Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, selected by Vice President Kamala Harris as her running mate for the upcoming November election, signed two bills into law in May that removed barriers to local government ownership of broadband networks in the state. The action means local Minnesota governments can compete with Comcast and Mediacom for BEAD money to connect unserved and underserved households, according to Broadband Breakfast.
Walz’s signature repealed two laws to promote the rollout of municipal-owned networks. One bill repealed a law that had required municipalities to secure a supermajority vote in a local referendum to buy or construct “telephone exchanges” that had been applied to municipal broadband network build-outs. The second bill Walz repealed allowed municipalities to improve, construct, extend, and maintain facilities for internet access only if no private provider was offering service in that municipality.
Broadband Breakfast characterized Walz as a long-time proponent of infrastructure, labor, and broadband initiatives, saying he led efforts to eliminate century-old state restrictions on broadband accessibility, despite objections from private companies citing concerns about unfair competition.
As Minnesota Governor in 2022, Walz announced the largest-ever investment in high-speed internet in Minnesota’s history, nearly $100 million, notes Broadband Breakfast. His 2020 budget also included what he called a “moonshot” for rural broadband, which aimed to bring broadband access to rural areas within two years.
Walz grew up on a Nebraska farm, according to several news outlets. He’s familiar with the challenges of rural life and has expressed his frustration with the poor broadband access affecting parts of Minnesota.
Before becoming Governor, Walz served a 12-year tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, having been elected in 2006 to represent Minnesota’s 1st district. The state established the Office of Broadband Development in 2014, followed by the Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program. “Helping more Minnesotans get online at high-speeds is one of the ways we’re making Minnesota the best state for families, workers, and businesses,” Walz said in March, announcing an additional $50 million in grants to expand broadband access to 8,900 locations.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
Reader Interactions