2. Intro to Office of Broadband Development
Office (OBD) was created in 2013 legislation
Charge:
• Encourage, foster, develop, and improve broadband
within the state.
Purpose:
• To drive job creation, promote innovation, and expand
markets for Minnesota businesses.
• To serve the ongoing needs of Minnesota’s education
systems, health care systems, public safety systems,
industries and businesses, governmental operations,
and citizens.
3. Border to Border Broadband Development
Grant - Purpose
• Grant purpose: To provide financial assistance for the
acquisition and installation of middle-mile and last-mile
broadband infrastructure to areas of the state that do not have
wireline access at federal and state minimum standard speeds.
• Allowable costs: Examples of allowable costs include: project
planning; obtaining construction permits; purchase and/or
construction of facilities, including construction of both
“middle mile” and “last mile” infrastructure; and installation
and testing of the equipment used to provide broadband
service.
4. Border to Border Broadband Development
Grant – Overview
• $20M one-time appropriation (up to 3% avail for admin and mapping)
• Distributed in single competitive grant round
• Technology must be scalable to at least 100Mbps Up/Down
• Cap of $5M per grant award
• At least 1 to 1 match (50% of eligible expenses) required (More
points awarded for higher match)
• Grant awards will be geographically dispersed
• All invoiced work must be complete by 12/31/16
5. Border to Border Broadband Development
Grant – Overview - Eligibility
• Who is eligible to apply?
– An incorporated business or partnership
– A political subdivision
– An Indian tribe
– A Minnesota nonprofit organized under 317A
– A Minnesota cooperative organized under 308A or 308B
– A Minnesota limited liability corporation organized under
322B for the purpose of expanding broadband access
6. Border to Border Broadband Development
Grant – DRAFT Application Process and Timeline
• Late Sept - Program details will be announced via
web and email list.
• Application period open for 30 days.
• Oct-Nov – 6 week application review process
• Challenge window: 1st two weeks of review
process.
• Target to make awards in late December
7. Application Requirements
1. Description of area to be served by proposed project
2. Whether the project is middle-mile, last mile or both
3. Kind and amount of broadband infrastructure to be purchased
4. Evidence regarding the unserved or underserved nature of the community
5. Number of households passed that will have access to broadband as result of
the project
6. Significant community institutions that will benefit from the proposed project
7. Evidence of community support for the project
8. Total cost of the project
9. Sources of funding or in-kind contributions for the project that will
supplement any grant award
8. DRAFT Scoring Criteria—Points Awarded for
the Following
• Unserved gets bonus points
• Underserved # and %
• Is an economically distressed area served
• Economic development potential
• Sustainability of the project
9. Draft Scoring Criteria Continued
• Financial and organizational capability
• Evidence of community support
• Project plan and timeline
• Comparability (price and speed) to service
offered in urban areas
• Community anchor institutions that will
benefit
10. Draft Scoring Criteria Continued
• Specific evidence of health and public safety
benefits
• Technical support and training on broadband
provided in the community
• Information on how the broadband service
will be promoted when it becomes available
• Evidence of Economic Development Benefits
11. What Can Potential Applicants Do Now?
• Verify locations/areas that are eligible
• Establish Partners (provider partner,
community partner)
• Design project, generate timeline, create
budget
• Obtain financial commitments for match
• Gather community support
12. County maps showing unserved and
underserved census blocks are available:
Maps available on the
Connect MN website:
http://connectmn.org
Under:
LEARN > COUNTY PROFILES
If your information differs from what current data shows—
contact ConnectMN at http://www.connectmn.org/infrastructuregrants
13. Regional Grant Information Meetings
• Friday, July 18 from 1:30 to 3:00
Montevideo
Chippewa County Courthouse
Assembly Room (basement level)
629 North 11th Street (corner of state hwy 7
and 11th Street)
• Monday, July 28 from 1:30 to 3:00
Brainerd/Baxter
The Lodge at Brainerd Lakes
6967 Lake Forest Road
Baxter, MN 56425
• Wednesday, July 30 from 1:30 to 3:00
Eveleth
IRRRB Offices
4261 Highway 53
• Tuesday, August 19
Crookston
Time and location TBD
• Friday, August 22 from 1:30 to 3:00
Owatonna
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
525 Florence Avenue
• Wednesday, August 26
West Central Region—TBD
14. Thank you & Contact Information
For more information, contact:
Danna MacKenzie, 651-259-7611
danna.mackenzie@state.mn.us
http://mn.gov/deed/broadband
Subscribe to the MN Broadband E-Blasts to receive
more information as it becomes available.
