Under my Administration, the United States can and will responsibly accelerate the use of AI across intelligence and warfighting domains in line with American values.  The United States possesses the most effective and moral military in the history of world.  It is also among the most trusted institutions in American life.  That trust is rooted in an unbroken chain of command and accountability, from our democratic process through civilian and military leadership, to the men and women who carry out the mission.

This is their policy:

Sec. 2.  Policy.  My Administration will accelerate the development and use of AI for national security applications, guided by the following four pillars:

(a)  Adoption.  The national security enterprise shall accelerate AI adoption by identifying mission areas where AI can enhance operational effectiveness and eliminating unnecessary barriers to rapid deployment.  To this end, the national security enterprise shall maintain deep, proactive partnerships with industry, to make the most advanced frontier models broadly available to national security professionals without delay, ensuring technological overmatch while driving rapid experimentation and validation across potential applications.

(b)  Adaptation.  The national security enterprise shall adapt commercial or open-source AI technologies, leveraging the most cutting-edge capabilities available from diverse suppliers across the private sector, large and small, while ensuring that AI technologies chosen are optimized for their intended use.  In cases where the use of a commercial solution is not appropriate due to security or mission limitations, executive departments and agencies (agencies) may deploy commercially or internally customized AI technologies or develop AI technologies internally.  Such technologies shall be made available across the national security enterprise to support multiple missions where possible.

(c)  Assurance.  The national security enterprise shall assure that all AI technologies adopted are designed to be reliable, robust, steerable, and controllable, and that they operate, in accordance with applicable laws, government policies, and guidance.  To protect American warfighters, the national security enterprise shall ensure, through contractual clauses or other means, that no commercial entity or adversary possesses the capability to prevent use of, disable or degrade, or materially modify without Federal Government knowledge and approval, an AI system that our men and women depend on for their missions.  In addition, rigorous security and functionality measures, including testing, evaluation, validation, and verification, shall be implemented to assure the appropriate confidentiality, integrity, reliability, availability, and interoperability of AI systems across the national security enterprise.

(d)  Accountability.  American AI technologies shall neither be developed nor used by the national security enterprise to censor free speech, embed ideological bias, or conduct unauthorized or unlawful surveillance activities.  The use of AI by the national security enterprise must always be consistent with United States civil liberties and protections afforded by the Constitution and laws and regulations safeguarding the privacy of American citizens.  Commanders, directors, and heads of agencies shall remain responsible and accountable for ensuring that these obligations are met at every level of command, and that such accountability keeps pace with the evolution of AI capabilities and regulations governing the privacy and civil liberties of American citizens.

As electric cooperatives descend upon Washington, DC, this week for their fifth-annual Broadband Leadership Summit, they bring with them a number of policy priorities and concerns. Among those is their growing distress at the direction of the federal government’s $42 billion BEAD program.

“Quite frankly, some decisions have been made in the BEAD program that we are not happy with,” said Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), during a press conference last week ahead of the summit. NRECA represents the interests of the country’s electric co-ops, of which roughly 200 offer retail broadband service in the US.

There were at least two issues for the electric coops: fiber…

“We were pretty disappointed that the preference for fiber was removed. We think that shifts the program’s focus from what would be more of a proven, durable, scalable broadband technology. So we were not in favor of that decision,” added Matheson. The Trump administration stripped BEAD of its fiber preference last June, forcing states to re-do their bidding processes to instead award the lowest-cost bidders.

And pole attachment rules for electric coops…

In addition to BEAD losing its fiber preference, co-ops are also worried about ever-changing rules for the federal broadband program that make it harder for them to participate: “It adds to confusion, it adds to delay, it adds to cost. That’s been disappointing,” said NRECA’s Matheson.

One change of particular concern to electric cooperatives is the NTIA’s decision to impose FCC pole attachment rules on co-ops participating in the BEAD program, despite co-ops typically being exempt from federal pole attachment regulations. The FCC rules cap the rates pole owners may impose and set time limits on processing pole attachment applications. The regulation applies across the service provider’s entire footprint, not just within the BEAD-funded area.

Over the past year, National Skills Coalition has spoken with nearly 100 small and mid-sized businesses on topics related to skills and credentials. (Some of our findings are detailed in Big Insights from Small and Mid-Sized Businesses.)

Many of those businesses are manufacturing companies that are on the frontlines of digital adoption. They shared examples of how they are adopting new technologies ranging from robotics to precision machining to AI and more. These businesses offer an important ground-level perspective on a broader national challenge: how to ensure workers and local businesses have the skills, support, and flexibility needed to adapt to technological change and share in its gains.

Insights from these businesses can help policymakers and advocates design flexible policies that equip workers and their employers to respond to the ongoing technological shifts in the US economy. Below, we describe key insights and policy implications associated with them.

I’m abbreviating the list to include only the insights, not the ways in which policy can help…

Leading businesses know how digital skill-building relates to capital expenditures

General digital resilience is just as important as particular skills

Interpersonal skills can amplify (or undercut) digital skills

Hands-on, experiential learning matters for digital skills too

AI can help to expand existing internal talent development resources

Jobseekers and educators can do more to communicate the relevance of tech credentials

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

• Line Extension Connection Program updates
• Broadband Task Force, May meeting recap
• OBD resource update, new Maps and Data, Environmental Permitting and Reports webpage
• Broadband in the news

Line Extension Connection Program updates

The bidding window for the fast-tracked Round 5 closed May 22, 2026 and submitted bids are under review and initial award offers are being sent.
Registration remains open for residents and businesses for future rounds of the program. For assistance completing the application or to request a paper form to complete, please call 651-259-7610 or email DEED.broadband@state.mn.us.

OBD expects to announce a sixth round of the program with standard timelines using state funds later in 2026. More information and registration are available on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage.

Broadband Task Force, May meeting recap

The Broadband Task Force met virtually on Thursday May 21 and heard presentations from two Tribal broadband experts on workforce development, supply chain issues, and broadband expansion: Godfrey Enjady (President of the National Tribal Telecommunications Association-NTTA) and Anis Khemakhem (Chief Commercial Officer at Clearfield Inc.). Additionally, OBD’s executive director Bree Maki presented updates on the Line Extension Connection Program and the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

More information on this and upcoming meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

OBD resource update, new Maps and Data, Environmental Permitting and Reports webpage

OBD has updated and consolidated resources on our webpage, including a new home for the interactive statewide Minnesota Broadband Map and new Environmental and Permitting Resources section on the Maps and Data, Environmental Permitting, and Reports webpage:

This page will be updated as additional resources are available, serve as a resource hub for archived broadband maps and reports, and works to meet accessibility standards for web content.

Please contact the office at deed.broadband@state.mn.us or 651-259-7610 if you have any questions or need materials provided in an alternate format for accessibility purposes.

Broadband in the news

Upcoming events of interest and recent broadband news to note includes:

• Register today for the National Tribal Telecommunications Association (NTTA) Midwest Region Tribal Broadband Summit, June 22-24 at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, MN. The 2026 NTTA Tribal Broadband Summit is the premier national gathering where Tribal Nations, federal agencies, telecommunications experts, and industry innovators come together with a shared purpose: to accelerate broadband deployment and strengthen digital sovereignty throughout Indian Country.
• Paul Bunyan Telephone Cooperative’s press release, Update on Broadband Expansion in Central Aitkin County and Gary Johnson receives Lifetime Achievement Award, congratulations to Gary on the recognition of his impact, including his time as CEO.
• Congratulations to Bevcomm’s Director of Operations, John Sonnek, for 50 years of service and dedication to broadband deployment (pictured below).

Earlier today

• No access to a device
• Percentage of large screen device

So, I have tracked three things from the research – to make for easy ranking and to help counties figure out what they might be able to change:

• Weighted broadband Adoption
• Weighted Large Screen Availability
• Weighted without Computer/Device

Below the ranking is based on broadband adoption, but I’ve kept the other factors as well. (You can access the spreadsheet.) It’s worth nothing that this is different than broadband access, which I track at the end of the year. These numbers look at how many subscribe to the service.

BroadbandClusters, a tool now covering 500+ metros and all 50 states that helps identify which ZIP codes have device and internet adoption gaps.

I wanted to share a few recent updates that I think will be useful to this community:

State-level explorer

I’ve heard from many in the NDIA community asking for better visibility into how rural communities and villages are affected by adoption gaps. The new State Explorer addresses this directly. You can now filter ZIP codes by concentration of seniors, Indigenous residents, veterans, children, race, and more. Set your threshold and only those communities surface, making it easy to compare how they perform against the statewide average.

Here’s the map and information for Minnesota…

I like the last graph and how is shows the correlation between various factors and broadband adoption. Many of the factors are beyond the scope of technology but the top and bottom aren’t. That seems like an area where folks could concentrate if they want to improve broadband adoption.

Finally, here’s information on the sources so that I can have it for the archive.

Last updated: Jan 2026
This page documents the primary data sources, time windows, and relevant limitations considered in the BroadbandClusters.org platform.

Internet Adoption

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
URL: ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024)
Time Window: 2020–2024

• Household internet adoption calculated from ACS 5-year survey results for maximum stability and reliability.
• Limitation: 5-year ACS estimates may not reflect rapid recent changes; 1-year ACS is not available for all geographies.

Broadband Availability

Source: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Broadband Data Collection
URL: FCC Broadband Map (June 2024)
Time Window: Most recent public release (e.g., Dec 2024)

• Coverage and provider counts reported at the city/census block level and aggregated for regional insights.
• Limitation: FCC data reports infrastructure coverage (availability), not actual household adoption. ZIP-level aggregation may be estimated from underlying data.

Geographic Reference

Source: Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Delineation Files for Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs), Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs), and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).
URL: OMB Delineation Files
Time Window: Most recent release (e.g., July 2023).

• Metro boundaries are assigned using CSA by default. Where CSA is not available, CBSA is used (e.g., Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown is a CBSA).
• Limitation: OMB defines metro areas at the county level, which may not align perfectly with local city/neighborhood boundaries.

City and ZIP Mapping

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) USPS ZIP-Code Crosswalk Files
URL: HUD Crosswalk
Time Window: Most recent quarterly release (e.g., Q1 2025)

• ZIP codes are mapped to counties and cities using HUD crosswalks and APIs.
• Limitation: ZIPs may cross multiple city/county boundaries and can change over time. Mapping reflects the best available information at the time of publication.

Geospatial Data

Source: Publicly available GeoJSON files
Example: US States GeoJSON

• All mapping boundaries and overlays use open geospatial references current as of the latest platform update.
• Limitation: Boundaries may not reflect the most recent administrative changes or minor local adjustments.

AI Impact Hour for Nonprofits

Jun 17, 12:00 – 1:00 PM (CDT)

Events at TechSoup

About this event

This isn’t just another webinar — it’s a meeting with nonprofits from around the world coming together to learn, share, and explore how AI can support their missions. If your organization has used AI in any way (big or small), or if you’re just getting started, we want to hear from you.

AI Impact Hour is a practical, interactive conversation designed for executive directors, staff, board members, and volunteers who want to understand what AI can realistically do in a nonprofit setting. You’ll see simple demonstrations and real examples, and you’ll have a chance to share your experiences, challenges, and insights with the group.

What makes this different:

• It’s for you  — small to large nonprofits from around the world
• We want to hear from you — how your nonprofit has been experimenting with AI
• You’ll learn from each other — not just from the presentation

Who should attend:

• Nonprofit leaders, staff, volunteers, and anyone curious about how AI can support their work, regardless of experience level.

Would you like to be a guest panelist to share your experience with AI?

Email Aretha Simons asimons@techsoup.org and put “panelist” in the subject line.

On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposes to revise the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance. The proposals might be among the most consequential changes to federal grant administration in more than a decade, particularly in the breadth of its policy conditions. OMB is proposing to rewrite the foundational rules that govern how nearly every federal grant dollar—including broadband, digital equity, research, and community development funds—is awarded, conditioned, and potentially terminated. Every entity that receives federal grants or cooperative agreements—states, local governments, Tribes, universities, nonprofits, hospitals, and for-profit organizations—could be impacted. That impact includes recipients of broadband funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) (Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, Digital Equity Act programs), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (ReConnect), the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Capital Projects Fund), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (Universal Service Fund programs, including Lifeline and E-Rate). The proposed rule would embed the current Administration’s policy priorities—including prohibitions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities—directly into the terms and conditions of federal awards. The proposal would also significantly expand agencies’ power to terminate awards mid-stream, require E-Verify participation by all recipients, and shift OMB’s “guidance” into binding regulation. The public comment period closes July 13, 2026.

The article goes on to detail the proposed changes and highlight the potential impact on BEAD recipients.

— The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State (OSS) is providing notice that various state boards, councils, committees, and task forces are accepting applications for open seats.

New vacancies are listed below. See the complete list of 498 seats on the OSS Open Positions webpage. Use the search fields on that webpage to find a specific board or position. Or click on the hyperlinks below to learn more about boards and their respective positions.

If position descriptions aren’t listed for the seats you’d like to apply to, contact the board staff for more information on member duties, qualifications, required application material, and more. See the Request Information section below for tips on contacting board staff.

Apply for a Position

Detailed instructions on finding a position, submitting an application, and related information are provided on the Boards & Commissions Help & How To webpage.

And the positions that I thought might be of interest to readers…

Minnesota e-Health Advisory Committee
Vacancies: 3 Seats — Academics and Research
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Community Clinics/Fed Qual. Health Centers
Vacancies: 2 Seats — Consumer Member
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Health Care Administrator
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Health Care Purchasers and Employers
Vacancies: 2 Seats — Health IT Vendors
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Health System Chief Information Officer
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Hospital Representatives
Vacancies: 4 Seats — Licensed Health Professionals (Physician/Nurse)
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Long Term and Post-Acute Care
Vacancies: 2 Seats — Professional with Expert Knowledge in Health IT
Vacancies: 2 Seats — Rotating Professionals – Additional Health Settings (Dentists, Pharmacists, Behavior Health Laboratory, Home Health, Social Services, etc)

Get more info

Rural broadband advocates in MN hopeful that new law will prevent missed future funding
The Minnesota Star Tribune tells of grant funds lost because of light scrutiny on applicants for federal funding, in areas such as Le Sueur County. Broadband advocates are hoping that a new law will help protect loss in the future

State News   

• MN Star Tribune compare growth of AI and data centers with growth of broadband
• A MN bill for an act relating to telecommunications is signed into law (HF4052)
• Gateway Fiber asks FCC to get involved with rights-of-way issues in Minnesota
• FCC investigating potential fraud in E-Rate program in Minnesota
• New MN Bill: A bill for an act relating to taxation; sales and use; repealing the exemption for data centers HF5125
• New MN Bill: Open Meeting Law; meeting broadcasting through social media authorized HF3295
• Views on fiber from Fiber to the Future in Minnesota
• Candidate Klobuchar outlines priorities, including state funding for broadband

National News

• New report on impact of broadband access on modern life
• Community Networks offers a look at fiber in the US via Fiber First conference
• EVENT May 27: The State of Broadband Deployment: Progress, Gaps, and Early Outcomes
• Senators Barrasso and Lummis introduce bill to increase access to Broadband on Federal land
• State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act introduced in congress to establish a federal grant program
• Senators Luján and Matsui Introduce legislation to expand Digital Opportunity, Inclusion, and Literacy
• NTIA not happy about Wisconsin’s investment in broadband to homes BEAD leaves under or unserved
• Rural Broadband Protection Act requires the FCC to screen applicants for solvency before making awards

Vendor/Technology News

• The Daily Yonder looks at policy perspective changes of satellite
• Arvig Appoints Ben Wiechman as Chief Technology Officer
• 2026 Industry Broadband Pricing Index finds faster speeds and lower prices
• DCN, Range, and WIN Technology create Heartland Fiber Project to expand fiber in the Midwest
• Midco and Switch announce a multistate connectivity agreement supporting critical AI infrastructure in the Midwest
• Fiber Broadband says Precision Agriculture needs fiber
• REPORT: U.S. State of State of EdTech 2026 – cybersecurity, AI, procurement and teaching & learning

Office of Broadband Development Updates and News:

• Office of Broadband Update May 20: Line Extension, BEAD and upcoming meetings
• Connecting One Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit: Notes from Office of Broadband Development
• OBD Broadband Update May 6. 2026: Broadband Summit notes, Line Extension and Task Force notes

Local Broadband News

Aitkin
Paul Bunyan Communication announces Broadband Expansion in Central Aitkin County

Iron Range
IRRR’s 2027 budget includes infrastructure/broadband

Scott, Waseca, Nicollet, Le Sueur and McLeod Counties
Mediacom Communications announces 5-Gig in parts of Scott, Waseca, Nicollet, Le Sueur and McLeod Counties

Southwest MN
Telehealth is going mobile in the 18 counties of southwest Minnesota

Superior (WI)
City of Superior (WI) expands ConnectSuperior broadband by 1000 locations

Twin Cities
Student works with seniors to create online world that merges current and historical look of neighborhood

Willmar
Groundbreaking for Willmar Connect, a city-owned, citywide broadband project, happened May 12
Willmar Council seeks bids to turn former wastewater treatment plant into the network operations center for Willmar Connect.
EVENT May 12: Windom City Council to hear Windomnet acquisition proposals

Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources

• EVENT June 18: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
• EVENT Aug 13: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
• EVENT Sept 16: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
• EVENT Oct 8: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
• EVENT Nov 12: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
• EVENT Dec 10: MN Broadband Task Force Meeting
• OPPORTUNITY: Community Connect Grants applications due June 29 2026
• OPPORTUNITY: USDA Accepts Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Applications open to improve access to remote education and health care in rural communities