In 2014, 91 percent of Nicollet County had access to broadband. (Although broadband was defined at lower speeds in 2014.) Now 86 percent of Nicollet has access to broadband as speeds of 25/3 (Mbps down/up) and 54 percent have access to speeds of 100/20 the speed goal for Minnesota in 2016.
So Nicollet is in a precarious position. They are doing alright in terms of broadband access, but their position is slipping as the definition of broadband gets faster.
Nicollet County is also in line to receive $993,522 in CAF 2 funding to upgrade 1515 locations. CAF 2 recipients are only required to upgrade to 10/1 access. Many may choose to upgrade to better speeds but there are no requirements.
Numbers:
The Office of Broadband Development released data on broadband covered in fall of 2016, based on information gathered in July 2016. Here’s how they ranked:
- Percentage served with 25/3 or better: 86.10
- Percentage served with 100/20 or better: 54. 54
Mississippi State University Extension have come up with a ranking system to gauge the digital divide index (DDI) by county. (The lower the number the better – the state average is 40.66.) Here’s how they ranked:
DDI score of 23.33 out of 100.
More info:
- Find more articles on broadband in Nicollet County (http://tinyurl.com/h3zwpbd)
- There is a matrix of Minnesota broadband adoption projects.
- Districts: CD 1
Senate: 19
House: 19A
I plan to profile each county in Minnesota – tracking broadband access, digital divide and annotated links to news of what’s happening with broadband in the county. I’m keeping it high level because there are 87 counties!