Minnesota lawmakers agree to spend $70 million on improving broadband access

In response to the lack of adequate broadband in parts of the Minnesota, especially rural areas, legislators agreed to spend $70 million on a state grant program that aims to build high-speed internet infrastructure across the state. The windfall, likely paid for by the stimulus plan approved by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in early 2021, isn’t enough to completely close internet disparities that have long plagued Minnesota and the state may still miss goals for broadband speed and distribution set for 2022. But if legislators approve the cash in a special session later this month, it would be the largest infusion of money into the program since it began in 2014. “This is a definite step up for the program,” said Angie Dickison, executive director of the state’s Office of Broadband Development, which administers grants with the money. Minnesota has set a goal for universal access to service with download speeds of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 3 Mbps by 2022, and has another goal for access to 100/20 Mbps by 2026. Dickison said state data from the end of 2020 showed 92 percent of households had access to internet service meeting the 2022 speed goals.