The Institute for Local Self Reliance maintains a Community Network Map – a map of the variety of ways in which local governments have invested in wired telecommunications networks. Those ways include:
- publicly owned FTTH citywide network
- publicly owned cable network reaching most or all of the community
- some publicly owned fiber service available to parts of the community (often a business district)
- publicly owned dark fiber available
- publicly owned network offering at least 1 gigabit services
- served by rural electric cooperatives
You can get a look at coverage one their map (copied) on the right. (The map on their site is interactive.) They were kind enough to send me a list of Minnesota communities listed, which I’m happy to share. (Have to admit, I wasn’t able to post in spreadsheet as I wanted so feel free to contact me if you want a better format.)
Quick breakdown:
- There are four publicly owned FTTH citywide networks. Lake Connections serves three communities. Monticello Fiber and Windomnet each serves one. SMBS serves eight communities.
- There’s one publicly owned cable network – Bagley Public Utilities in Bagley MN
- There are seven providers serving some publicly owned fiber service available to parts of the community.
- Two counties with dark fiber available. CarverLink serves 10 communities. Scott County Fiber Network serves seven communities
- There are two rural electric cooperatives. RS Fiber serves 10 communities. True North serves four communities.