Rank: 82
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Faribault County: Needs help

Faribault County ranks 62 for broadband access and 57 for digital equity out of 87 counties. Faribault got traction in 2022 with an increase from 44 to 73 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 1889 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $17.6 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Faribault County will benefit from a border to border grant that was announced in December 2022:

• Blue Earth Valley Telephone Co., dba Bevcomm and Cannon Valley Telecom, Inc.,dba Bevcomm, $1,444,030.00

The county has been focused on improving better broadband as seen in their discussion of using CARES money on broadband. They have seen a huge change in the last year and the most recent grant is likely to continue to move the needle. In fact, they saw the greatest increase in county ranking this year! Up 22 places! It’s because of this renewed energy that Faribault’s code has changed from red to yellow.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Faribault County ranks 57 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Faribault County ranks 72 out of 87 for computer ownership. 88.1 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grants:

• 2017 – BEVCOMM (Easton Telephone Company) – Delavan SE Rural Project – GRANT $220,350
• 2016 – BLUE EARTH VALLEY TELEPHONE CO. (DBA BEVCOMM) RURAL WINNEBAGO – GRANT:  $152,828
• 2015 – BEVCOMM Blue Earth Valley Telephone – Rural Winnebago Fiber-to-the-Premises Project – Grant award: $142,690
• BEVCOMM (Blue Earth Valley Telephone Company & Easton Telephone Company) – Rural Faribault County Project – GRANT: $579,781
• BEVCOMM received CARES Act funding from the County for broadband expansion.
• BEVCOMM (Blue Earth Valley Telephone Company, Easton Telephone Company & Cannon Valley Telecom) – Rural Faribault County and Martin County Fiber Expansion Phase 2 Project – GRANT $1,182,818 This last mile project will serve approximately two unserved households, 203 underserved households, 46 underserved businesses, and 181 underserved farms in portions of Faribault and Martin counties.
• Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association – SE Faribault/W Freeborn County FTTP – GRANT $953,842 This last-mile fiber optic project will bring service to 319 unserved locations, including 289 homes, 16 businesses, 11 farms, and three community anchor institutions in the townships of Clark, Foster, Kiester, Seely, Alden, Carlston, Manchester, Mansfield, and Pickerel Lake located in Southeastern Faribault and Western Freeborn counties.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Faribault County. (http://tinyurl.com/jzwv3gx)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 62 (up 22 spaces)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 9.6

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)