Rank: 86
Code:  Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Murray County: 2024 MN State grant may help get them out of the bottom ranking

Murray County ranks 86 (down 5 places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Murray County has hovered around 50 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since we started tracking. In 2018, with support from the Blandin Foundation, released a feasibility study that suggested that fiber would be too expensive and they should look at hybrid options. Although dated, that report might help them prepare for BEAD funding opportunities since BEAD is apt to fund hybrid options.

Murray 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.

Murray will benefit from almost $3 million MN state grant. It will be interesting to see if that helps push them closer to the goal. However, as it stands, Murray County holds onto its red ranking.

• Over the years, Murray County (or cities within) has invested $1,326,455 (total) for matches for 2 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
• Murray County will benefit from a 2024 $2.9 million MN Broadband grant award that will serve 190 locations.
• Murray County will not benefit from any line extension awards.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $18 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, Murray ranked 62 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

2024 Grants

• County: Murray
  Woodstock Telephone Company Skandia FTTH Low Density
  Grant: $2,914,733
  Local Match: $971,578
  Total Budget: $3,886,311
  This Low Density Woodstock Telephone Company Skandia FTTH project will cover a rural area east of Skandia in Murray County, and is for a Fiber-To-The-Premises Network that would utilize existing Woodstock-owned middle-mile fiber and offer speeds up to 1G upload and 1G download. This project will serve a residents and businesses at 190 unserved locations. Funding partner, Murray County is contributing $485,789. 26 Totals $51,963,323 $48,468,239 $100,431,561

Past grants

• 2022: Woodstock Telephone Company – Lake Sarah Township FTTP – GRANT $1,333,199

• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080
• Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company (Lismore Broadband) – Iona FTTP – GRANT  $219,714 This last mile and middle mile project will serve approximately 100 unserved locations including 75 households, nine businesses, 13 farms, and three community institutions within the town of Iona.

• MN State Grants awarded in 2021: Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company (Lismore Broadband) – Iona FTTP – GRANT  $219,714 This last mile and middle mile project will serve approximately 100 unserved locations including 75 households, nine businesses, 13 farms, and three community institutions within the town of Iona.

Find more articles on broadband in Murray County (http://tinyurl.com/j9sr5gf)

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)