Unpacking Approved BEAD Volume 2s: Minnesota

NTIA recently approved Minnesota’s Initial Proposal Volume 2. The ACLP compared the final version with a cured version released by the state in July. A redlined comparison is available here. The following changes were evident:

Subgrantee Selection Process

Scoring – Minimal BEAD Outlay

The state simplified how it will allocate points in this category, with up to 35pts going to the “least amount of BEAD funding per BSL requested,” with points decreasing from there on a sliding scale. A similar approach will be taken when awarding the other 10pts, which is focused on the match percentage. The highest proposed match receives max points, while lower matches receive fewer points.

Low-Cost Option

The state deleted the following parameter from its low-cost option:

“Subgrantees will be allowed to define the low-income households that will be eligible for the low-cost broadband service option in their application for BEAD Funding unless the low-cost option is a successor program to the Affordable Connectivity Program. In that event, the guidelines of the successor program will apply. This modification is appropriate since the subgrantee is responsible for providing the subsidy from their own revenues and should be assured that where they are out-of-pocketing a portion of the low-income households cost to serve that the household has documented they are eligible, and the subgrantee will be responsible for administering the program and knows best what information can be made available to them by the household to document eligibility.”