Rank: 25
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Carver County: Needs a push to get ubiquitous broadband

Carver County has seen only incremental improvement in broadband coverage since we have been keeping track. In 2013, they got American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to build a start to a community-wide network, but not much as happened since.

The cities and towns are well served but areas with lower population density are not. As a report from the Institute for Local Self Reliance pointed out, networks in Carver County have done little to improve residential or commercial Internet access, though they have led to significant local government savings. However, projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Carver is $20,381,364; broadband is one possible use.

Obviously at 90+ percentage coverage, Carver is close to the ubiquitous goal, but they have been hovering too long. Without a concerted effort, they will not do it and that’s why they are code yellow.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

• 2013, Carver County received ARRA funding for Carverlink, a publicly owned 89-mile base ring with 33 miles of lateral lines. It was completed in Fall of 2013.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Carver County. (http://tinyurl.com/jxj9v9x)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 25 (down 5 places)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: no
• Household density: 109.46

Details:

• Districts: CD 3 & 6
  Senate: 33 & 47
  House: 33B, 47A, 47B
• 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)