Minnesota’s broadband director Bree Maki told a Broadband Communities podcast that new NTIA guidelines have created a chilling effect among BEAD participants.
She cited the requirement for written statements pledging not to take additional subsidies to complete BEAD projects as a key factor behind providers’ hesitance, particularly those drawing funds from the Universal Service Fund.
During her appearance on Beyond the Cable, Maki said the $42.45 billion BEAD program has not yet fully assuaged concerns as it rolls out across the state.
“There’s just a level of uncertainty,” she said, referring to Arielle Roth’s November directive directing states to obtain the written statements, which Minnesota announced last fall.
She noted a continued gap in Minnesota’s coverage standards, pointing out that some locations expected to be covered to federal standards will still fall short under the state’s criteria, underscoring ongoing concerns about the BEAD rollout.
Despite the uncertain climate, Minnesota’s Office of Broadband Development has drawn on its long history with second- and third-tier providers, using mapping, data, and partnerships to facilitate dollars and encourage investment in communities.
“We don’t do this work,” Maki said, “we can help facilitate the dollars, the research, the data, the mapping, really it’s our internet service providers that are going out there and investing in their communities with our partnership.”
