MN HF2615

Establishes the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant and Loan Program under the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development to fund broadband infrastructure expansion in unserved areas.

Defines unserved areas as locations lacking broadband service at speeds of 10-20 megabits per second download and 5-10 megabits per second upload; funded projects must support speeds scalable to at least 100 megabits per second download and upload.

Eligible applicants include businesses, partnerships, political subdivisions, Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations, cooperative associations, and limited liability corporations organized to expand broadband access.

Grants and loans cannot fund more than 50 percent of total project costs; prioritizes applications serving economically distressed areas, important community institutions (libraries, schools, healthcare facilities), and projects with strong community support and additional funding sources.

Appropriates $100,000,000 from the general fund to the Commissioner for broadband infrastructure grants, loans, and supplementing local government bond revenues; funds remain available until expended and do not revert to general fund.