Rank: 6
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Pennington County: Still on top 7 list

Pennington County ranks 6 (up one place) for broadband access out of 87 counties. In 2018, Pennington went from 9 percent access to 90 percent with the help of state (border to border) and federal loan (USDA to Garden Valley). They have had steady improvement ever since, which is why they earn a green code.

• Over the years, Pennington County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
• Pennington County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband.
• Pennington County will not benefit from any line extension awards.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $241,800 to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Pennington ranked 35 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

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
• 2019: Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband Project – GRANT $1,151,526

Find more articles on Pennington County https://blandinonbroadband.org/?s=pennington&submit=Search

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

Rank: 40
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Otter Tail County: getting in stride

Otter Tail County ranks 40 (up 16 places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They had seen slow, incremental improvement since 2020 but this year and last they saw more significant gains. They will benefit from a $3.7 million 2024 MN state grant, which should help them get closer to ubiquitous access. With all of recent activity, Otter Tail has shifted from red (2022) to yellow (2023) to green ranking in 2024.

• Over the years, Oter Tail County (or cities within) has invested $ 3,671,557 (total) for matches for 5 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
• Otter Tail County will benefit from a 2024 $3.7 million MN Broadband grant award that will serve 287 locations.
• Otter Tail County will benefit from 35 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $19.5 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Otter Tail ranked 43 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

2024 Grants

• County: Otter Tail
  Otter Tail Telcom West Fergus Falls
  Grant: $3,700,198
  Local Match: $1,233,399
  Total Budget: $4,933,598
  This Low Density Otter Tail Telcom West Fergus Falls project will construct a fiber to the home/fiber to the premise (FTTH/FTTP) network to residents and businesses in rural western Otter Tail County. Improving broadband services will enable agriculture producers, farmers, ranchers, telecommuters, business owners and independent professionals to work from home via videoconferencing; cultivate an opportunity for new businesses to relocate to Otter Tail County’s rural area; and increase job and population growth, providing a significant economic impact for the county. This project will serve 286 unserved locations. Funding partners include; Otter Tail County-$379,200, Aastad Township-$36,360, Buse Township-$17,793, Carlisle Township-$57,248, Orwell Township-$58,021, Oscar Township-$27,077, and Western Township-$41,002.

Past 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

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

Rank: 19
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Olmsted County: almost there and getting closer

Olmsted County ranks 20 (down one point) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Olmsted County is nearly there, which is why they retain the green code. They are the home of the Mayo Clinic, which acts as an anchor for providers looking to expand service.

They will benefit from more than $3 million in MN state grants, which should take them to nearly ubiquitous coverage next year. 

• Over the years, Olmsted County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
• Olmsted County will benefit from two 2024 Broadband grants:
  $3.1 million will serve 396 locations in Fillmore, Olmsted and Winona counties and
  $515,564 will serve 83 locations
• Olmsted County will not benefit from any line extension awards.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $22.1 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Olmsted ranked 5 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

2024 Grants

• County: Fillmore, Olmsted, Winona
  MiEnergy Cooperative South West Fremont
  Grant: $3,164,721
  Local Match: $4,747,086
  Total Budget: $7,911,807
  The MiEnergy Cooperative project will see built Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) in the rural areas Southwest of Fremont, Minnesota located primarily in Winona and Filmore Counties. This project will provide services to 396 addresses, including 342 unserved and 54 underserved, and bridge the digital divide by offering residents access to essential services such as telemedicine, online education, and remote work opportunities. Funding partner Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company is contributing $2,373,543.
• County: Olmsted
  Kasson & Mantorville Telephone Company Rural North Byron
  Grant: $515,564
  Local Match: $630,134
  Total Budget: $1,145,699
  The Kasson & Mantorville Telephone Company project will extend Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) capabilities to locations in rural Olmsted County, leveraging existing middle mile fiber and broadband backhaul. This project will enable delivery of up to 1 GB upstream and downstream for internet access with the ability to add additional GBs as needed, serving 83 locations, including 13 unserved locations and 70 underserved locations.

Past Grants:

• 2023: KM Telecom – Rural Byron & Salem Corners Fiber Build – GRANT $1,931,046
• 2022: Kasson & Mantorville Telephone Company, $1,620,007.00

• 2016 – KMTELECOM RURAL MANTORVILLE – GRANT: $764,663
• 2019: BEVCOMM (Pine Island Telephone Company) – NE Pine Island Fiber Project Phase I – GRANT $222,222

• MN State Grants awarded in 2021: Charter Communications (Spectrum) – Cambridge Hills – GRANT $28,950 This middle and last mile project will serve approximately 41 unserved households in Marion Township in Olmsted County.

• KMTelecom – Rock Dell Northwest Fiber Build – GRANT $385,173 This last mile project will serve approximately 125 unserved locations in the rural Ashland and Vernon townships in Dodge County and Salem Township in Olmsted County.

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

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

Rank: 29
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Marshall County gaining momentum into green ranking

Marshall County ranks 29 (down 2 places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Marshall County has seen consistent, incremental improvements in broadband coverage, and they have benefited from grants in the past. They won’t benefit from any 2024 awards.

Given their proximity to 90 percent coverage, Marhsall County retains their green ranking.

• Over the years, Marshall County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
• Marshall County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant.
• Marshall County will not benefit from any line extension awards.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $362,700 to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Marshall ranked 61 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past Grants:

• 2023: Garden Valley Technologies – 2023 Rural Warren SW – GRANT $1,488,322
• 2022: Garden Valley Technologies – Rural Warren East & Rural Oslo – GRANT $1,462,569 (serves Marshall and Polk)
• 2022: Wikstrom Telephone Co. Inc – Wiktel NW MN Broadband 2022 – GRANT $665,699 (serves Kittson, Lake of the Woods, & Marshall)
• MN State Grant awarded in 2021: Garden Valley Technologies – Northwest Thief River Falls and Euclid – GRANT $1,640,722 This middle and last mile project will serve 104 unserved and 22 underserved locations in portions of Marshall and Polk counties.

• 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
• Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband Project – GRANT $1,151,526

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

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

Rank: 1
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Lincoln County – winning ubiquitous coverage

Lincoln County rank dipped from 1 to 15 with coverage to broadband at speeds of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. I suspect this has to do with the difference in mapping, not a change in the county. But with federal (BEAD) funding being distributed in the near future, it’s nice to be eligible for funding to finish the job if they need it.

In 2021, ITC announced a fiber-optic expansion to the City of Ivanhoe in Lincoln County. Along with ITC’s investment in the fiber-optic expansion, this project is funded by the City of Ivanhoe and Lincoln County.

• Over the years, Lincoln County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
• Lincoln County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant.
• Lincoln County will not benefit from a line extension awards.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost nothing to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past.)
• In 2022, Lincoln ranked 65 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past Grants:

• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080
• 2014 – Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative (ITC), Hendricks Town FTTP – Award: $700,000.

Find more articles on broadband in Lincoln County (http://tinyurl.com/jxqwlab)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

Rank: 5
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Lac Qui Parle (LqP) County: nearly perfect

LqP County ranks 2 (up three places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have had ubiquitous broadband since 2019; in fact last year, the maps showed 2 households without access to broadband. It would be nice to see their Line Extension award help get them to 100 percent coverage.

• Over the years, LqPCounty (or cities within) has invested $400,000 (total) for matches for 1 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
• LqP County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant award in 2024.
• LqP County will benefit from 1 line extension award (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $7800 to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, LqP ranked 41 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Broadband Access:

Past Grants:

• 2009, Blandin Foundation funded a feasibility study for LqP County and Farmers Telephone Cooperative. The feasibility study’s engineering, operational, and market development plans were later used to support the partners’ successful ARRA funding
• 2010 The county and Farmers were awarded a $9.6 million ARRA award
• 2017 – Farmers Mutual Telephone – City of Watson and SW Lac qui Parle County FTTP – GRANT $760,501
• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Find more articles on broadband in Lac qui Parle. (http://tinyurl.com/zc2tfay)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

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

Kittson County: upgrading rank to green

Kittson County ranks 23 (again) for broadband access out of 87 counties. But same ranking doesn’t mean no progress; coverage has continued to increase. Looks like Kittson was awarded MN gran money in 2023, which helped with the increase. Kittson got another grant for 2024, which should get them even closer.

Their ranking has gone from yellow to green

• Over the years, Kittson County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
• Kittson County will benefit from a 2024 $3,066,630 MN Broadband grant award that will serve 263 locations.
• Kittson County will benefit from 1 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $534,000 to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Kittson ranked 67 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Broadband Access:

2024 Grants:

• County: Kittson
  Wikstrom Telephone Co, Inc.
  Wiktel – NW MN Broadband RD9
  Grant: $3,066,630
  Local Match: $1,022,210
  Total Budget: $4,088,840
  Wiktel will deploy fiber to 263 customers in remote areas in Lake of the Woods, Kittson & Marshall counties, all part of far Northwestern Minnesota, passing 263 locations, many of which are businesses and community anchor institutions. The speed improvements will be from no service in some areas to Gigabit speeds. Wikstrom began providing Internet services in 1996 for local schools and libraries and since have installed DSL broadband service to over 2500 customers, and fiber to over 5000 customers. Many school children in the project do not have access to broadband for their school work, relying on time at the library or the few buses that have wifi capability. Cellular coverage is particularly spotty in rural areas, limiting alternatives.

Past Grants:

• 2023: Wikstrom Telephone Company – Wiktel NW MN Broadband 2023 – GRANT $2,531,488
• 2022: Wikstrom Telephone Co. Inc, $665,699.00 (serving Beltrami, Kittson, Lake of the Woods and Marshall)

• 2017 – Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband – GRANT $1,307,785
• 2016 – WIKSTROM TELEPHONE COMPANY WIKTEL NW MN – GRANT: $950,823
• 2014 – Wikstrom Telephone, Kittson, Marshall, Roseau Broadband Extension – Award $425,000
• 2019 Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband Project – GRANT $1,151,526

Find more articles on broadband in Kittson. (https://bit.ly/2kcNnpz)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

Rank: 21
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Hubbard County: code from going from red to yellow to green in three years

Hubbard County ranks 21 (up one place) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Their growth has been incremental, but steady and they are now close enough to goal to merit a green rank.

• Over the years, Hubbard County (or cities within) has not invested to match any successful MN Broadband grants.
• Hubbard County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant.
• Hubbard County will benefit from 28 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $8.2 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Hubbard ranked 39 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
• In February 2023, Paul Bunyan Telephone was awarded $10 million in ReConnect funds for networks in Hubbard, Itasca, and St. Louis counties.

Grants:

• 2017 – Paul Bunyan Communications – North Central Fiber – GRANT $802,620
• 2016 – PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS HUBBARD, BECKER & ITASCA COUNTIES – GRANT: $1,742,232

Find more articles on broadband in Hubbard County. (http://tinyurl.com/hy7et5e)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

Rank: 8
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Hennepin County: population density helps attract broadband

Hennepin County ranks 8 (up one) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Hennepin County is in the top 10 ranking and nearly at 100 percent coverage and therefore they have earned an easy green ranking.

Hennepin County benefits from being an urban/suburban county. It is easy to make a business case for serving broadband in most of Hennepin County, in fact Gateway Fiber deployed fiber in Plymouth MN  in July 2024; while Comcast expanded better broadband to Corcoran and Rogers in February 2-24.

• Over the years, Hennepin County (or cities within) has invested $296,846 (total) for matches for 2 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
• Hennepin County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant.
• Hennepin County will benefit from 23 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $27.7 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Hennepin ranked 7 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
• In December 2022, Comcast Cable got a Border to Border grant for almost $2 million. In 2023, Midco received $1.5 in funding to serve 423 households, businesses, farms and community anchor institutions in rural Independence and Greenfield.

Past Grants:

• 2022: Comcast Cable Communications LLC, $1,941,841.00

• 2017 – Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Medina 2018 Broadband Build – GRANT $62,219
• 2021: Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Minnestrista Project – GRANT $189,752 This last mile project will serve 80 unserved households in Minnestrista in Hennepin County.

Checklist:

Find more articles on broadband in Hennepin County. (http://tinyurl.com/z9n7ea6)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

Rank: 72
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Faribault County: Found traction to move forward

Faribault County rank bumped up from 72 to 31 for broadband access out of 87 counties. They are making local investments and working with local providers and it has made a difference in the last year. They have earned their green ranking.

• Over the years, Faribault County (or cities within) has invested $55,000 (total) for matches for 6 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
• Faribault County will benefit from two 2024 MN Broadband grant award:
  $1,779,163 to serve 543 locations and
  $435,838 to serve 101 locations.
• Faribault County will not benefit from line extension awards.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $17.4 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Faribault ranked 57 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

2024 Grants:

• County: Faribault, Freeborn
  Blue Earth Valley Telephone Company Faribault County Fiber Expansion Project – Final Phase
  Grant: $1,779,163
  Local Match: $5,337,488
  Total Budget: $7,116,651
  The Faribault County Fiber Expansion Project – Final Phase project will build an underground fiber network to serve the remaining unserved and underserved locations in Faribault county’s rural Wells and Blue Earth, offering speeds of up to a Gigabit symmetrically with unlimited data. This final phase, last mile project will impact a total of 543 addresses, of which 423 are unserved and 120 are underserved, and includes 205 homes, 59 businesses, and 279 farms. Faribault County EDA has pledged $5,000 toward this project.
• County: Blue Earth, Faribault
  Bevcomm (Easton) Telephone
  Bevcomm (Easton) Rural MN Lake
  Grant: $435,838
  Local Match: $1,016,956
  Total Budget: $1,452,794
  Bevcomm will build an underground fiber broadband network to 101 locations (86 unserved and 15 underserved), offering speeds up to a Gigabit symmetrically with unlimited data, to portions of rural Faribault and Blue Earth Counties. This project will impact 55 farms, 32 households, and 14 businesses. Faribault County EDA has pledged $5,000 and Minnesota Lake Township has pledged $1,000 toward project costs. Bevcomm has to date received 25 state grants, all of which have been successfully deployed and completed on time.

Past Grants:

• In December 2022, Blue Earth Valley Telephone received a Border to Border grant for $1.4 million 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.
• 2022: Blue Earth Valley Telephone Co., dba Bevcomm and Cannon Valley Telecom, Inc.,dba Bevcomm, $1,444,030.00

• 2017 – BEVCOMM (Easton Telephone Company) – Delavan SE Rural Project – GRANT $220,350
• 2016 – BLUE EARTH VALLEY TELEPHONE CO. (DBA BEVCOMM) RURAL WINNEBAGO – GRANT:  $152,828
• 2015 – BEVCOMM Blue Earth Valley Telephone – Rural Winnebago Fiber-to-the-Premises Project – Grant award: $142,690
• BEVCOMM (Blue Earth Valley Telephone Company & Easton Telephone Company) – Rural Faribault County Project – GRANT: $579,781
• BEVCOMM received CARES Act funding from the County for broadband expansion.
• 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.
• Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association – SE Faribault/W Freeborn County FTTP – GRANT $953,842 This last-mile fiber optic project will bring service to 319 unserved locations, including 289 homes, 16 businesses, 11 farms, and three community anchor institutions in the townships of Clark, Foster, Kiester, Seely, Alden, Carlston, Manchester, Mansfield, and Pickerel Lake located in Southeastern Faribault and Western Freeborn counties.

Find more articles on broadband in Faribault County. (http://tinyurl.com/jzwv3gx)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

Rank: 18
Code:  Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Dakota County: always getting closer

Dakota County ranks 18 (down three) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have hovered around 97 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2019.

While the Dakota County broadband board was dissolved in January 2024, staff continue to work on broadband use and deployment. Also Spectrum announced Gigabit service in the county in October 2024.

• Over the years, Dakota County (or cities within) has invested $106,538 (total) for matches for 2 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
• Dakota County will not benefit from a recent MN Broadband grant.
• Dakota County will benefit from 17 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $33.8 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Dakota ranked 1 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past Grants:

• 2022: JTN Communications, $113,076.00
• 2022: Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc., $98,750.00

• 2020: Charter Communications – Rosemount North Project – GRANT $499,072
• 2020: Dakota County approved $800,000 in CARES Act funding for broadband.
• Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Webster Rural FTTP – GRANT $431,260 This last mile project will serve 103 unserved and 178 underserved locations in Wheatland and Webster townships in Rice County, Eureka and Greenvale townships in Dakota County, and New Market and Cedar Lake townships in Scott County.

Find more articles on broadband in Dakota County. (http://tinyurl.com/hxslue9)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

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

Crow Wing County: Need a push to get ubiquitous broadband

Crow Wing County ranks 30 (up 7) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They saw a nice increase in coverage in 2024, after a few years of being stalled. Moving forward, they will benefit from a ReConnect broadband award through Consolidated Telephone Company  announced December, 2024. The investment will be used to deploy high-speed fiber optics to 67 businesses and 78 farms in Crow Wing and Morrison, and 2,831 people will benefit. They received $5,510,933 as a grant, and $5,510,933 as a loan.

• Over the years, Crow Wing County (or cities within) has not invested in match for any successful MN Broadband grants.
• Crow Wing County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant.
• Crow Wing County will benefit from 276 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations. They have significantly more awards than any other county.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $51 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Crow Wing ranked 30 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
• In December 2022, Tri-Co Technologies got $343,552 to serve approximately 245 unserved households in Crow Wing County.
• In 2023, CTC began a $5.7 million project to expand its broadband fiber optic network to approximately 500 unserved or underserved locations.
• In June 2023, the Commissioners of Crow Wing County submitted a Request for Proposal from broadband providers interested in serving the area.

Past Grants:

• 2022: Tri-Co Technologies, LLC dba Crosslake Communications, $343,552.00

• 2016 – TDS TELECOM CASS & CROW WING COUNTIES — GRANT: $3,000,000
  2015 – Consolidated Telecommunications Company – Fort Ripley Phase II
  Grant award: $759,525
• 2014 – Consolidated Telephone Cooperative, Region 5 Virtual Highway Project – Amount $2 million
• 2020: CTC (Consolidated Telephone Company) – Fort Ripley/Executive Acres Project – GRANT $830,587
• Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC) – Stark-Ross Lake Area – GRANT $350,805 This last mile project will serve approximately 180 unserved locations in a portion of Ross Lake Township in Crow Wing County.
• Crosslake Communications – O’Brien/Goodrich Lake Fiber Project – GRANT $618,970 This last mile O’Brien/Goodrich Lake Fiber Project will serve approximately 232 unserved households in Crow Wing County.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Crow Wing County. (http://tinyurl.com/zechgaw)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

Rank: 33
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Cook County: stalled with pretty good coverage

Cook County’s ranks dips from 26 to 33 for broadband access out of 87 counties. Cook County has had more than 90 percent broadband coverage at speeds of 100/20 Mbps since we started tracking progress, thanks to a federal ARRA funding in 2010.

Cook County has been so close for so long. However, there are reports on the impact of RDOF funded deployment. So despite the dip in ranking, Cook maintains a green rank.

• Over the years, Cook County (or cities within) has invested $8,000 (total) for matches for 1 successful MN Broadband grant. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband. (Cook also made a large investment in federal ARRA funds in 2010.)
• Cook County will not from a recent MN Broadband grant award.
• Cook County will not benefit from ant line extension awards.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $4.5 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Cook ranked 29 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
• WTIP reports that in 2023, Arrowhead Cooperative oversaw the installment of 19.3 miles of infrastructure.

Grants:

• 2010: Cook County formed a partnership with Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, which applied for and was awarded over $16 million in federal stimulus grants and low interest loans to build a fiber-to-the-home broadband network throughout Cook County.
• In addition, Cook County awarded Arrowhead Cooperative a $4 million grant from the 1% sales tax fund.

Find more articles on broadband in Cook County. (http://tinyurl.com/hgbzlt7)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

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

Clearwater County: nearly there and getting closer

Clearwater County ranks 14 (down from 13) for broadband access out of 87 counties. The can just about touch ubiquitous coverage and have new grant funding coming in. They rank fifth in Gig access. They retain their green ranking because they are so close to the goal.

• Over the years, Clearwater County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
• Clearwater County will benefit from a 2024 $4,6 million MN Broadband grant award that will serve 487 locations between Clearwater and Mahnomen Counties.
• Clearwater County will not benefit from any line extension awards.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $558,000 to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Clearwater ranked 75 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

2024 Grants:

• County: Clearwater, Mahnomen
  Garden Valley Telephone Company 2024 Rural Mahnomen County
  Grant: $4,626,012
  Local Match: $1,542,008
  Total Budget: $6,168,020
  This Low Density Garden Valley Telephone Company in Mahnomen County project is a combination middle mile and last mile Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) which will serve locations within the borders of the White Earth Reservation in Mahnomen County. This project recognizes broadband has become essential to economic prosperity in the rural communities and would allow employees to work from home, provide children with access to homework and essential internet related research and improve access to telemedicine at 287 locations, of which 181 are unserved and 106 underserved. Partner funding total of $250, from local community members.

Past Grants/Funding:

• In 2018, Garden Valley Telephone Company received a $20 million loan from the USDA to deploy fiber in Polk, Clearwater, Pennington, Marshall and Red Lake counties.
• AT&T launched a new FirstNet cell site in Clearwater County.

Find more articles on broadband in Clearwater County. (http://tinyurl.com/homdjrt)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)

Rank: 41
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Clay County: consistent, incremental improvements over years

Clay County’s rank dropped from 25 to 41. Clay County will benefit from a recent $5.1 million ReConnect award to reach about 500 locations. That will get them much closer to ubiquitous coverage.

Clay County gets a green ranking because they have 90 percent coverage and were awarded the $5 million ReConnect award.

• Over the years, Clay County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
• Clay County will benefit from a 2024 $970,411 MN Broadband grant (Round 10) award that will serve 54 locations.
• Clay County will benefit from 21 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $2.6 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Clay ranked 27 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
• Clay County will benefit from a ReConnect award: Red River Rural Telephone Association – The investment will be used to deploy high-speed fiber optics to 17 businesses, 55 farms, and one school in Clay County, and 482 people will benefit. They received $5,166,742 as a grant.

2024 Grants

• County: Clay
  Red River Communications
  Red River – Rural Hawley
  Grant: $970,411
  Local Match: $970,411
  Total Budget: $1,940,822
  Red River Rural Telephone Association (Red River Communications), seeks to build a fiber-to the-premise (FTTP) broadband project in Rural Hawley, located within Clay County, Minnesota. The proposed FTTP project would provide 54 currently unserved locations with access to 2.5 Gbps symmetrical broadband with a capacity of 10 Gbps per location. The rural farm centered community is located 27 miles east of the county seat of Moorhead, MN. Red River Rural Telephone Association is a progressive telecommunications Cooperative maintaining 2,400 miles of fiber with 4,700 customers. Clay County is committing $5,000 toward project costs.

Past Grants

• 2022: 702 Communications – Western Clay County Kragnes Township– GRANT $2,624,830
• 2019: Arvig (Loretel Systems, Inc.) – Cormorant Lakes Area Project – GRANT $430,780

Find more articles on broadband in Clay County. (http://tinyurl.com/hcgg9rm)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2024. Red dots represent locations unserved locations. Above I have tracked wireline access because that is the Minnesota definition of broadband. The info below includes wired and wireless. BEAD includes fixed wireless connections as served locations. (I wrote more on the distinction between the two last year, which may be if interest in the numbers range greatly for your county.)

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

• Red (yikes)
• Yellow (warning)
• Green (good shape)