Rank: 67
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Otter Tail County: recent progress but needs more

Otter Tail County is seeing steady, incremental improvement to their broadband access, likely because they have also benefited from a number of MN Border to Border grants.

They have seen a greater increase in access to 25/3, which can be detrimental for long term planning. Going from nothing (or very slow) to 25/3, customers will be comparatively pleased, which may reduce their interesting in investing in a more long-term solution. Also, it is interesting to see a provider upgrade to only 25/3.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Otter Tail is $11,393,425; broadband is one possible use.

Otter Tail County has the opportunity to invest in broadband with federal funding. That would help them reach ubiquitous broadband; this is where the increase in access to 25/3 might get in the way of popular opinion on the choice. They are code red.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

• 2017 – Arvig – Pelican Rapids rural non-ACAM – GRANT $633,642
• 2017 – Otter Tail Telcom LLC – Red Oak Drive – GRANT $173,683
• 2017 – WCTA (West Central Telephone Association) – Wadena Rural Phase III – GRANT $874,581
• 2016 – OTTER TAIL TELCOM BATTLE LAKE – GRANT: $ 238,170
• 2016 – OTTER TAIL TELCOM FERGUS FALLS AREA – GRANT: $ 279,271
• 2016 – WCTA WADENA RURAL NORTH — GRANT: $718,850
• 2015 – Otter Tail Telcom Fergus Falls 864 – Hwy 59 – Grant award: $295,432
• 2015 – Otter Tail Telcom Hwy 59/94 PRT to POM – Grant award: $164,207
• 2014 – Otter Tail Telcom, Stuart Lake – Award: $105,364.
• 2014 – Otter Tail Telcom, 245th – Award: $108,553.
• 2019: Otter Tail Telcom LLC – Long and Fish Lakes Project – GRANT $156,954
• 2019: Arvig (Loretel Systems, Inc.) – Cormorant Lakes Area Project – GRANT $430,780

Checklist:

• Find more articles on Otter TailCounty https://blandinonbroadband.org/?s=otter+tail&submit=Search
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 67 (down 1)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 11.36

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 01
  House: 01A, 01B
• 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)