Rank: 56
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Otter Tail County: recent progress but needs more

Otter Tail County ranks 56 (up 8 points) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 77.72 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 7564 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $70.3 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

They have seen slow. incremental improvement since 2020 but have seen a nice bump up in the last year. In December 2022, East Otter Tail Telephone was awarded $1.1 million in Border to Border grant to reach 171 unserved and 100 underserved households, farms and businesses in the southeastern portion of Otter Tail County near the rural parts of Battle Lake, Henning, Parkers Prairie and Urbank and Otter Tail Telephone received $3.4 million to serve a total of 1,186 locations comprised of 495 unserved households; 334 underserved households; 245 unserved businesses, farms, and community anchor institutions; and 112 underserved businesses, farms, and community anchor institutions in the North Fergus Falls area. In 2023, Otter Tail Telecom received another $2.3 million to serve a total of 506 households, businesses, farms, and community anchor institutions in the South Battle Lake.

Otter Tail County residents were awarded 21 line extension funding requests, which means state funding will subsidize last mile broadband extension to their homes.

With all of recent activity, Otter Tail has shifted from red to yellow ranking.

Grants:

• 2023: Otter Tail Telcom – South Battle Lake – GRANT $2,331,792
• 2022: East Otter Tail Telephone Co. dba Arvig, $1,140,704.90
• 2022: Otter Tail Telcom, LLC, $3,381,661.00 (Learn more)

• 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, 245th – Award: $108,553.
• 2019: Otter Tail Telcom LLC – Long and Fish Lakes Project – GRANT $156,954
• 2019: Arvig (Loretel Systems, Inc.) – Cormorant Lakes Area Project – GRANT $430,780

Find more articles on Otter Tail County https://blandinonbroadband.org/?s=otter+tail&submit=Search

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 38
Code:  Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Nobles County: ReConnect funding will help reach goals

Nobles County ranks 38 (up six points) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 85.35 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 1010 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $9.4 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Nobles County has seen a nice jump in broadband coverage this year after a long time of stagnation. And they can expect more.

In 2023, Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company received a USDA ReConnect grant of $13.68 million, paired with a loan of $5.72 million, which could provide high-speed broadband to 3,839 people, 127 businesses, 679 farms. That will help them get much closer to their broadband goal.

Nobles County retains yellow ranking but a much more optimistic yellow ranking than previous years.

Grants

• 2023: Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company ReConnect grant: $13,688,114 and loan: $5,723,996
• 2016 LISMORE COOPERATIVE TELEPHONE NOBLES COUNTY BROADBAND – GRANT: $2,944,578
• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Checklist:

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

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 46
Code:  Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Mower County incremental improvement

Mower County ranks 46 (down 9) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 83.61 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 2455 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $22.8 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Mower County has had steady, incremental growth for a few years. Then they ran into a road block.

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 Mower County. The potential RDOF award meant Le Sueur’s state grant application was no longer eligible for other funding. In 2023, the federal funders disqualifies LTD Broadband from receiving funding and the MN Public Utilities Commission is looking at revoking the ETC designation they needed to qualify for funding.

Mower County has demonstrated an interest in engaging and investing in broadband so they maintain their yellow code. But Mower County has demonstrated an interest in engaging and investing in broadband so they maintain their yellow code. Both Arvig and Spectrum have applied for funds in the latest (open) round of Border to Border grants but won’t know the results until early 2024.

Broadband Access:

Grants:

• MN State Grant awarded in 2021: KMTelecom – Rock Dell Southwest Fiber Build – GRANT $404,709 This last mile project will serve approximately 96 unserved households, 70 farms and five unserved businesses in rural Vernon Township in Dodge County and Sargeant Township in Mower County.

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

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 48
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Morrison County: steady progress but recent grant might help

Morrison County ranks 48 (up three) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 82.53 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 2602 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $24.1 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Morrison County has seen steady but incremental improvement since we started tracking. They been actively engaged in seeking better broadband for several years, including as part of the Resilient Region as a Blandin Broadband Community and in 2022, Officials from Morrison County and the city of Little Falls met to talk about broadband options.

Benton Telephone has applied for funding in the latest (and open) round of Border to Border broadband funds. The seem organized enough to take advantage of federal (BEAD) funding coming in the next few years but until that starts to happen, they retain their yellow ranking.

Grants:

• 2022: Morrison County will benefit from a ReConnect grant through Upsala Cooperative.

• 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
• 2019: CTC (Consolidated Telephone Company) – Fort Ripley/Executive Acres Project – GRANT $830,587
• 2019: Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase I – GRANT $936,759

• MN State Grants awarded in 2021: Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase 2 Project – GRANT $338,011 This last mile project will serve 119 unserved locations in the Ramey telephone exchange located in portions of Lakin and Mount Morris townships in Morrison County and a small portion of Dailey and Page townships located in Mille Lacs County.

• 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.

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

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 55
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Meeker County: building momentum with state grants

Meeker County ranks 55 (up six) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 78.04 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 2100 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $19.5 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

They have had steady, incremental increase in access since 2017. In December 2022, Meeker Cooperative were awarded five successful Border to Border grants totaling $327,000 to expand broadband in the county.  In June, ReConnect announced $19,039,348 in funding for Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association tl connect nearly 500 people, 124 farms, 16 businesses, and one educational facility to high-speed internet in Kandiyohi, Meeker and Stearns counties.

Meeker County is making good progress. They have several providers interested in the area, they will benefit from both Border to Border and a ReConnect grant, yet with less than 80 percent coverage, they retain their yellow ranking.

Broadband Access:

Grants:

• 2023: ReConnect grant connecting nearly 500 people, 124 farms, 16 businesses, and one educational facility to high-speed internet in Kandiyohi, Meeker and Stearns counties.
• 2022: Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Big Swan Lake – GRANT $94,182
• 2022: Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Collinwood Lake – GRANT $104,337
• 2022: Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Dunns & Richardson Lakes – GRANT $80,202
• 2022: Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Lake Erie – GRANT $19,093
• 2022: Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Long Lake – GRANT $29,702 (Learn more)
• MN State Grant awarded in 2021: Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Lake Koronis – GRANT $41,927 This last mile project will serve approximately 28 unserved and seven underserved locations in Union Grove Township in Meeker County.

• 2019: Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Hutchinson W Project – GRANT $346,282

Checklist:

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

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 58
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

McLeod County: maybe the tide has turned

McLeod County ranks 58 (down 4 points) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 77.21 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 2903 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $27 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

McLeod County has seen steady but incremental improvement in broadband access through the years. In December 2022, Nuvera Communications was awarded $1.8 million to serve 300 unserved and 154 underserved locations in the Belle Lake and Hutchinson area and Media got $99,156 to serve 87 unserved households and 2 unserved businesses in the Hale Township.

They retain their yellow ranking.

Grants:

• 2022: Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Belle Lake and Hutchinson East FTTP – GRANT $1,840,250
• 2022: Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Swan Lake – GRANT $99,156 (Learn more)
• MN State Grants awarded in 2021: Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Hutchinson SE FTTP – GRANT $169,369 This last mile project will serve 42 unserved and five underserved locations in the Hutchinson area of McLeod County.

• Winthrop Telephone Company, Inc. – Bismarck & Transit Township FTTP Project – GRANT $716,000 This last mile project will serve 148 unserved and six underserved locations, including homes, businesses and farms, in Bismarck, Transit and Round Grove townships in Sibley and McLeod counties.

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

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

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

Martin County: hoping new engagement spurs investment

Martin County ranks 69 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 of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2020 but they had a big of jump this year. In December 2022, Bevcomm was awarded a $1.4 million Border to Border grant to serve 371 underserved and 2 unserved homes, businesses, and farms in the rural areas of Bricelyn, Elmore and Guckeen within Faribault and Martin Counties. Federated Rural Electric Association has applied for a grant in the latest Border to Border grant round but they won’t hear the results until early 2024. Martin County supported both grant applications with financing from ARPA funds.

The engagement with broadband providers, financial buy-in and latest increase in broadband coverage has bumped Martin from red to yellow 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 (69.95 percent coverage) and wireline with fixed wireless (96.72 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.

Martin County

• 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

Checklist:

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

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.