Rank: 70
Code:  Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Martin County: hoping new engagement spurs investment

Martin County ranks 70 (down one place) for broadband access out of 87 counties.

They have 72.6 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 2398 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $22.3 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Martin County hovered around 67 percent coverage to broadband, last year they had a big jump and this year, an incremental increase. They have an $8 million grant next year, which should help them get even closer to goal.

One side fact: 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 and wireline with fixed wireless. 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, Martin County (or cities within) has invested $805,842 (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.
• Martin County will benefit from a 2024 $8 million MN Broadband grant (Round 10) award that will serve 457 locations.
• Martin County will benefit from 4 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $22.3 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, Martin ranked 61using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Martin County

2024 Grants

• County: Martin
  Federated Rural Electric Association Martin County Low Density
  Grant: $8,008,419
  Local Match: $2,669,473
  Total Budget: $10,677,892
  This Low Density Federated Rural Electric Association in Martin County will see Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) Network to be built in rural Martin County. The project will enhance the quality of life and foster community growth for businesses, farmers, and residents at 457 locations, including 431 unserved and 26 underserved addresses. Funding partners include contributions from Martin County, Lake Belt Township, Rolling Green Township, for a total partner contribution of $800,842.

Past Grants

• 2022: Grants: Bevcomm – Rural Faribault and Martin Counties Fiber Expansion Project – Phase Three – GRANT $1,444,030 (serving Faribault and Martin Counties)
• MN State Grant awarded in 2021: BEVCOMM (Blue Earth Valley Telephone Company, Easton Telephone Company & Cannon Valley Telecom) – Rural Faribault County and Martin County Fiber Expansion Phase 2 Project – GRANT $1,182,818 This last mile project will serve approximately two unserved households, 203 underserved households, 46 underserved businesses, and 181 underserved farms in portions of Faribault and Martin counties.

• 2017- BEVCOMM (Granada Telephone Company) — Granada Rural Final – GRANT: $202,410
• 2016 – GRANADA TELEPHONE COMPANY (DBA BEVCOMM) SOUTH RURAL GRANADA – GRANT:  $157,920
• 2016 – MARTIN COUNTY (WITH FRONTIER) RURAL BROADBAND INITIATIVE – GRANT: $1,677,823
• BEVCOMM (Blue Earth Valley Telephone Company & Easton Telephone Company) – Rural Faribault County Project – GRANT: $579,781

Find more articles on broadband in Martin County (http://tinyurl.com/h37zf6l)

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)