Rank: 69
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)
Wabasha County: still stalled at 66 percent access
Wabasha County ranks 64 for broadband access and 24 for digital equity out of 87 counties. After hovering at 66 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2017, they saw an increase to 71.24 percent coverage in 2022. They have 2921 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $27.2 million 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 |
| Wabasha | 18.5 | 10,158 | 71.24 | 2921 | $ 27,169,399.44 |
Wabasha County saw an increase in broadband coverage for the first time since we’ve been tracking in the last year. In September 2021, the county decided to invest $1 million in their ARPA funding on broadband. It is a nice gesture but is a far cry from the estimates $27 million they need and because of that they retain their red code.
Broadband Access:
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
| 100/20 (2026 goal) | 71.24 | 66.67 | 66.31 | 66.31 | 66.17 | 61.7 |
| 25/3 (2022 goal) | 74.01 | 78.33 | 77.96 | 77.61 | 74.35 | 83.59 |
Digital Equity:
Wabasha County ranks 24 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)
Wabasha County ranks 52 out of 87 for computer ownership. 90.4 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.
Past grants:
- 2016 – NEW ULM TELECOM, INC. MAZEPPA – GRANT: $ 317,761
- MN State Grant awarded in 2021: Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Goodhue West FTTP – GRANT $532,232 This last mile project will serve 148 unserved and two underserved locations in Goodhue, Zumbrota, Minneola, and Belle Creek townships in Goodhue County and Chester Township in Wabasha County.
Checklist:
- Find more articles on broadband in Wabasha County (http://tinyurl.com/gpllcg8)
- 100/20 Mbps ranking: 64 (up 5)
- Has worked with Blandin: no
- Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
- Household density: 18.5
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 