Code: Yellow
Population: 134
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Fond du Lac Reservation has seen some success in deploying better broadband in the last year. They went from 77 percent access to speeds of 100 Mbps down and 20 up to 90 percent; and access to 25/3 has remained at 100 percent.

This is one of the few communities where there is a striking difference between the fixed, non-mobile broadband and wireline. The only have 68.62 percent access to wireless; although that is to 100/20 speeds.

In April 2017, Mediacom announced that they upgraded their customers on the Lower Sioux Reservation to their Gig access. It seems that is reflected in the map but that almost 10 percent of the reservation’s households are not in Mediacom territory.

They will likely need concerted effort to get the rest of the community better broadband. One opportunity might come from Lead for America, a group of fellows working in rural areas to promote better broadband. Vanessa Goodthunder, Executive Director of Caƞṡayapi Waḳaƞyeża Owayawa Oṭi – Lower Sioux Early Head Start and Head Start, is on the broadband of Lead for America so the connection is there.

Lower Sioux Indian Community
(get 2020 map)

Map Key:

• Served: Green
• Underserved: Purple
• Unserved: Pink

I am doing the annual look at broadband in tribal areas – 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)