Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 10
Code: Green

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Pennington County: makes top ten broadband list

Pennington County has done well with engaged providers and successful Border to Border grants. And they will continue to benefit with a project from Wikstrom awarded in the last grant round. Pennington has broken through the top ten best served list!

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

Pennington County has benefited from several MN broadband grants:

• 2017 – Sjoberg’s Inc. – NW MN Rural Broadband – GRANT $307,088
• 2016 – CENTURYLINK THIEF RIVER MIDDLE MILE – GRANT: $1,324,400
• 2016 – GARDEN VALLEY TELEPHONE COMPANY RURAL THIEF RIVER FALLS EAST – GRANT: $2,027,035

Update from 2020:

Pennington will see improvement with one Border to Border projects awarded in the last round:

• 2019: Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband Project – GRANT $1,151,526
  This last mile project will upgrade approximately 316 unserved locations in areas of Kittson, Marshall, Lake of the Woods, Pennington, and Roseau Counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Wikstrom Telephone will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This project will provide service to an area with 1.6 subscribers per route mile of cable, in some cases extending from routes placed under the 2016 and 2017 Border to Border State Grant program. Broadband service is the key to economic development, successful education services for children, and allows at-home health care monitoring in this remote area.
• Total eligible cost is $2,558,946
• Local match is $1,407,420

Checklist:

• Find more articles on Pennington County https://blandinonbroadband.org/?s=pennington&submit=Search
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 10 (up 1)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 9.4

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 01
  House: 01A, 01B
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 64
Code: Yellow

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Otter Tail County: recent progress but needs more

Otter Tail County is seeing steady, incremental improvement to their broadband access, likely because they have also benefited from a number of MN Border to Border grants. And they are in line to benefit from grants in the last round too. They have a long way to go to meet the 2026 goal, but they keep moving forward.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

Otter Tail has benefited from several MN broadband grants:

• 2017 – Arvig – Pelican Rapids rural non-ACAM – GRANT $633,642
• 2017 – Otter Tail Telcom LLC – Red Oak Drive – GRANT $173,683
• 2017 – WCTA (West Central Telephone Association) – Wadena Rural Phase III – GRANT $874,581
• 2016 – OTTER TAIL TELCOM BATTLE LAKE – GRANT: $ 238,170
• 2016 – OTTER TAIL TELCOM FERGUS FALLS AREA – GRANT: $ 279,271
• 2016 – WCTA WADENA RURAL NORTH — GRANT: $718,850
• 2015 – Otter Tail Telcom Fergus Falls 864 – Hwy 59 – Grant award: $295,432
• 2015 – Otter Tail Telcom Hwy 59/94 PRT to POM – Grant award: $164,207
• 2014 – Otter Tail Telcom, Stuart Lake – Award: $105,364.
• 2014 – Otter Tail Telcom, 245^th – Award: $108,553.

Update from 2020:

Otter Tail will see improvement with two Border to Border projects awarded in the last round:

2019: Otter Tail Telcom LLC – Long and Fish Lakes Project – GRANT $156,954

This last mile project will serve 70 unserved households and 18 unserved businesses, telecommuters, and farms in the Elizabeth Township area of Otter Tail County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Otter Tail County, Otter Tail Telcom will improve broadband service levels up to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, meeting Minnesota’s 2026 state speed goal. Building a fiber-to-the-premise network that provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area improves access to critical school e-learning applications while also making agricultural operations more efficient and enhancing crop production through enabled precision agriculture tools. The broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources, will stimulate a more robust local area economy and improve public safety through IPAWS.

• Total eligible cost is $448,440
• Local match is $291,486
• 2019: Arvig (Loretel Systems, Inc.) – Cormorant Lakes Area Project – GRANT $430,780
  This middle and last mile project will upgrade approximately 481 unserved locations near Pelican Lake, Lake Ida, Turtle Lake, and Big Cormorant Lake in Otter Tail, Becker, and Clay Counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Otter Tail County, Arvig will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. These investments will improve quality of life and business development opportunities.
• Total eligible project cost is $1,230,800
• Local match is $800,020

Checklist:

• Find more articles on Pennington County https://blandinonbroadband.org/?s=pennington&submit=Search
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 10 (up 1)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 9.4

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 01
  House: 01A, 01B
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 16
Code: Green

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Olmsted  County: recent progress but needs more

Olmsted County is the home of the Mayo Clinic, which can act as an anchor for providers looking to expand service. And they are well served, although not yet ubiquitous. In 2016, KMTelecom got a grant to serve the area. In 2017, Mediacom announced service upgrades. And now BEVCOMM has received a grant to extend service to the area. There are engaged providers and the county is getting close to ubiquitous coverage.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

Olmsted has benefited from a MN broadband grant:

• 2016 – KMTELECOM RURAL MANTORVILLE – GRANT: $764,663

There are two factors that seem to have led to increase in 100/20 Mbps access – the KMTelecom grant and Mediacom’s  2017 announcement it would expand service to Chatfield and Dover Township. That indicates that there are at least two providers in the area interested in providing 100/20 Mbps. The county needs to encourage those providers to expand or other providers to upgrade to the state goals.

Update from 2020:

Olmsted will see improvement with BEVCOMM’s Border to Border project awarded in the last round:

• 2019: BEVCOMM (Pine Island Telephone Company) – NE Pine Island Fiber Project Phase I – GRANT $222,222
  This last mile project will upgrade approximately 54 unserved households, eight unserved farms, 14 unserved businesses, and one underserved household in areas of Pine Island and New Haven Townships in Goodhue County, and a small portion in Olmsted County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Goodhue County Economic Development Authority, BEVCOMM will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. The use and development of broadband will provide various home-based business options, stimulate economic growth, innovation, and investment. Education, health care, agriculture, energy efficiency, and public safety will improve with high-speed Internet access.
• Total eligible project cost is $634,920
• Local match is $412,698

Checklist:

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

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 16 (down 1)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 87

Details:

• Districts: CD 1
  Senate: 25, 26
  House: 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 73
Code: Red

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Norman County: recent progress but needs more

The good news for Norman County is that they are out of the bottom ten counties for broadband access. They moved the needle from 20 percent to 54, which is impressive but still a long way from the 2026 goal. They have a few providers in the county that have been innovative and shown an interest in working with communities. If the county wants to see progress, they many need to engage with those providers.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

Norman County does not have many wired providers, but they do have a few that offer 2026 speeds (Garden Valley Telephone Company and Halstad Telephone Company). They will need to work to get these providers to expand service or work with others to upgrade their service to meet the needs of the county.

Update from 2020:

No broadband news reported from Norman County since the last profile.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Norman County (http://tinyurl.com/zs7nuqj)

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 73 (up 8)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: no
• Household density: 3.3

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 04
  House: 04B
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 36
Code: Yellow

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Nobles County: steady progress but needs to continue

Nobles County was a Blandin Broadband Community (BBC); they have deployed lots of broadband adoption programs. They have benefited from past MN Border to Border grants. In 2018, SDN found a way to expand to parts of Nobles County. They have pretty good coverage and there have been incremental upgrades but to get to the 2026 speed goals throughout the county, they will need to make a push. Because they were a BBC, they likely have a team together that might be able to take that on.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

As a member of Blandin Foundation’s 2015-2016 Blandin Broadband Community cohort, Nobles County implemented nearly a dozen broadband adoption projects. Late in 2018, SDN Communications partnered with local providers to expand service into Nobles County.

Nobles County has benefited from two MN broadband grants:

• 2016 LISMORE COOPERATIVE TELEPHONE NOBLES COUNTY BROADBAND – GRANT: $2,944,578
• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Update from 2020:

No broadband news reported from Nobles County since the last profile.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Nobles County (http://tinyurl.com/j52xvxu)

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 34 (up 6)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 11

Details:

• Districts: CD 1
  Senate: 22
  House: 22A, 22B
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 41
Code: Yellow

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Nicollet County: steady progress but needs to continue

Mediacom announced upgrades in 2017. Consolidated Communications announced improvements in 2018. It looks like we haven’t seen the impact of the upgrades from Consolidated although the impact of Mediacom is clear. They just need to encourage providers to keep up the upgrades.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

It’s difficult to get a clear picture of Nicollet’s progress toward the speed goals given the dip in 2018 – caused by provider Nuevera going more granular with its DSL data – but it looks like Nicollet is experiencing momentum toward reaching the state’s speed goals.

Mediacom announced upgrades in 2017. Consolidated Communications announced improvements in 2018.

Nicollet County has benefited from a state broadband grant:

• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile = Grant award: $808,080

Update from 2020:

Part of Nicollet County was served by Jaguar, which was acquired by MetroNet in July (2020). MetroNet claims they will invest $150 million to grow their Minnesota market.

Nicollet is part of a consortium (Region 9) that using broadband for better telehealth, especially for better mental telehealth.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Nicollet County (http://tinyurl.com/h3zwpbd)

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 41 (down 4)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 26.1

Details:

• Districts: CD 1
  Senate: 19
  House: 19A
• Find your reps

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)

https://blandinonbroadband.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/murray-2020.pdf

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 69
Code: Red

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Murray County: needs help but has potential partners

In 2018, Murray County published a feasibility study that indicated that even with a MN Border to Border grant, it was not financially possible to build Fiber to the Home (FTTH). Subsequently, they are left looking at hybrid models, trying to convince the state to increase the 50 percent match or find another solution. There are a few counties with similar feasibility studies that indicate the same thing. I suspect there are other counties that may be in similar situations but have not had feasibility studies to spell it out.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

In 2018, with support from the Blandin Foundation, released a feasibility study that was not promising; it indicated that it is not economically feasible to build fiber everywhere in the rural parts of the county using the existing Border-to-Border grant program—the 50% grant matching in that program is not high enough to create a sustainable network.

Murray has benefited from one MN broadband grant:

• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Update from 2020:

No broadband news to report from Murray County since last year’s report.

Checklist:

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

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 77 (up 8)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 5.2

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 22
  House: 22A
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 40
Code: Yellow

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Mower County: needs help but has potential partners

Mower County applied for funding last year and didn’t get it but in the process, they have found a partner in Midcontinent. It seems likely that they might try again. Mower County has a few providers in the area that are engaged, or claim to be engaged, so they are better off than counties with large national providers that seem less interested in investing in rural expansion.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

In 2017, Mediacom announced that part of Mower County (Adams, Brownsdale, Le Roy, Lyle, Waltham) are part of its Gigabit upgrade. That may explain some growth. In August 2019, Mid Continent asked Mower County to support their application for a Minnesota Broadband grant to extend/expand broadband in the area. Mower agreed to support it; but it was not funded.

Update from 2020:

Part of Mower County was served by Jaguar, which was acquired by MetroNet in July (2020). MetroNet claims they will invest $150 million to grow their Minnesota market.

Checklist:

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

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 40 (down 4)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: no
• Household density: 22.2

Details:

• Districts: CD 1
  Senate: 27
  House: 27A, 27B
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 55
Code: Yellow

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Morrison County: steady progress but recent grant might help

Morrison County has been actively engaged in seeking better broadband for several years; they have benefited from grants most years that they have been available and will benefit from two Border to Border grants they received in the last round. They have a ways to go to meet the 2026 speed goal but each year they seem to make improvements.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

Morrison County is part of the Resilient Region and was included in their research that  found that, combined, Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties could see more than $78.6 million in economic benefits over 15 years if broadband access and use improved.

Morrison County benefited from three MN broadband grants:

• 2017 – Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Rice Ramey – GRANT $765,015
• 2016 – BENTON COOPERATIVE TELEPHONE COMPANY BUCKMAN – GRANT: $276,230
• 2014 – Consolidated Telephone Cooperative, Region 5 Virtual Highway Project – Amount $2 million

Update from 2020:

Morrison was featured in Broadband Communites Magazine because inacurate federal maps disqaulified them from applying for funding.

Morrison County will benefit from two MN Border to Border grants awarded in the last round:

• 2019: CTC (Consolidated Telephone Company) – Fort Ripley/Executive Acres Project – GRANT $830,587
  This last mile project will upgrade approximately 279 unserved and 120 underserved locations in Morrison and Crow Wing Counties. A funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, SourceWell, IronFire Inc., Rub My Rack BBQ LLC, and CTC will help to bring reliable high-speed fiber internet services to several unserved and underserved areas within north central Minnesota. The new services will provide residents and businesses with internet speeds of 1Gbps download and upload, exceeding the Minnesota 2026 speed goal. Building a fiber-to-the-premise network that provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the proposed grant area will enable students to better access educational resources, families to communicate with loved ones who may be homebound or deployed by the military, businesses to grow and thrive, aging residents to live longer and healthier lives, workers to telecommute and be more productive employees. The broadband network will stimulate a more robust local area economy.
• Total eligible cost is $1,661,175
• Local match is $830,588
• 2019: Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase I – GRANT $936,759
  This last mile project will serve approximately 253 unserved households, nine unserved businesses, two unserved town halls, and 97 unserved farms in the Ramey ILEC exchange in portions of Alberta and Granite Ledge Townships in Benton County, and portions of Hillman, Lakin, and Morrill Townships in Morrison County, and a portion of Page Township in Mille Lacs County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Benton Cooperative Telephone Company will improve broadband service levels to at least 25 Mbps download and 25 Mbps upload, and a maximum speed of 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload, meeting or exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. These homes and businesses will have faster access to needed crop prices, ordering parts, educational opportunities, and telemedicine services.
• Total eligible project cost is $2,676,454
• Local match is $1,739,695

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Morrison County (http://tinyurl.com/hxkk5ur)

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 55 (down 2)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 11.3

Details:

• Districts: CD 8Senate: 9, 15House: 09B, 15B
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 74
Code: Red

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Meeker County: stalled but recent grant might help

Meeker County has been engaged in broadband expansion for years. Unfortunately, it sounds like their recognition of the need for better broadband doesn’t match actual improvement. They will benefit from a MN Border to Border grant awarded in the last round. The project is small, but hopefully will start a quest for more improvement.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

Meeker County has benefited from one MN broadband grant:

• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

In 2017, Meeker County released a broadband feasibility study, with Blandin Foundation’s support. They gave an update in 2018, “Two years ago, businesses thought they were fine with existing broadband. Now they need more. We need to focus on future needs to create a solution for today and tomorrow.”

Update from 2020:

Meeker County will benefit from a Border to Border grant awarded in the last round:

• 2019: Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Hutchinson W Project – GRANT $346,282
  This last mile project will serve 43 households, 11 businesses, and 55 farms in areas of Cedar Mills Township in Meeker County, and Boon Lake and Brookfield Townships in Renville County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Nuvera Communications, Inc. will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This fiber-to-the-premises network will provide reliable, affordable, high quality broadband to rural farms, businesses, and homes. Residents will also have increased access to health care and education, and the opportunity to telecommute or start their own businesses.
• Total eligible cost is $910,704
• Local match is $564,422

Checklist:

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

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 74 (same)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 14.2

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 18
  House: 18A
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 70
Code: Red

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

McLeod County: no grants, needs help

McLeod County’s ranking has been slipping over the years. Their percentage covered has dipped as well. They have never received a MN Border to Border grant. Looking at recent history it appears as if their greatest strides forward have been through RS Fiber and Meeker Coop expanding service. If they want to meet the 2026 goal, they will likely need to mobilize to make a plan for better service.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

In summer 2019, RS Fiber announced completed construction of gigabit Fiber to the Premise networks in 10 communities located in Renville, Sibley, McLeod, and Nicollet Counties of west central Minnesota.

Update from 2020:

Late in 2019, Meeker Cooperative announced a new service, Vibrant Broadband, which is approximately 50 Mbps upload and 8 Mbps down to several counties, including McLeod.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in McLeod County (http://tinyurl.com/hx65gqh)

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 70 (down 6)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: no
• Household density: 28.9

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 18
  House: 18A, 18B
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 71
Code: Red

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Martin County: incremental improvement, recent grant will help

Martin County has seen an increase in broadband coverage in the last year, yet a slip in ranking, which means they are improving but not as fast as other counties. They will see improvements based on a recent MN Border to Border grant award. And the county was named a Telecommuter Forward, which indicates an interest in broadband use and deployment.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

Martin County was a 2015-2016 Blandin Broadband Community  and through that partnership they had a feasibility study done in 2017.

Martin County has benefited with three state grants:

• 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

Update from 2020:

Martin County will benefit from a Border to Border grant awarded in the last round:

• BEVCOMM (Blue Earth Valley Telephone Company & Easton Telephone Company) – Rural Faribault County Project – GRANT: $579,781
  This last mile project will upgrade approximately 112 unserved and six underserved households, 50 unserved farms, and eight unserved businesses in areas of Faribault and Martin Counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Faribault County Economic Development Authority, BEVCOMM will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Sustainable broadband adoption will transform these unserved areas into highly-productive rural communities.
• Total eligible project cost is $1,449,451
• Local match is $869,670

Martin County was names a Telecommuter Forward community, which indicates an interest in promoting access and adoption.

Checklist:

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

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 71 (down 7)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 12.4

Details:

• Districts: CD 1
  Senate: 23
  House: 23A
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 Mbps): 61
Code: Yellow

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Marshall County: incremental improvements fueled by MN grants

Marshall County has seen consistent, incremental improvements in broadband coverage, and they have benefited grants almost every year grants were available. That trend has continued this year; they will benefit from a grant received by Wikstrom Telephone. They have a way to go but they seem to be on a steady path.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

Marshall County has benefited from five state grants:

• 2017 – Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband – GRANT $1,307,785
• 2016 – GARDEN VALLEY TELEPHONE COMPANY RURAL THIEF RIVER FALLS EAST – GRANT: $2,027,035
• 2016 – WIKSTROM TELEPHONE COMPANY (WITH BEAMCO, INC.) RURAL ALVARADO – GRANT: $43,481
• 2016 – WIKSTROM TELEPHONE COMPANY WIKTEL NW MN – GRANT: $950,823
• 2014 – Wikstrom Telephone, Kittson, Marshall, Roseau Broadband Extension – Award $425,000

Marshall is getting FCC funding over the next 10 years. In April (2019), Vast Broadband launched Gigabit access in Marshall, Pipestone and Worthington counties.

Update from 2020:

Marshall County will benefit from a Border to Border grant awarded in the last round:

• Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband Project – GRANT $1,151,526
  This last mile project will upgrade approximately 316 unserved locations in areas of Kittson, Marshall, Lake of the Woods, Pennington, and Roseau Counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Wikstrom Telephone will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. This project will provide service to an area with 1.6 subscribers per route mile of cable, in some cases extending from routes placed under the 2016 and 2017 Border to Border State Grant program. Broadband service is the key to economic development, successful education services for children, and allows at-home health care monitoring in this remote area.
• Total eligible cost is $2,558,946
• Local match is $1,407,420

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Marshall County (http://tinyurl.com/zamfwj3)

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 61 (up 5)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 2.2

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 01
  House: 01A
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 53
Code: Red

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Mahnomen: Needs help, needs increased engagement

Mahnomen County has seen a huge increase in access from 17 percent to 57 percent since the last report. That is likely due to the $1.3 million MN broadband grant Garden Valley Telephone received in 2017. They need another shot in the arm to get closer to the goal of ubiquitous coverage to 100/20 Mbps. One of the big issues in Mahnomen is the low population density. Even for an engaged provider, it’s difficult to make a business case to serve 3.5 households per square mile.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

Mahnomen has benefited from one MN broadband grant:

• 2017 – Garden Valley Telephone Company – Bejou – GRANT $1,304,421

Update from 2020:

No broadband reports from Mahnomen County since last report.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in McLeod County (https://bit.ly/2kgeboX)

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 53 (up 33)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 3.5

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 18
  House: 18A, 18B
• Find your reps

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)

Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved

Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 36
Code: Red

Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Lyon County: Needs help, needs increased engagement

In 2017, Lyon County went from zero to more than 70 percent broadband coverage at speeds of 100/20 Mbps. Unfortunately, a feasibility study in 2018 indicated that it was too expensive to build Fiber to the Home (FTTH) even with the help of a Border to Border grant. But there are hybrid solutions and the County could campaign for higher than 50 percent matches from the Border to Border grants, as others have done.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

What we learned in the past:

In Spring of 2018, with support from Blandin Foundation, the county released the results of a feasibility study. It determined that it was not economically feasible to build fiber everywhere in the rural parts of the county using the existing Border-to-Border grant program—the 50% grant matching in that program is not enough to create a sustainable network. However, the hybrid fiber and wireless solutions all look to be economically viable.

Lyon County benefited from four state grants:

• 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

Update from 2020:

No broadband reports from Lyon County since last report.

Checklist:

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

• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 36 (down 6)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 14.2

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 16, 22
  House: 16A, 22A
• Find your reps

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)