Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved
Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 45
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.
Waseca County: stalled at 75 percent broadband access
Waseca County has been stalled at 75 percent access to broadband at speeds of 100/20 Mbps for several years. We don’t hear much about broadband from Waseca, although there is a change in a local provider (Jaguar acquired by Metronet) and that might impact service. To meet the speed goals, Waseca would need to develop a relationship with a provider and build a momentum.
Broadband Access:
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
| 100/20 (2026 goal) | 75.34 | 75.2 | 75.06 | 98.75 |
| 25/3 (2022 goal) | 83.92 | 82.19 | 75.3 | 98.75 |
| 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% |
| Waseca | 94.3% | 88.4% | 82.5% | 67.1% | 5.6% |
What we learned in the past:
To meet the speed goals, Waseca would need to develop a relationship with a provider and build a momentum.
Update from 2020:
Waseca County is part of a consortium (Region 9) that using broadband for better telehealth, especially for better mental telehealth.
Part of Waseca 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 Waseca County (http://tinyurl.com/z845jwy)
- 100/20 Mbps ranking: 45 (down 3)
- Has worked with Blandin: yes
- Has received a MN Broadband grant: no
- Household density: 16.8
Details:
- Districts: CD 1
Senate: 23, 24
House: 23B, 24A - 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)
