Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 43
Code: Red
Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Dodge County: Stalled at 77 percent coverage
Dodge County has held steady at about 75 percentage coverage to 100/20 Mbps broadband since 2018. Grants awarded in 2017 and 2018 likely helped them get to that level but there’s much recent activity. While one of their broadband providers was acquired recently, and that might mean expansion, it’s more likely that the community will need to get active and engaged to see improvements.
Broadband Access:
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
100/20 (2026 goal) | 77.37 | 77.08 | 74.59 | 94.9 |
25/3 (2022 goal) | 84.02 | 82.78 | 76.4 | 99.37 |
County | Households with computer | …with desktop or laptop | …with a smartphone | …with a tablet et al | …with other |
State of MN | 90.3% | 81.1% | 76.5% | 59.3% | 3.5% |
Dodge | 90.8% | 83.9% | 74.5% | 61.0% | 5.6% |
What we learned in the past:
Dodge County benefited from two MN broadband grants:
- 2017 – KMTelecom – Rural Kasson Fiber Build – GRANT $606,108
- 2016 – KMTELECOM RURAL MANTORVILLE – GRANT: $764,663
Update from 2020:
Part of Dodge County was served by Jaguar, which was acquired by MetroNet in July (2020). MetroNet claims they will invest $150 million to grow their Minnesota market.
Checklist:
- Find more articles on broadband in Dodge County. (http://tinyurl.com/znpmlfr)
- 100/20 Mbps ranking: 43 (down 2 places)
- Has worked with Blandin: no
- Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
- Household density: 16.9
Details:
- Districts: CD 1 / 21, 24, 25 & 27
- Find your reps
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. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:
- Red (yikes)
- Yellow (warning)
- Green (good shape)