Minnesota BEAD Program Tracker & Resouces

Minnesota Broadband Office

Broadband Office Name: Office of Broadband Development (OBD)

BEAD Award Amount: $651.8 M

Minnesota Broadband Director: Bree Maki

Minnesota BEAD Program Tracker

State	IP Vol 1 Approved	IP Vol 2 Approved	Challenge Process Submission Started	Challenge Process – Running	Challenge Process Submission Closed	Challenge Process Final Determination Phase Completed	1-Year Subgrantee Selection Process
Minnesota	Yes	No	No	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

*Updated 7/11/24

Minnesota BEAD Program Information

Key Updates

Minnesota is now in the Challenge Process phase of BEAD. The estimated start date for the opening of the Challenge Submission portal is July 22, 2024. Once the Challenge Process is complete, Minnesota will review the results to create its Final Determinations to submit for the NTIA’s approval.

Minnesota BEAD Program Plans & Maps

Minnesota BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1 – Approved

Minnesota BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 – Not approved

Michigan Five-Year Action Plan

Minnesota State Broadband Map

Minnesota BEAD Program Initial Proposal Volume 2: Overview

*Information is subject to change. Minnesota is awaiting official approval of Initial Proposal Volume 2 from the NTIA.

The Office of Broadband Deployment (OBD) state goals:

No later than 2022, all Minnesota businesses and homes have access to high-speed broadband that provides minimum speeds of 25/3
No later than 2026, all Minnesota businesses and homes have access to high-speed broadband that provides minimum speeds of 100/20

State goal by 2022 and thereafter, the state should be:

The top five states of the United States for broadband speed are universally accessible to residents and businesses.
The top five states for broadband access.
The top 15 when compared to countries globally for broadband penetration.

Applicants can create their own project area.

Only if locations do not receive bids will MN look at the ECH. The remaining locations will be compared against a cost. If cost is the barrier, to the extent that OBD has available funding, they will award up to 75% funding to incentivize providers.

Minnesota will use the framework of its Border-to-Border grant program to award BEAD funding.

Where up to 50 percent of eligible costs can be reimbursed, or under the Lower Population Density Program, where up to 75 percent of eligible costs can be reimbursed.

OBD is asking for the following preregistration evidence from subgrantees and compliance with:

Applicant info., financial capability, technical capability, organizational capacity, need for Lower Population Density Pilot program grant, project area information, list of all Fabric IDs for BSLs, project info (technology, improvements, etc.), project readiness, pricing, community impact, promotion of broadband, and budget.

Primary Criteria – 75%

Matching Contributions – 30 points
Total BEAD Allocation needed – 13 points
Affordability – 12 points
Fair Labor Practices – 20 points

Secondary Criteria – 25%

Commits to providing service by an earlier data – 5 points
Speed to Deployment – 10 points
Community Support – 10 points
Non-priority broadband projects follow the same scoring rubric.

Minnesota does not anticipate using BEAD funds for non-deployment activities.

OBD will use a portion of its BEAD funding beyond the $5 million initial planning grants to administer:

The subgrantee selection process for broadband deployment grants
Administer the grants awarded with BEAD funding
Implementation of the BEAD Challenge process
Mapping, data collection, and field validation related to BEAD grant administration, awards, and compliance.

OBD will not use a subgrantee selection process for the non-broadband deployment activities.

The Border-to-Border broadband infrastructure grant program was introduced in 2014 and has been modified over the years.

In 2022, two more programs were created: the Line Extension Connection Program and the Lower Population Density Program.

Tribal engagements have been ongoing since 2010. Has occured through tribal membership on the Governor’s Task Force on broadband, presentations to the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, and consultations by DEEDs tribal liasons and Commissioner.

Have been funded with the Border-to-Border Infrastructure grant.

OBD has recently added a Community Engagement and Special Projects Coordinator position to their office.

OBD requires all BEAD subgrantees to submit the following information:

A record of past compliance with federal/employment laws:

Must address info on deployment projects within the last 3 years.
Certification form from an Officer/Director level employee of past compliance.
Written confirmation that subgrantee has disclosed any violations from contractors within the last 3 years.

Plans for ensuring compliance with federal/employment laws:

Wages/benefits by worker classification.
Wages/benefit information.
Supply of skilled workers.
How labor disputes are minimized.
Steps for safety/healthy workplace.

OBD certifies it will take the necessary affirmative steps to ensure MBEs, WBEs, and LSFs are used when possible in selecting subgrantees for BEAD broadband deployment.

OBD is:

Promoting the use of existing infrastructure.
Promoting and adapting dig-once policies.
Streamlining permitting processes.
Streamlining cost-effective access to poles, conduits, and easements.
Streamlining rights of way, including the imposition of reasonable access requirements.

OBD includes an opportunity for an applicant to identify whether its proposed project leverages existing broadband networks or will be built in conjunction with other broadband infrastructure projects to expand service areas.

Minnesota Business First Stop broadband working group that includes state agencies with permitting responsibilities (MNDOT, MNDNR) to prioritize permitting for broadband projects funded with state/federal funding, identify training opportunities, and develop relationships to respond to permitting delays identified by broadband providers.

Subgrantees are required to participate in ACP and Lifeline, along with the following:

Speeds of 100/20.
Provides typical latency measurements of no more than 100 milliseconds.
Is not subject to data caps, surcharges, or usage-based throttling.
Free upgrade if provider later offers better service.

Minnesota Border-to-Border and Lower Population Density broadband grant programs both emphasize a public-private partnership or a strong demonstration of community support for a project:

The community finds the service to be provided under that grant application is of high quality and desired by the residents and businesses located in that area
At the rates offered by their provider partner.

OBD compares the rate information provided in the FCC’s Urban Rate Comparability benchmarks, which the FCC uses to determine reasonable comparability for universal service purposes.

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