House committee advances fix to Minnesota broadband installer law after safety, timing debate

House File 47, a bill to amend Minnesota’s underground telecommunications installer certification requirements, advanced out of the House Ag Finance and Policy Committee on a 7-6 roll call after committee members debated whether the law’s training timeline and staffing mandates are workable for the industry.

Supporters said the bill preserves safety standards while providing flexibility to avoid disrupting broadband deployment. Opponents said reducing training hours and clarifying who must be certified could weaken public and worker safety.

Representative Schultz presented the bill and a related A1 amendment, which the committee approved before debate. Melissa Wolf, executive director of the Minnesota Cable Communications Association, testified the law enacted last session will disqualify ‘‘thousands of experienced broadband installers’’ without changes, because a July 1 compliance deadline and a 40-hour training requirement are impossible to meet statewide before thaw and peak construction season. Wolf told the committee,…