Rank:  39
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Dodge County: steady progress has stalled

Dodge County ranks 30 (down 9 places) for access to broadband at 100 Mbps down and 20 up. Dodge County had seen slow but steady increase in access since 2020 but that seemed to stall in the last year. Dodge will retain its yellow ranking.

• Over the years, Dodge County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
• Dodge County will not benefit from a recent MN Broadband grant.
• Dodge County will not benefit from line extension awards.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $8.4 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Dodge ranked 9 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
• In 2023, KM Telecom got almost $2 million in a Border to Border grant to serve towns in Olmsted and Dodge Counties.

Past Grants:

• 2023: KM Telecom – Rural Byron & Salem Corners Fiber Build – GRANT $1,931,046
• 2021: KMTelecom – Rock Dell Northwest Fiber Build – GRANT $385,173
• 2021: KMTelecom – Rock Dell Southwest Fiber Build – GRANT $404,709

• 2017 – KMTelecom – Rural Kasson Fiber Build – GRANT $606,108
• 2016 – KMTELECOM RURAL MANTORVILLE – GRANT: $764,663

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Dodge County. (http://tinyurl.com/znpmlfr)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

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)