Rank: 78
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Yellow Medicine County: percentage improvement but still low ranking

Yellow Medicine County ranks 78 for broadband access and 58 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have gone from almost 48 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up in 2021 to 58 percent coverage in 2022. They have 1888 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $17.6 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Yellow Medicine County has seen some great improvement – about 10 percent increase this year and last. Unfortunately, they have a long way to go. But their momentum bumps them from red to yellow code.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Yellow Medicine County ranks 58 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Yellow Medicine County ranks 59 out of 87 for computer ownership. 91.5 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 89.4 percent.

Past grants:

• 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 Yellow Medicine County (http://tinyurl.com/zhsj3ke)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 78 (up 6)
• Has worked with Blandin
• Has received a MN Broadband grant
• Household density: 5.9

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)

Rank: 49
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Wright County: still stalled at 80 percent coverage

Wright County ranks 49 for broadband access and 10 for digital equity out of 87 counties. Their broadband coverage has hovered from 78-86 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2018. There reporting is so inconsistent that it makes me wonder how the local providers are mapping access. They have 5527 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $51.4 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Wright County will benefit from a border to border grant announced in December 2022:

• Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc., $2,832,155.00 (Learn more)

A recent report from the Institute for Local Self Reliance looked at broadband in Monticello and Buffalo in Wright County. Monticello was an early municipal network that overcame many challenges but still provides services while Buffalo has been slowly expanding municipally owned fiber.

Wright County is a code yellow community in part because their percentage of access has been stalled and the reporting is inconsistent. They saw the greatest drop in broadband ranking – down 18 spots. The hope is that the latest award to spur greater engagement.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Wright County ranks 10 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Wright County ranks 4 out of 87 for computer ownership. 91.5 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 97.4 percent.

Past grant:

• 2017 – Midco (Midcontinent Communications) – Annandale East – GRANT $537,050
• Meeker Coop. Light & Power Assoc. (Vibrant Broadband) – Lake Louisa/Lake Marie Project – GRANT $297,940

Checklist:

• Find more article on Wright County https://blandinonbroadband.org/?s=%22wright+county%22&submit=Search
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 49 (down 18)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 76.2

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)

Rank: 30
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Winona County: pretty good access and needs a push for ubiquitous

Winona County ranks 30 for broadband access and 20 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have hovered from 85-87 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2018. There is a slight dip in access this year but it is within a margin of error and may simply reflect a more granular look at access. They have 3123 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $29 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Winona County will benefit from a border to border grant announced in December 2022:

• Ace Telephone Association, Inc., $3,218,201.00

Winona County has been focused on broadband for years; they were part of the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) starting in 2010, a Blandin-led and federal (ARRA) funded broadband adoption project.

In 2022, HBC announced 10 Gig residential service in the City of Winona. Two months later they announced expansion in rural parts of the county.

They have benefited from past grant funded projects and will benefit from a project that received MN Border to Border funding in the last round and have opted to use CARES funding to invest in broadband. Winona County has allotted $1 million in CARES funding to pay for rural broadband expansion projects.

Winona County has work to do but recent events and awards help them retain their yellow code.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Winona County ranks 20 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Winona County ranks 17 out of 87 for computer ownership. 94 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grants:

• 2016 – WINONA COUNTY PICKWICK AREA – GRANT: $416,640
• 2015 – Hiawatha Broadband Communications – Winona County Whitewater Area – Grant Award: $247,000
• 2015 – Winona County Hiawatha Broadband Communications – Cedar Valley Area – Grant award: $314,450
• 2019: AcenTek – Rural Houston Exchange FTTH – GRANT $2,895,318

• MN State Grant awarded in 2021: AcenTek – Rural Peterson Exchange FTTH – GRANT $1,492,096 This last mile project will serve 214 unserved households, 18 unserved businesses, 88 unserved farms, and two unserved community anchor institutions as well as 47 underserved households and five underserved businesses in areas of Fillmore and Winona counties.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Winona County (http://tinyurl.com/hqsckxg)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 30 (down 2)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 33.8

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)

Rank: 47
Code:  Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Wilkin County: going the wrong way – need to focus

Wilkin County ranks 52 for broadband access and 42 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have hovered around 77 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2020. Before that time they saw a slight dip in access this year but it is within a margin of error and may simply reflect a more granular look at access. They have 669 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $6.2 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Wilkin County will benefit from a border to border grant announced in December 2022:

• Red River Rural Telephone Association, $2,157,663.00

Broadband access in Wilkin County has actually decreased over the years. The access and ranking is decreasing. The recent grant should help pick up traction but they still earn     a code red community.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Wilkin County ranks 42 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Wilkin County ranks 85 out of 87 for computer ownership. 84.4 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grant:

• 2017 – Advantenon – Rural Grant, Stevens and Wilkin Counties – Grant $316,554

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Wilkin County (http://tinyurl.com/zh64v29)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 52 (down 5)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 4

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)

Rank: 64
Code:  Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Watonwan County: hovering around 70 percent

Watonwan County ranks 65 for broadband access and 79 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have been hovering around 70 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since we began tracking. They have 1411 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $13.1 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Watonwan County has been hovering just under 70 percent covered since we began tracking. They have benefited from grants in the past. There isn’t much broadband news coming from the county and that’s why the retain their red code.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Watonwan County ranks 79 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Watonwan County ranks 46 out of 87 for computer ownership. 90.7 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grants:

• 2017 – New Ulm Telecom, Inc. – Hanska A&D FTTP – GRANT $324,894
• 2016 – NEW ULM TELECOM, INC. HANSKA – GRANT: $ 200,397
• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Watonwan County (http://tinyurl.com/jpnf6xv)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 65 (down 1)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 11.1

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)

Rank: 15
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Washington County: nearly there with a grant in process

Washington County ranks 18 for broadband access and 4 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have hovered from 93-96 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since we have been tracking. There is a slight dip in access this year but it is within a margin of error and may simply reflect a more granular look at access. They have 6667 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $62 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Washington County will benefit from a border to border grant announced in December 2022:

• Midcontinent Communications, $975,131.00

The City of Scandia and MidCo has been working on program to add an average of 200 homes per year for the next five years (2020-2024); the county has awarded money in 2022 to expedite the roll out.

Washington County has some suburban areas and some rural areas. So, some areas attract providers while other areas need incentive. They have been stalled for many years now and there seems to be little engagement outside of Scandia and that is how their code has been escalated from green to yellow.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Washington County ranks 4 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Washington County ranks 3 out of 87 for computer ownership. 97.9 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grants

• 2019: Midco (Midcontinent Communications) – Scandia Project – GRANT $510,358

• MN State Grant awarded in 2021: Midco (Midcontinent Communications) – Scandia – GRANT $78,824 This last mile project will serve 78 underserved households and one underserved business in remote neighborhoods of Scandia in Washington County.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Washington County (http://tinyurl.com/z4dwzyy)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 18 (down 3)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 245.6

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)

Rank: 23
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Waseca County: stalled at 75 percent broadband access

Waseca County ranks 55 for broadband access and 23 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have been hovering around 75 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2018 They have 1964 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $18.3 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Waseca County has been stalled at 75 percent access for several years. One setback, LTD Broadband was awarded the opportunity to submit a long form to get federal funding (RDOF) to deploy FTTH throughout much of Minnesota, including parts of Waseca County. LTD’s application for RDOF has since been rejected. And the Minnesota PUC (Public Utilities Commission) are looking at revoking the ETC designation that LTD needed to qualify for RDOF money. But until the application was denied, Steele County was left in a position where is was hard to make plans around LTD.

Waseca County retains their code red status in part because there hasn’t been a demonstration of recent engagement in making improvements from the community or incumbent providers.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Waseca County ranks 23 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Waseca County ranks 76 out of 87 for computer ownership. 87.8 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grant:

• MN State Grants awarded in 2021: BEVCOMM (Cannon Valley Telecom, Inc.) – Rural Morristown Fiber Expansion Project – GRANT $210,692 This last mile project will serve approximately 14 unserved and 94 underserved locations in portions of Rice, Waseca, and Steele counties.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Waseca County (http://tinyurl.com/z845jwy)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 55 (down 3)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 18.2

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)

Rank: 13
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Wadena County: into the top 10!

Wadena County ranks 7 for broadband access and 77 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have been hovering between 95-98 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2020, landing at 98.88 percent this year. They have 78 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $722,766 to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Wadena County broke into the top 10 counties, which lands an easy code green. They cohosted a broadband summit with Todd County last spring (2022).

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Wadena County ranks 77 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Wadena County ranks 65 out of 87 for computer ownership. 88.8 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grants:

• 2015 – West Central Telephone Association Hwy 71 Wadena NORTH Expansion Project – Grant Award: $193,515
• WCTA (West Central Telephone Association) – Rural Staples Phase I Project – GRANT $555,355

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Wadena County (http://tinyurl.com/z7xgkz8)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 7 (up 6)
• Has worked with Blandin
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 12.8

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)

Rank: 69
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Wabasha County: still stalled at 66 percent access

Wabasha County ranks 64 for broadband access and 24 for digital equity out of 87 counties. After hovering at 66 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2017, they saw an increase to 71.24 percent coverage in 2022. They have 2921 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $27.2 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Wabasha County saw an increase in broadband coverage for the first time since we’ve been tracking in the last year. In September 2021, the county decided to invest $1 million in their ARPA funding on broadband. It is a nice gesture but is a far cry from the estimates $27 million they need and because of that they retain their red code.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Wabasha County ranks 24 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Wabasha County ranks 52 out of 87 for computer ownership. 90.4 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grants:

• 2016 – NEW ULM TELECOM, INC. MAZEPPA – GRANT: $ 317,761

• MN State Grant awarded in 2021: Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Goodhue West FTTP – GRANT $532,232 This last mile project will serve 148 unserved and two underserved locations in Goodhue, Zumbrota, Minneola, and Belle Creek townships in Goodhue County and Chester Township in Wabasha County.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Wabasha County (http://tinyurl.com/gpllcg8)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 64 (up 5)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 18.5

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)

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

Traverse County: a nice increase this year

Traverse County ranks 70 for broadband access and 71 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have gone from almost 50.97 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up in 2021 to 67.5 percent coverage in 2022. They have 610 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $5.7 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Traverse County has never received a border to border grant. They have been engaged in broadband expansion for years. They are one of five counties that has not yet received border to border funding. There isn’t much demonstration of community involvement, but improved ranking bumps them from red to yellow code.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Traverse County ranks 71 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Traverse County ranks 83 out of 87 for computer ownership. 85.4 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grants

none

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Traverse County (http://tinyurl.com/gmvojv8)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 70 (up 10)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: no
• Household density: 3.2

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)

Rank: 85
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Todd County: on bottom 10 list for broadband

Todd County ranks 85 for broadband access and 83 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have hovered between 47-49 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2020. There is a slight dip in access this year but it is within a margin of error and may simply reflect a more granular look at access. They have 6702 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $63.3 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

County will benefit from ReConnect funding through Upsala Cooperative Telephone Association in Morrison, Stearns and Todd counties.

Working with the Blandin Foundation, Todd County has been focused on better broadband for a long time. They work hard but still rank at the bottom, demonstrating that even the hardest working counties need an engaged provider. That missing piece leaves them at code red, despite ongoing efforts, such as the broadband summit they cohosted with Wadena last spring (2022).

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Todd County ranks 83 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Todd County ranks 86 out of 87 for computer ownership. 84.2 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grant:

• 2017 – WCTA (West Central Telephone Association) – Northern Todd County – GRANT $902,695
• 2014 – Arvig (Mainstreet Communications LLC), Sauk Lake area $
• 2019: WCTA (West Central Telephone Association) – Rural Staples Phase I Project – GRANT $555,355

• MN State Grants awarded in 2021: Arvig (Tekstar Communications, Inc.) – Lake Osakis, Sauk Lake & Smith Lake Project – GRANT $486,458 This middle and last mile project will upgrade approximately 230 unserved and 39 underserved locations in Todd and Douglas counties.

• Sytek Communications – Morrison/Todd/Stearns County FTTP Project – GRANT $1,048,668 This last mile project will bring service to 130 locations in Southwest Morrison, Southeastern Todd and Northeastern Stearns counties.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Todd County (http://tinyurl.com/gl47tgq)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 85 (down 3)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 13

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)

Rank: 11
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Swift County: Almost there

Swift County ranks 11 for broadband access and 64 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have hovered between 97-99 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2019. They have 117 households without access to broadband at that speed. There is a slight dip in access this year but it is within a margin of error and may simply reflect a more granular look at access. Estimates indicate that it will cost $1.1 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Swift County will benefit from TDS deploying fiber to 3,700 properties in Kandiyohi, Stearns, Renville and Swift Counties.

Swift County’s partnership with Federated Telephone, supported by a MN State grant, has provided nearly ubiquitous coverage. Swift has also been working with the Blandin Foundation as Blandin Broadband Community.

They are so close; they have earned the green code. Hopefully the TDS deployment will reach the last few homes they need to connect.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Swift County ranks 64 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Swift County ranks 23 out of 87 for computer ownership. 93.2 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grants:

• 2015 – Federated Telephone Cooperative – Swift County FTTP 2015 – Grant award: $4,950,000
• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Swift County (http://tinyurl.com/zfptnnz)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 11 (down 6)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 6.2

Det 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)

Rank: 14
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Stevens County: Good coverage but need a bump up

Stevens County ranks 13 for broadband access and 25 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have hovered around 96-97 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since we started tracking. They have 123 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $1.1 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Stevens County has been involved with broadband for years – going back to working with Blandin Foundation-led, Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (2009-2012) effort.

They have been stalled at 97 percent. Stalling isn’t good but the percentage is so high, they have to rank a green code. But to get to goal they need a final push.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Stevens County ranks 25 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Stevens County ranks 23 out of 87 for computer ownership. 93.2percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grants:

• 2017 – Advantenon – Rural Grant, Stevens and Wilkin Counties – Grant $316,554
• 2014 – Otter Tail Telcom, Swan Lake West – Award: $438,937.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Stevens County (http://tinyurl.com/joutu2h)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 13 (up 1)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 7.3

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)

Rank: 26
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Steele County: Decent coverage but not much community engagement

Steele County ranks 26 for broadband access and 14 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have hovered around 86-88 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2019. They have 1839 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $17.1 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Steele County will benefit from a border to border grant announced in December 2022:

• Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc., $158,052.00

Steele County has not worked with the Blandin Foundation. They have never received a MN Border to Border grant. They were home to a local provider (Jaguar), which was acquired two years ago.

LTD Broadband was awarded the opportunity to submit a long form to get federal funding (RDOF) to deploy FTTH throughout much of Minnesota, including parts of Steele County. LTD’s application for RDOF has since been rejected. And the Minnesota PUC (Public Utilities Commission) are looking at revoking the ETC designation that LTD needed to qualify for RDOF money. But until the application was denied, Steele County was left in a position where is was hard to make plans around LTD.

The most recent border to border grant helped Steele to retain their yellow code.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Steele County ranks 14 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Steele County ranks 37 out of 87 for computer ownership. 91.5 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grant

none

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Steele County (http://tinyurl.com/zd4qhbu)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 26 (up 1)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 36.2

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)