Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 58
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.
Jackson County: coverage stalled at 69 percent
Jackson County benefited from an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant in 2010. They benefited from a Border to Border grant in 2015. Since then they have been stalled at 69 percent access. Jackson County needs a renewed interest in improved broadband if they want to close the broadband gap in the county.
Broadband Access:
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
100/20 (2026 goal) | 68.84 | 68.84 | 68.79 | 68.9 |
25/3 (2022 goal) | 70.05 | 70.42 | 68.83 | 68.9 |
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% |
Jackson | 85.6% | 76.3% | 68.5% | 54.0% | 4.9% |
What we learned in the past:
In 2010, Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services (SMBS) received ARRA funds to deploy fiber to the home in Jackson and other counties. Through SMBS, Jackson County was also part of the Blandin Broadband Communities initiative in 2015-2016
Jackson County benefited from a MN state broadband grant:
- 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080
Update from 2020:
No broadband reports from Jackson County since the last broadband profile.
Checklist:
- Find more articles on broadband in Jackson County. (http://tinyurl.com/h3vyqx9)
- 100/20 Mbps ranking: 58 (down 3)
- Has worked with Blandin: yes
- Has received a MN Broadband grant: yea
- Household density: 6.1
Details:
- Districts: CD 1
Senate: 22 & 23
House: 22B, 23A - 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)