I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year.

Lac qui Parle broadband ranking has dropped from 2 to 6. There was a slight dip in access from last year. I presume that reflects a correction is this year or last but they are still more than 97 percent covered.

Lac qui Parle was part of an informal speed survey. They are promoting their fiber through a partnership with Southwest MN Careers.

The problem in LqP County is that while most of the county got FTTH through a federal ARRA grant in 2010; the county seat of Madison did not qualify for the upgrade because their connection speeds were deemed to good for the upgrade. So LqP is in an unusual position where the biggest city is least served and the rest of the county has FTTH.

Info on Access:

The speeds reflect the Minnesota speed goals:

• 25 Mbps down and 3 up by 2022
• 100 Mbps down and 20 up by 2026

Current ranking for 100/20 access: 6

• Lac qui Parle Valley Schools has worked wit the Blandin Foundation
• Find more articles on broadband in Lac qui Parle. (http://tinyurl.com/zc2tfay)
• There is a matrix of Minnesota broadband adoption projects; it includes projects from this area.
• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 16
  House: 16A