Rank: 78
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Yellow Medicine County: percentage improvement but still low ranking

Yellow Medicine County ranks 78 for broadband access and 58 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have gone from almost 48 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up in 2021 to 58 percent coverage in 2022. They have 1888 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.

Yellow Medicine County has seen some great improvement – about 10 percent increase this year and last. Unfortunately, they have a long way to go. But their momentum bumps them from red to yellow code.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Yellow Medicine County ranks 58 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Yellow Medicine County ranks 59 out of 87 for computer ownership. 91.5 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 89.4 percent.

Past grants:

• 2016 – MIDCO CANBY TO MARSHALL MIDDLE MILE AND LAST MILE – GRANT AMOUNT: $623,000
• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Yellow Medicine County (http://tinyurl.com/zhsj3ke)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 78 (up 6)
• Has worked with Blandin
• Has received a MN Broadband grant
• Household density: 5.9

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)