Rank: 43
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Lyon County: Incremental upgrades

Lyon County’s rank dipped from 34 to 43 for broadband access out of 87 counties. Lyon has had incremental improvement in coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since we have been tracking statistics and that is why they retain their red ranking.

They may be concerned about being in a potentially precarious position because looking at access in the County using the FCC National Map there is a big discrepancy between wireline access (79.68 percent coverage) and wireline with fixed wireless (99.81 percent). Minnesota doesn’t currently take fixed wireless into consideration when defining areas eligible for grants; the federal government does include access to fixed wireless. That could make a big difference to who is eligible for BEAD funding.

• Over the years, Lyon County (or cities within) has invested $7.500 (total) for matches for 1 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
• Lyon County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant.
• Lyon County will not benefit from any line extension awards.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $10.5 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, Lyon ranked 84^th using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Broadband Access:

Grants:

• Woodstock Telephone Company – Lynd FTTP – GRANT $325,548 (Lyon County) – This middle and last mile project will serve 203 underserved households, three underserved businesses and three underserved anchor institutions in the City of Lynd in Lyon County.
• 2017 – MVTC (Minnesota Valley Telephone Company, Inc.) – Milroy Broadband Project – GRANT $742,365
• 2017 – Woodstock Telephone Company – Balaton FTTP – GRANT $413,009
• 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 Lyon County (http://tinyurl.com/hzlzzvs)

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)