Rank: 64
Code:  Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Watonwan County: hovering around 70 percent

Watonwan County has been hovering just under 70 percent covered since we began tracking. They have benefited from grants in the past. There isn’t much broadband news coming from the county. They seem unlikely to make the 2026 speed goals without community intervention but there are opportunities.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Watonwan is $2,113,406; broadband is one possible use.

Watonwan County has the opportunity to invest in broadband with federal funding. That would help them reach ubiquitous broadband. They are a red code community.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

• 2017 – New Ulm Telecom, Inc. – Hanska A&D FTTP – GRANT $324,894
• 2016 – NEW ULM TELECOM, INC. HANSKA – GRANT: $ 200,397
• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Watonwan County (http://tinyurl.com/jpnf6xv)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 64 (down 4)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 9.74

Details:

• Districts: CD 1
  Senate: 23
  House: 23A, 23B
• 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)