- Minnesota Office Expansion
- Supreme Court Takes on USF
- Idaho Adjusts Broadband Advisory Board
- Boston Invests in Digital Literacy
- ASCE Report Card: C+ for Broadband
MINNESOTA OFFICE EXPANSION
House File 2279: This bill, introduced and first read by Minnesota Rep. Samantha Vang on March 19, would expand the name and duties of the state’s Office of Broadband Development.
The office, housed within the Department of Employment and Economic Development, started its work in 2014. It was charged with distributing grants to Internet service providers for investing in broadband infrastructure.
“These changes will result in better high-speed Internet access, broadband adoption and affordability across the state,” Vang said during a House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee meeting.
The office’s new duties would include developing a statewide digital equity plan, and implementing related programs. It would be required to produce an annual report on its digital inclusion programs. The bill would also establish a grant program to expand connectivity in multifamily housing.
The bill outlines new goals for state connectivity by 2028: 95 percent of households will have a home broadband subscription, will be enrolled in an Internet service plan, and will have access to a personal computer or similar device; and 70 percent of eligible households will be receiving available discounts for Internet service.
“These changes will result in better high-speed Internet access, broadband adoption and affordability across the state,” Vang said.
A lifelong Minnesota resident who was raised on a dairy farm in Winona County, Mika Baer, testified in support of the bill. As she explained, modern agricultural practices require high-speed Internet. When the county got broadband access, her family was able to improve both the efficiency and sustainability of its farm operations. It also allowed Baer to participate in education opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to her.
“When broadband finally came to our area, it didn’t just make things easier, it changed everything,” Baer said.
Notably, the bill includes no financial obligations, as Baer emphasized.
SUPREME COURT TAKES ON USF
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Consumers’ Research v. Federal Communications Commission matter, addressing the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund (USF).
“Throughout its history, the USF has had bipartisan, bicameral support in Congress,” FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez said in remarks at a press conference, arguing that not protecting the program’s future would disproportionately impact those with the greatest connectivity needs.
The National Lifeline Association’s board chair, David B. Dorwart, also issued a statement underlining the association's belief in the constitutionality of the USF funding mechanism.
Some stakeholders called on Congress to act in their statements.
The USF needs reform, argued a statement from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF). ITIF suggested the program’s structure could be invalidated in the coming months, and urged Congress to enact reforms to address digital literacy and affordability and direct funds as needed: “These steps would moot the Supreme Court case and make USF more effective.”
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) also issued a statement in response to the hearing, arguing that the USF is “fully constitutional,” and underlining the expectation that the Supreme Court will affirm this belief. CWA’s statement urged Congress not to be distracted by this case, but rather to “act now to reform the USF and ensure its viability for the future.”
IDAHO ADJUSTS BROADBAND ADVISORY BOARD
Idaho has changed its broadband leadership structure. The state’s House Bill 299, signed by the governor on March 20, amends both the structure and function of the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board.
The changes — effective July 1 because the bill declared an emergency — will allow for an independent third party to conduct the grading and scoring of grant awards and provide recommendations to the board.
This bill will also convene qualified professionals in broadband policymaking discussions by changing the composition of the board; it called for one non-voting broadband expert appointed by the speaker of the House and one by the Senate president pro tem.
BOSTON INVESTS IN DIGITAL LITERACY
Boston’s Digital Literacy Initiative (DigLit) will be supported by a new $1 million investment from the city’s Office of Workforce Development.
This funding will support the next phase of the initiative — DigLit 2.0 — by awarding 20 local job-readiness and occupational training programs funding to deliver digital skills training to residents. This phase is fully funded by fiscal year 2023 Community Project Funding from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The initiative aims to increase employment and education opportunities for residents while meeting employer demand for talent.
The city was able to support 25 Adult Basic Education programs through the initial DigLit pilot. That endeavor also led to the Boston EdTech Routine Library, a library of instructional routines using digital skills.
ASCE REPORT CARD: C+ FOR BROADBAND
The American Society of Civil Engineers just released its 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure this week, and the cumulative grade point average for America’s infrastructure was the highest mark since the 1998 launch of these report cards: a C.
In the broadband category, American infrastructure received a C+ grade. The report said that “if current funding levels continue, the nation is well poised to meet today’s needs.” However, it also details rising deployment costs due to the increased prices of materials and labor. Workforce capacity concerns are also detailed.
The report makes several recommendations to raise the C+ grade, including dedicating predictable funding for affordability programs, expanding "dig once" policies and encouraging partnerships.
