Rank: 4
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)
Lac Qui Parle (LqP) County: top ranked and getting better
LqP County ranks 4 for broadband access and 81 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have had more than 99 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since we started tracking. They have 5 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $45,000 to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.
| County | Housing Unit Density | Number of Housing Units | 100/20 Mbps | houses unserved | Cost to close the gap |
| Lac qui Parle | 4.5 | 3,471 | 99.86 | 5 | $ 45,192.42 |
Lac qui Parle (LqP) County received an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) award in 2010 that brought Fiber to the Home (FTTH) to most of the county. They have been well served since then and are able to make improvements. That is why they get an easy green code. But their digital equity ranking is 81. If they get funding for technology, they should consider investment in digital equity. That being said, they were early partners with the Blandin Foundation and have a history of great programs, such as the Computer Commuter akin to a bookmobile but with computers and Internet access.
Broadband Access:
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
| 100/20 (2026 goal) | 99.86 | 99.83 | 99.57 | 97.35 | 97.35 | 99.36 |
| 25/3 (2022 goal) | 99.86 | 99.84 | 99.57 | 97.35 | 97.35 | 99.36 |
Digital Equity:
LqP County ranks 41 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)
LqP County ranks 81 out of 87 for computer ownership. 86 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.
Past grants:
- 2009, Blandin Foundation funded a feasibility study for LqP County and Farmers Telephone Cooperative. The feasibility study’s engineering, operational, and market development plans were later used to support the partners’ successful ARRA funding
- 2010 The county and Farmers were awarded a $9.6 million ARRA award
- 2017 – Farmers Mutual Telephone – City of Watson and SW Lac qui Parle County FTTP – GRANT $760,501
- 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080
Checklist:
- Find more articles on broadband in Lac qui Parle. (http://tinyurl.com/zc2tfay)
- 100/20 ranking: 4 (same)
- Has worked with Blandin: yes
- Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
- Household density: 4.5
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)
Blandin on Broadband 