Rank: 77
Code:  Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Murray County: needs help but has potential partners

In 2018, with support from the Blandin Foundation, released a feasibility study that was not promising; it indicated that it is not economically feasible to build fiber everywhere. Subsequently, they are left looking at hybrid models, trying to convince the state to increase the 50 percent match or find another solution.

Murray County will benefit from a few MN State Grants awarded in 2021:

• Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company (Lismore Broadband) – Iona FTTP – GRANT  $219,714 This last mile and middle mile project will serve approximately 100 unserved locations including 75 households, nine businesses, 13 farms, and three community institutions within the town of Iona.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Murray is $1,589,176; broadband is one possible use.

They have received a MN broadband grant. That might spark an interest in investing ARP funding on broadband. The opportunity is there but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of activity in the area recently; they are code red.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants

• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Murray County (http://tinyurl.com/j9sr5gf)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 77 (down 8)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 5.2

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 22
  House: 22A
• 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)