Miles SmithNearly 89,000 Minnesota homes and businesses could receive high-speed broadband service through the state’s $652 million federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) allocation.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Office of Broadband Development concluded its prequalification phase and will open three subgrantee selection rounds for BEAD grants this spring and summer, with the goal of submitting the final proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration by Oct. 3.
DEED has published a map showing areas that meet BEAD grant eligibility requirements.
“We’re working as quickly as possible to get Minnesota’s BEAD funding to the providers that will help connect more people to high-speed broadband,” said Office of Broadband Development Executive Director Bree Maki. “Minnesota’s broadband sector has a strong national reputation, and we’re excited that our ongoing partnership with providers will better connect the Minnesotans we all serve.”
The federal BEAD Program allocates $42.45 billion to improve high-speed internet access through funding for planning, infrastructure expansion and adoption initiatives. Individual state and territory programs can be found here.
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