DEED is seeking public input on the state?s Digital Opportunity Program draft plan.



Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Press Release


*For Immediate Release*




Mary Haugen

[email protected]

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August 29, 2023

Media Resources [ [link removed] ]

Previous Announcements [ [link removed] ]





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*Minnesota Office of Broadband Development seeks public comments on state?s Digital Opportunity Program plan draft*

St. Paul -- The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is seeking public input [ [link removed] ] on the state?s Digital Opportunity Program draft plan, designed to reduce gaps in broadband access, digital technology ownership and digital skills.

The Digital Opportunity plan, produced by DEED?s Office of Broadband Development (OBD), outlines how Minnesota will use an upcoming grant from the federal government to advance digital equity. Each state must submit a plan to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) detailing how it will spend its allocation from the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act, which is part of the $65 billion in federal broadband funding included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Congress passed in 2021.

?Gathering feedback during this public comment period is a critical process to ensure we capture what a truly Minnesota-centered Digital Opportunity Plan looks like and that it will be valuable in the years to come,? *said Bree Maki, DEED Office of Broadband Development executive director.* ?We are committed to making sure Minnesotans have the tools, resources and skills to achieve their digital technology goals.?

Minnesotans have three options to share their thoughts and comments on the state?s Digital Opportunity Program plan draft through Sept. 29.

First, the Office of Broadband Development will host listening sessions person in 16 cities across the state. Two online sessions will also be offered. Registration [ [link removed] ] is encouraged but not required. The schedule is as follows:

*Date*



*Time*



*City*



*Location*



Aug. 29



1-3 p.m.



Willmar



Willmar Public Library, 410 5th St. SW



Aug. 30



1-3 p.m.



Marshall



Marshall-Lyon County Library, 201 C St.



Aug. 31



12-2 p.m.



Worthington



JBS Fieldhouse, 700 2nd Ave.



Sept. 5



1-3 p.m.



West St. Paul



Dakota County Library, 199 Wentworth Ave. E



Sept. 6



12-2 p.m.



Winona



Witoka Tavern 27983 County Road 9



Sept. 6



3:30?5:30 p.m.



Rochester



Family Service Rochester, 4600 18th Ave. NW



Sept. 7



9:30-11:30 a.m.



Faribault



Rice County Administrative Building, 320 3rd St. NW



Sept. 7



1:30-3:30 p.m.



Mankato



Bridge Plaza, 201 N Riverfront Dr. (Second Floor Training Room)



Sept. 12



2-4 p.m.



Crookston



UMN-Crookston, Bede Ballroom, 2900 University Ave.



Sept. 13



2-4 p.m.



Fergus Falls



Fergus Falls Public Library, 205 E Hampden Ave.



Sept. 14



12-1:30 p.m.



Online Meeting



Register Here [ [link removed] ]



Sept. 18



2:30-4:30 p.m.



Hinckley



Hinckley Community Room, 198 Dunn Ave. N



Sept. 19



2-4 p.m.



Two Harbors



Two Harbors Public Library, 320 Waterfront Dr.



Sept. 20



6-8 p.m.



Deer Driver



Community Tech Hub, 1049 Comstock Dr.



Sept. 21



1-3 p.m.



Minneapolis



North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Ave. N



Sept. 26



6:30-8:30 p.m.



International Falls



Minnesota North College ? Rainy River, 1501 Hwy. 71



Sept. 27



10 a.m. - 12 p.m.



Bemidji



Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 201 3rd St. NW



Sept. 27



2-3:30 p.m.



Online Meeting



Register Here [ [link removed] ]



?

Minnesotans can also review the Minnesota Digital Opportunity Plan draft in summary [ [link removed] ] or full version [ [link removed] ] formats and provide written feedback by Sept. 29, 2023 via the OBD online comment form [ [link removed] ]_,_ or mail comments to:

Office of Broadband Development

Attn: Digital Opportunity Plan

Great Northern Building

180 5th St. E

St. Paul, MN 55101

Eligible groups can also establish and register [ [link removed] ] a Digital Connection Committee to provide feedback on the draft plan and receive updates from OBD. More information and registration is available at the Office of Broadband Development [ [link removed] ]. ?

OBD will collect and review the feedback to develop a final plan to submit to NTIA by the Nov. 30 deadline. ?

The Digital Opportunity Plan is just one component of Minnesota?s comprehensive plans and efforts to improve and extend state?s broadband infrastructure.

In addition to this plan, DEED is slated to provide $100 million in grants from the Border-to-Border Broadband program over the next two years. Additionally, the federal government has allocated Minnesota more than $650 million for broadband expansion through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program. This federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be allocated to the state over the next few years.

"DEED is the state?s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the?DEED website [ [link removed] ], the?JoinUsMn.com [ [link removed] ]?website, or follow us on?Twitter [ [link removed] ]."

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"Upon request, this information can be made available in alternate formats for people with disabilities by contacting the DEED Communications Office at 651-259-7161."





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