Minnesota State Budget Invests $170 Million in Broadband Access in the State

Gov Tim Walz (D-MN) and Lieutenant Gov Peggy Flanagan (D-MN) announced a series of proposals to expand economic opportunity in Minnesota as part of the Walz-Flanagan Budget to Move Minnesota Forward. The Walz-Flanagan budget invests $170 million to finish the job of bringing border-to-border broadband access to all Minnesotans. Over the past two years, the need for high-speed, high-quality broadband has grown dramatically. Through the past several years of the state’s border-to-border broadband program, about 93 percent of Minnesota households have reliable broadband. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s investment, which would remain a competitive matching fund grant program, would finally pave the way for achieving the state’s goal of providing every Minnesotan with reliable broadband. “The Minnesota Rural Broadband Coalition is very pleased that Gov Walz has proposed this historic investment in broadband funding,” said Jay Trusty, Chair of the Rural Broadband Coalition. “Closing the digital divide is one of the most pressing issues of our time and this investment help will level the playing field for rural communities across the state.”