final Proposal, steps for public comment, and next steps for BEAD in Minnesota. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the OBD BEAD webpage.
  • The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal will be posted to the OBD BEAD webpage for a 7-day public comment on Thursday August 28. The Final Proposal is due to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) by Friday September 4.
  • Coming soon: OBD will be announcing regional, in-person Final Proposal Information Sessions on the BEAD Final Proposal. These will be scheduled the first week in September, and open to anyone to attend with no registration required. When finalized, dates and logistics will be posted to the OBD BEAD webpage and shared in another email blast.

If you have questions on the webinars or in-person events, please reach out to deed.broadband@state.mn.us.  

The Minnesota Line Extension Connection Program aims to connect residents and businesses that lack access to wired broadband internet service with service providers and assist in the expense of extending broadband to those locations.

Owners of residential and business locations lacking a wired internet connection with access to actual speeds equal to or greater than 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, can submit their address location for bid consideration by entering their information into the Line Extension Connection portal to initiate their interest in receiving broadband internet service. Applicants should complete every applicable question including providing additional comments that will help explain the critical need of broadband for the household/business, including any barriers. More information on how to submit an application via portal, phone, or mail is available on the OBD Line Extension Connection webpage.

Broadband events and news

The Minnesota Public Broadband Alliance, member of the American Association for Public Broadband, is offering a free event, What’s Next for Broadband in Minnesota on September 10 at 9am in New Prague, MN.

The even will host featured speakers, Gigi Sohn of the American Association of Public Broadband, Christopher Mitchel of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, and OBD’s Executive Director Bree Maki. More information on the event is available online and registration is open below:

Minnesota broadband was additionally featured:

  • Director Maki was also quoted in an August 6 Star Tribune article, on the impacts of the BEAD program on OBD’s work: “[Minnesota] had this big program that we really thought could maximize the state and federal efforts,” Maki said, “and the timing is just taking a little longer than anticipated.”

Office of Broadband Development Updates July 30, 2025: BEAD and Line Extension

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Out and About in Greater MN
  • Restructured BEAD Round updates
  • Line Extension Connection Program
  • Remembering Senator Bruce Anderson’s impact on broadband

Out and About in Greater MN

Representative Nathan Nelson, ECE President/CEO Justin Jahnz, Senator Aric Putnam, and OBD Executive Director Bree Maki.

Along with staff from East Central Energy (ECE), officials from the Minnesota Legislature and the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development met in Pine City on July 17 to observe speed testing and review progress tied to state-funded broadband grants as part of the ongoing ECE Fiber broadband expansion project. Senator Aric Putnam, Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development, and Representative Nathan Nelson (District 11B) joined the site visit to better understand the progress of rural broadband deployment by electric cooperatives. The group observed performance testing and mapping verifications to ensure compliance with network speed and coverage requirements.

OBD staff have been busy with additional site visits across the state, and have seen updates on state Broadband Grant Programs and the Line Extension Connection Program through visits with: Access Networks, Midco, Garden Valley Technologies (GVT), Otter Tail Telcom, Savage Communications, Inc (SCI), Interstate Telecommunications Company (ITC), Bevcomm, Arvig, Federated Rural Elective Association, Southwest Minnesota Broadband, and KMTelecom.

Outside GVT office for annual site visits: GVT Chief Facilities Officer Jon Smith, GVT Chief Financial Officer Kristi Benson, OBD Staff Samantha Ernst, and GVT CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman.

Restructured BEAD Round updates

Minnesota saw the close of it’s Restructured Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Round of subgrantee selection, which ran July 14 through July 24, 1:30pm CST. OBD has begun review and deconfliction of the submitted applications.

Updates as they are available will be posted to the OBD BEAD webpage, including a direct negotiation process for locations that did not secure bids and posting the Final Proposal for public comment (posted by August 28) in compliance with National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) guidelines.

Line Extension Connection Program

The Minnesota Line Extension Connection Program aims to connect residents and businesses that lack access to wired broadband internet service with service providers and assist in the expense of extending broadband to those locations.

Owners of residential and business locations lacking a wired internet connection with access to actual speeds equal to or greater than 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, can submit their address location for bid consideration by entering their information into the Line Extension Connection portal to initiate their interest in receiving broadband internet service. Applicants should complete every applicable question including providing additional comments that will help explain the critical need of broadband for the household/business, including any barriers. More information on how to submit an application via portal, phone, or mail is available on the OBD Line Extension Connection webpage.

 

Remembering Senator Bruce Anderson’s impact on broadband

The Office of Broadband Development would like to extend gratitude to the late, Senator Bruce Anderson for his lifelong work in understanding and expanding broadband access for his constituents and across Minnesota. Reflection and recognition of Senator Anderson’s impact on key issues through his service on the Senate Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee have been recognized by many, including an article published by Minnesota Public Radio.

Office of Broadband Development Updates: BEAD applications are open

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Restructured BEAD Round, grantor portal OPEN
  • Broadband Task Force, August meeting plans
  • Minnesota featured, Bridging the Digital Divide; Planning Innovate State and Local Approaches
  • Line Extension Connection Program

Restructured BEAD Round, grantor portal OPEN

On July 8, 2025 NTIA approved Minnesota’s IP BEAD Correction Letter. This approval allowed OBD to move forward with the updated list of eligible locations (6/30/2025) and open the grantor portal on July 14 for prequalified applicants to submit applications for the Restructured BEAD Round, compliant with the updated changes to the NTIA’s June 6 Restructuring BEAD Policy Notice. The grantor portal will remain open through July 24, 1:30pm CST. 

Register today for the additional office hours session, scheduled Tuesday July 22 at 11am. This session will not be recorded and will be a time to answer questions on the BEAD application.

Access to and resources on the grantor portal are available on the OBD BEAD webpage, including: 

Broadband Task Force, August meeting plans 

The Broadband Task Force will be meeting on Wednesday, August 6 from 2:30-4pm in Redwood County at the Minnesota Farmfest. This meeting will be held in-person and is open to anyone from the public to attend, however, tickets are required to enter Farmfest. Members of the public with questions about attending should email deed.broadband@state.mn.us or call 651-259-7610 no later than Monday July 28. 

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

Minnesota featured, Bridging the Digital Divide; Planning Innovate State and Local Approaches 

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s OBD, community partners, internet service providers, and broadband leaders across the state were featured in the newly published, Bridging the Digital Divide in the US Planning Innovative State and Local Approaches. The book presents a multi-level governance framework which explores how local leaders use policy opportunity and community resilience to address inequity in broadband infrastructure, and Chapter 4 presents “Minnesota – An Early Leader In Addressing Rural Broadband” by Y. Edward Guo, Elizabeth H. Redmond, and Mildred E. Warner.   

The book has been made available as an Open Access PDF or e-book and is available for free download.  

Line Extension Connection Program

The Minnesota Line Extension Connection Program aims to connect residents and businesses that lack access to wired broadband internet service with service providers and assist in the expense of extending broadband to those locations.

Owners of residential and business locations lacking a wired internet connection with access to actual speeds equal to or greater than 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, can submit their address location for bid consideration by entering their information into the Line Extension Connection portal to initiate their interest in receiving broadband internet service. Applicants should complete every applicable question including providing additional comments that will help explain the critical need of broadband for the household/business, including any barriers. More information on how to submit an application via portal, phone, or mail is available on the OBD Line Extension Connection webpage.

Wright County tells community about MN Broadband Line Extension grants

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Wright County reports…

Despite the expansion of access to high-speed internet throughout the country, there are still “dead spots” that are either unserved or underserved in the ability to have adequate download and upload speeds to have internet access or being able to stream video channels.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has a Broadband Line Extension Connection Program designed for individuals to submit applications for grants. The purpose of program is to award grants for the extension of existing broadband infrastructure to unserved locations, such as a handful of homes in low-density population areas.

Residential properties or businesses in locations that lack a wired internet connection to speeds at or above 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload can submit their address for consideration in the application process.

To learn more about the program and to submit an application for inclusion in the program, click here.

To test your upload and download speeds, take a speed test here: https://www.speedtest.net/

OBD Updates: BEAD, Line Extension and Future Office Hours

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • BEAD updates
  • Resources on federal BEAD changes
  • Broadband Task Force, June meeting recap
  • Line Extension Connection Program

BEAD updates 

On Friday June 6, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice modifying elements of the BEAD program. Minnesota’s Office of Broadband Development is working with federal, state and local partners to understand how this impacts our state’s ability to empower Minnesotans through the implementation of the federal BEAD program in our state.

Information will continue to be posted and updated as needed on the OBD BEAD webpage.

Upcoming BEAD office hours from the OBD have been scheduled. These will be Tuesdays at 11 am, and will not be recorded unless otherwise noted.

Resources on federal BEAD changes 

Other news and resources on understanding the impacts of the June 6, BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice include:  

The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of the Minnesota State Office of Broadband Development.  

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, June meeting recap

The Broadband Task Force met virtually on Wednesday, June 11 at 10am. The Task Force heard a presentation from Neighborhood House’s Shabazz-Adasi Milton (Digital Navigator, American Connection Corps/Neighborhood House), Noah Nelsen, (Evening Adult Education Program Supervisor, Neighborhood House) and Nick Contreraz (Vice President of Programs, Neighborhood House) providing a background and overview of the work of their organization.

The Task Force will not be meeting in July, and information on the August meeting, as well as other past meetings, will be available on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

The Minnesota Line Extension Connection Program aims to connect residents and businesses that lack access to wired broadband internet service with service providers and assist in the expense of extending broadband to those locations.
Owners of residential and business locations lacking a wired internet connection with access to actual speeds equal to or greater than 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, can submit their address location for bid consideration by entering their information into the Line Extension Connection portal to initiate their interest in receiving broadband internet service. More information on how to submit an application via portal, phone, or mail is available on the OBD Line Extension Connection webpage.

Arvig reports on reports on Line Extension grants and plans for broadband expansion

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Arvig reports…

 More than 400 structures in rural Minnesota will soon have high-speed internet access as Arvig plans to invest recently awarded grants from the state’s Broadband Line Extension Connection Program in a last-mile fiber-to-the-home project.

Arvig was awarded grants totaling $3,303,607 from the Line Extension program after submitting successful lowest-cost bids to serve 406 locations.

The locations and number of structures served will be:

  • Rose Lake, Dodo Lake and Lake Elora, near Cotton: 139 structures
  • Buffalo Lake, north of Detroit Lakes: 96 structures
  • West of Rock Lake, north of Detroit Lakes: 43 structures
  • North of Lake Osakis: 32 structures
  • North of Long Prairie: 22 structures
  • South of Detroit Lakes: 14 structures
  • North of Browerville: 8 structures
  • Johnson Lake Lane, south of Detroit Lakes: 8 structures
  • North of Henning: 7 structures
  • West of Wood Lake: 6 structures
  • Hubble Pond, near Rochert: 6 structures
  • Northeast of Redwood Falls: 5 structures
  • Northwest of Detroit Lakes: East Oak Lake Drive: 5 structures
  • Klein Road, north of Detroit Lakes: 4 structures
  • South of Grand Meadow: 3 structures
  • East of Long Prairie: 2 structures
  • North of Sauk Centre: 2 structures
  • Park Rapids: 1 structure
  • Clements: 1 structure
  • Callaway: 1 structure
  • Rochert: 1 structure

Arvig will invest $394,000 to cover additional project costs, bringing the total project cost to $3,697,907. About 70 miles of fiber will be constructed, with all 21 locations combined. Work on the line extensions is set to begin in spring 2025, with construction targeted for completion by November 2025.

The program requires locations to be served with internet speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload. Arvig expects to exceed that requirement, with plans to provide locations access to speeds of up to 1 Gig download and 100Mbps upload.

A location is considered unserved if it lacks access to a wired service with at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speed.

Arvig to use Line Extension Grants to serve rural parts of Becker County

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Detroit Lakes Online reports…

Arvig has been awarded grant funding from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development’s Broadband Line Extension Connection Program to construct last-mile fiber network infrastructure for high-speed internet to 69 unserved locations, according to an Arvig news release.

Arvig was awarded grants totaling $543,244 from the program after submitting successful lowest-cost bids to provide fiber to the locations. Total project funding is $612,244, with Arvig investing $69,000 to cover additional project costs.

The 69 unserved locations consist of seven projects in these areas:

  • Rural Callaway along 260th Avenue
  • Along State Highway 210 east of Henning in Otter Tail County
  • Rural Rochert, including Cotton Lake and the west side of Height of Land Lake
  • Along U.S. Highway 59 and Tee Lake Road south of Detroit Lakes
  • Rural Frazee along 360th Avenue

Construction on some projects could begin as soon as May 2024, with work projected to finish by May 2025.

Second round of Line Extension awards announced

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

The Office of Broadband Development announced the second round of Line Extension Connection Program awards on a rolling basis beginning March 29, 2024, and ending April 22, 2024. This second round of the program awarded $3,584,040.13 to expand wired broadband delivering at least 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload, to 482 locations across 25 counties. Internet providers carrying out the projects matched $1,490,990.67 for a total investment of $5,075,030.80.

Provider Locations Grant Amount
Access Networks 15 $153,225.00
Arvig Tekstar 69 $543,244.99
Consolidated Tel Co (CTC) 147 $808,700.00
Farmers Mutual Tel Co. 1 $3,800.00
Federated REA 2 $8,169.72
Federated Telephone Coop 5 $58,200.00
Garden Valley Tel 17 $198,972.51
JTN 15 $68,398.23
Mediacom 25 $625,000.00
Meeker Vibrant 33 $202,423.82
Midco Midcontinent Comm. 136 $601,417.00
MLEC Mille Lacs Electric Coop 1 $17,946.00
Savage Communications (SCI) 10 $182,766.86
SE MN WIFI 2 $38,000.00
Sytek 4 $73,776.00
15 482 $3,584,040.13

Round 2 Line Extension Awards by County

County Locations
Aitkin 4
Anoka 17
Becker 55
Big Stone 1
Carver 9
Cass 2
Chippewa 1
Crow Wing 93
Dakota 17
Hennepin 27
Itasca 5
Kandiyohi 23
Mahnomen 17
Martin 2
Meeker 10
Morrison 7
Otter Tail 14
Pine 4
Scott 15
St. Louis 31
Stearns 16
Stevens 1
Swift 3
Todd 41
Washington 67
25 482

 

Updates From the Office of Broadband Development: Meeting and Line Extension Awards

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Office of Broadband Development’s April weekly webinar series, wrapping up

Register for the final session of the Broadband Development Tuesday Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems).

This final session will be Tuesday April 30th, 10-11:30am. In this training, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will cover information on the utility license application and process.

Content from the series will be recorded and posted to the Office of Broadband Development’s webpage.

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, April meeting recap

The Governor’s Broadband ask Force was hosted by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa at the Black Bear Casino Resort on Thursday April 11th. Band leaders spoke on and shared experiences with Broadband funding and access, updates were shared on BEAD and Digital Opportunity, and the Task Force continued discussion on the current legislative session. Materials from the meeting are available on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

A special thank you to those who hosted and shared at the meeting: Kevin Dupuis, Chairman, Fond du Lac Band; Jason Hollinday, Planning Director, Fond du Lac Band; Caleb Dunlap, Communications Director, Fond du Lac Band; and Marcia Dupuis, Business Manager, Fond du Lac Band; and Task Force Member Brian Hood, Operations Manager, Fond du Lac Communications.

Border-to-Border and Low-Density applications due May 10th

With $30 million available for Border-to-Border (B2B) grants and the remaining $20 million for the Lower Population Density (Low-Density) grants, DEED opened the application window for the tenth grant round on March 12, 2024. Applications are due by 1:30 p.m. Central Time on May 10, 2024.

More information, including an updated Round 10 FAQ, can be found on OBD’s Broadband Grant Program webpage.

Line Extension Round Two Awards

OBD announced the second round of Line Extension Connection Program awards on a rolling basis beginning March 29, 2024, and ending April 22, 2024. The program awarded $3,584,040.13 to expand wired broadband service delivering at least 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload, to 482 locations across 25 counties. Internet providers carrying out the projects matched $1,490,990.67 for a total investment of $5,075,030.80. Find more on the round two awards and the Line Extension program on the Line Extension webpage.

MN Seante hears SF5366: fund transfers in broadband budget

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Yesterday the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development discussed SF5366 – Putnam: Broadband supplemental appropriations and transfers
Governor’s supplemental broadband budget. (I have written about this bill before and have been following the House version HF5231.) They deciced to lay the bill over.

Presentation:

Supplemental budget proposal isn’t asking for more money but asks for permission to shift money among Border to Border, Low Density and Line Extension grant programs based on needs. The areas that are unserved are the hardest and most expensive areas to reach. We need to spend/allocate the state grants so we can take areas-to-be-served off the maps that define eligibility for federal funds. They want to make awards after July 1, 2024.

We need to authorize DEED Commissioner to access/allocate federal funds. Specifically, the recently allocated $12 million from the Digital Equity funds. The next step is to apply for those funds through capacity grants from the feds. MN is also expecting $65 million for broadband deployment.

Questions:

How much money do you want to transfer?
Up to $5 million based on applications received. We get some excellent proposals and look at match. It will just depends on the grants we see.

What area has the greatest need?
The red areas on the map in the presentation are the least served.

Does MN work with neighboring states for federal dollars?
Our broadband grants go to broadband providers, so they are in the better position to partner. But we are working with states to learn together and partnering more with tribal areas.

EVENT April 15: MN Senate to discuss SF5366: shifting funds to/from Border to Border, Low Density and Line Extension grant

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On April 15, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development will discuss SF 5366 – Putnam: Broadband supplemental appropriations and transfers
Governor’s supplemental broadband budget. (I’ve also been following the House version HF5231.)

Monday, April 15th, 2024 03:00 PM
Committee on Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development
Chair: Sen. Aric Putnam
Location: 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.

Agenda

Call to Order

SF 5365 – Putnam: Agricultural provisions modifications and appropriation
Governor’s supplemental agriculture budget.

SF 5366 – Putnam: Broadband supplemental appropriations and transfers
Governor’s supplemental broadband budget.

SF 3955 – Putnam: Agricultural growth, research and innovation program base funding increase
Omnibus agriculture finance bill.

You can view this hearing on the Senate Schedule.

Here’s the text as introduced:

A bill for an act
relating to broadband; making supplemental appropriations and transfers relating
to broadband; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116J.396, by adding a
subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116J.396, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

Subd. 4.

Transfer.

The commissioner may transfer up to $5,000,000 of a fiscal year
appropriation between the border-to-border broadband program, low density population
broadband program, and the broadband line extension program to meet demand.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.

Sec. 2. BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT; APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL
FUNDING; APPROPRIATION.

(a) The commissioner of employment and economic development must prepare and
submit an application to the United States Department of Commerce requesting State Digital
Equity Capacity Grant Funding made available under Public Law 117-58, the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act.

(b) The amount awarded Minnesota from paragraph (a) is appropriated to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for purposes of the commissioner’s
Minnesota Digital Opportunity Plan.

Senator Rasmusson highlights MN Line Extension awards: 21 projects in SD 9

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The Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus reports…

The Office of Broadband Development (OBD) recently announced the first round of Broadband Line Extension Connection Program awards, which provides nearly $4.4 million to expand wired broadband throughout Minnesota. Internet providers carrying out the projects matched the state funding at $2.2 million, bringing the total investment to more than $6.6 million….

This funding will deliver at least 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload to 843 locations across 32 counties. Of these locations, 779 are residences and 64 are businesses–21 of which are in Senate District 9.

“Back in 2022, when I was in the House of Representatives, I served as the chief sponsor of legislation to establish the Broadband Line Extension Connection Program,” said Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls). “This is a cost-effective approach to closing internet gaps throughout the state. With the first round of funding now complete, I am thrilled to see so many households and businesses utilize this resource. The Office of Broadband will be facilitating more grant rounds in the future, and I look forward to seeing the continued success of this program.”

It is often expensive for broadband service providers to extend their fiber optic cables to underserved households and businesses, as they are mostly in rural communities. That is why the Broadband Line Extension Connection Program, which was established through Sen. Rasmusson’s HF3605, extends broadband service through a reverse auction process. This means OBD selects broadband provider bids that request the least amount of financial support to fund broadband line extension projects.

 

2023 Round 9 Border-to-Border and Low-Density Broadband Development Grant Program Applications Received – Challenge Process Begins

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Sixty-nine (69) applications for the 2023 Round 9 Border-to-Border and Low-Density Broadband Development grant program were received by the December 7th deadline. The Office of Broadband Development has initiated the challenge process required by Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 116J.395 subd. 5a) concurrent with its review of the applications. A list of the applications filed and instructions on how to file a challenge, if necessary, are available on our website and under the “2023 Application Process” tab.  A downloadable GIS layer of the 2023 Round 9 Grant application areas will be available on our interactive broadband map on or around Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Any provider wishing to challenge an application must complete the 2023 Challenge Form and submit via email to deed.broadband@state.mn.us by 4:00 p.m. Thursday, January 11, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact our office at 651-259-7610 or via email at deed.broadband@state.mn.us