Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $5.8 Million to Minnesota in ‘Internet for All’ Planning Grants

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Minnesota received its first “Internet for All” grants for deploying high-speed Internet networks and developing digital skills training programs under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative. Minnesota is receiving $5,881,905.10 in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed Internet service throughout the state. Minnesota will receive $5 million in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants to fund various activities including: 

• Identification of unserved and underserved locations;
• Efforts to support local coordination including outreach to diverse stakeholders across Minnesota;
• Planning and capacity-building of the state's broadband office;
• Local engagement with unserved, underserved, and underrepresented communities to better understand barriers to Internet adoption.

Minnesota will receive $881,905.10in Digital Equity Act grants to fund various activities including:

• Development of a statewide digital equity plan to close the digital equity gap;
• Recruiting staff to help develop the plan;
• Engagement of local community members and stakeholders on digital equity issues.