SF843

Purpose

• This bill relates to broadband funding and changes how much a grant from the lower population density grant program can cover. It modifies the matching requirements by adjusting the portion of a project’s total cost that the grant may fund.

Main Provisions

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 116J.3952, subdivision 2.
• Grants under this section may fund up to 75-90 percent of the total cost of a broadband project.
• Grant awards must continue to comply with the broader rules of the program found in section 116J.395, subdivisions 1 through 6, and subdivision 7, paragraph b.

Significant Changes

• Sets a new range for how much of a project’s cost the grant can cover (up to 75-90%), affecting how much other funding sources must contribute.
• Requires continued adherence to the existing overall program requirements (116J.395 and related subdivisions), ensuring consistency with current rules while changing the maximum grant share.
• This change could influence project financing decisions, potentially enabling larger or more expensive broadband projects in areas with low population density by increasing the grant’s share of costs.

Relevant Terms grants; lower population density grant program; broadband; matching requirements; percent of total cost; Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 116J3952 subdivision 2; section 116J395 subdivisions 1 to 6; subdivision 7 paragraph b; cost share; funding allocation; rural broadband.