Rank: 17
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Polk County: Closing in on top 10

Polk County has better than 90 percent broadband coverage and they part of three State broadband grants to get better broadband:

Polk County will benefit from a few MN State Grants 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.
• Halstad Telephone Company – North Fisher Expansion – GRANT $619,000 This last mile project will upgrade approximately 57 unserved and seven underserved locations in portions of Huntsville, Nesbit and Fanny townships in Polk County.
• Wikstrom Telephone Co. Inc. – Wiktel NW MN Broadband 2020 – GRANT $490,997 The last mile project will serve 153 unserved locations in sparsely populated areas in Kittson, Marshall and Polk counties.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Polk is $6,082,855; broadband is one possible use.

Polk County has the opportunity to invest in broadband with federal funding. That, and the three recent grant awards, would help them reach ubiquitous broadband. They are code green.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

• 2016 – HALSTAD TELEPHONE COMPANY KERTSONVILLE AREA – GRANT: $296,665
• 2015 – Halstad Telephone Company – Gentilly Township – Grant award: $424,460
• 2014 – Halstad Telephone Co., Halstad Tract MN 11902500 FTTH Amount $1.65 million
• 2019: Halstad Telephone Company – Rural East Grand Forks Expansion Project – GRANT $440,000

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Polk County (http://tinyurl.com/zk8apgm)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 20 (down 3)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 6.19

Details:

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

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

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

Rank: 43
Code:  Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Pipestone County: stagnant at 80 percent

Pipestone County was a big leap in access in 2018. Since then, they have been stagnant.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Pipestone is $1,769,932; broadband is one possible use.

In May, Pipestone County Commissioners met to talk about ARP. They didn’t make any decisions but broadband did come up. That’s a positive sign. Pipestone County has the opportunity to invest in broadband with federal funding. That would help them reach ubiquitous broadband. They are code yellow.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

• 2017 – Woodstock Telephone Company – Pipestone County Wireless – GRANT $363,851
• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Pipestone County (http://tinyurl.com/zhjm4pe)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 43 (down 6)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 7.73

Details:

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

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

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

Rank: 10
Code: Ranking
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Pennington County: Still on top 10 list

Pennington County has done well with engaged providers and successful Border to Border grants.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Pennington is $2,738,293; broadband is one possible use.

Pennington County has the opportunity to invest in broadband with federal funding. That would help them reach ubiquitous broadband. They are so close; it might not take much. They are code green.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past 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

Checklist:

• Find more articles on Pennington County https://blandinonbroadband.org/?s=pennington&submit=Search
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 10 (same)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 8.88

Details:

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

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

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

Rank: 67
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Otter Tail County: recent progress but needs more

Otter Tail County is seeing steady, incremental improvement to their broadband access, likely because they have also benefited from a number of MN Border to Border grants.

They have seen a greater increase in access to 25/3, which can be detrimental for long term planning. Going from nothing (or very slow) to 25/3, customers will be comparatively pleased, which may reduce their interesting in investing in a more long-term solution. Also, it is interesting to see a provider upgrade to only 25/3.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Otter Tail is $11,393,425; broadband is one possible use.

Otter Tail County has the opportunity to invest in broadband with federal funding. That would help them reach ubiquitous broadband; this is where the increase in access to 25/3 might get in the way of popular opinion on the choice. They are code red.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

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

Checklist:

• Find more articles on Otter TailCounty https://blandinonbroadband.org/?s=otter+tail&submit=Search
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 67 (down 1)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 11.36

Details:

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

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

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

Rank: 17
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Olmsted  County: recent progress but needs more

Olmsted County is nearly there. They are the home of the Mayo Clinic, which acts as an anchor for providers looking to expand service.

Olmsted County will benefit from a few 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.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Olmsted is $30,699,953; broadband is one possible use. Rochester and Olmsted County have been vocal about wanting better broadband. This federal funding is a good opportunity for them, if they take it. They are code green.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

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

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Olmsted County (http://tinyurl.com/gmslyhe)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 17 (down 1)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 90.43

Details:

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

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

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

Rank: 76
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Norman County: recent progress but needs more

Norman County has spent most of its time near the bottom ranking. In 2020, they climbed their way out of the top 10 with a great increase in coverage. Unfortunately, they have remained stagnant since then.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Norman is $1,236,392; broadband is one possible use.

Norman County may benefit from intervention, such as the Blandin Accelerate program, a process to spur community acquisition and deployment of federal and state broadband funds, to find an alternative solution. They are code red.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

none

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Norman County (http://tinyurl.com/zs7nuqj)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 76 (down 3)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: no
• Household density: 2.90

Details:

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

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

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

Rank: 39
Code:  Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Nobles County: steady progress but needs to continue

Nobles County was a Blandin Broadband Community (BBC); they have deployed lots of broadband adoption programs. They have benefited from past MN Border to Border grants.

They have pretty good coverage But they have been hung up at 81 percent since 2019.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Nobles is $4,194,811; broadband is one possible use.

Nobles County has the opportunity to invest in broadband with federal funding. That would help them reach ubiquitous broadband. Their history with the Blandin Foundation might help them prioritize broadband. They are a code yellow community.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants

• 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)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 39 (down 6)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 11.79

Details:

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

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

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

Rank: 45
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Nicollet County: stagnant since 2019 but just got a grant

Nicollet County saw great progress in 2019; they have been stagnant since then, but they have received a grant in the last round that might help spur more local attention.

Nicollet County will benefit from a MN State Grant awarded in 2021:

• Nuvera Communications, Inc. – New Ulm HDT 202 FTTP – GRANT $444,386 This last mile project north of New Ulm will serve approximately 80 unserved and 67 underserved locations in Nicollet County.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Nicollet is $6,647,231; broadband is one possible use.

Nicollet County has the opportunity to invest in broadband with federal funding. That would help them reach ubiquitous broadband. They are a code yellow community.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grant:

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

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Nicollet County (http://tinyurl.com/h3zwpbd)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 45 (down 4)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 29.07

Details:

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

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

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

Rank: 77
Code:  Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Murray County: needs help but has potential partners

In 2018, with support from the Blandin Foundation, released a feasibility study that was not promising; it indicated that it is not economically feasible to build fiber everywhere. Subsequently, they are left looking at hybrid models, trying to convince the state to increase the 50 percent match or find another solution.

Murray County will benefit from a few MN State Grants awarded in 2021:

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

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Murray is $1,589,176; broadband is one possible use.

They have received a MN broadband grant. That might spark an interest in investing ARP funding on broadband. The opportunity is there but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of activity in the area recently; they are code red.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants

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

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Murray County (http://tinyurl.com/j9sr5gf)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 77 (down 8)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 5.2

Details:

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

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

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

Rank: 35
Code:  Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Mower County: needs help but has potential partners

Mower County saw a great leap in access in 2019 and they have had steady growth since. They received a grant in the last round.

Mower County will benefit from a 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.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Mower is $7,769,778; broadband is one possible use.

Mower has some engaged providers in their area. They have received their first MN broadband grant. That might spark an interest in investing ARP funding on broadband. The opportunity is there; they are code yellow.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

none

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Mower County (http://tinyurl.com/j9sr5gf)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 35 (up 5)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 21.5

Details:

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

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

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

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

Morrison County: steady progress but recent grant might help

Morrison County has been actively engaged in seeking better broadband for several years, including as part of the Resilient Region as a Blandin Broadband Community. They have benefited from grants most years that they have been available and will benefit from two Border to Border grants they received in the last round. They have a way to go to meet the 2026 speed goal but each year they seem to make improvements.

Morrison County will benefit from a few 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.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Morrison is $6,475,009; broadband is one possible use.

Federal funding provides a potential for all of the counties to invest in broadband. It seems as if counties that have been working with the Blandin Foundation or otherwise been involved with broadband are more likely to make that choice. Morrison County has a history with Blandin and that’s why they are code yellow.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

• 2017 – Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Rice Ramey – GRANT $765,015
• 2016 – BENTON COOPERATIVE TELEPHONE COMPANY BUCKMAN – GRANT: $276,230
• 2014 – Consolidated Telephone Cooperative, Region 5 Virtual Highway Project – Amount $2 million
• 2019: CTC (Consolidated Telephone Company) – Fort Ripley/Executive Acres Project – GRANT $830,587
• 2019: Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase I – GRANT $936,759

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Morrison County (http://tinyurl.com/hxkk5ur)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 56 (down 1)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 11.31

Details:

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

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

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

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

Mille Lacs County: stalled but recent grant might help

Mille Lacs County has been working on broadband for a while. They were part of the Blandin Broadband Communities (BBC) initiative from 2012-2014. They are part of the Blandin Accelerate program in 2021 as being part of the Mille Lacs Tribal Economy (there is some overlap with county and tribal community); a process to spur community acquisition and deployment of federal and state broadband funds. Initiative Foundation will fund a Mille Lacs Tribal Economy Satellite Broadband Study.

County will benefit from a few MN State Grants awarded in 2021:

• Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) – Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (Onamia) Broadband Expansion – GRANT $70,261 This last mile fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project will serve 102 unserved households within the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Reservation in Mille Lacs County.
• 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.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Mille Lacs is $5,096,262; broadband is one possible use. Mille Lacs’ history with the Blandin Foundation should help the community recognize the value of investing ARP in broadband. Because if their slow progress, they are code red.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

• 2016 – BENTON COOPERATIVE TELEPHONE COMPANY BOCK – GRANT: $510,000
• 2019: Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase I – GRANT $936,759

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Mille Lacs County (http://tinyurl.com/h7wcdjj)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 73 (down 4)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 17.36

Details:

• Districts: CD 8
  Senate: 15
  House: 15A
• Find your reps

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

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

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

Meeker County: stalled but recent grant might help

Meeker County has been engaged in broadband expansion for years. In  2017, Meeker County released a broadband feasibility study, with Blandin Foundation’s support. They released an update in 2018.

Meeker County will benefit from a 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.

They will benefit from a MN Border to Border grant awarded in the last round. The project is small, but hopefully will start a quest for more improvement. Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Meeker is $4,503,764; broadband is one possible use.

Meeker County needs a major push to get to better broadband; they are code red.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

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

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Meeker County (http://tinyurl.com/gltzvoc)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 72 (up 2)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 14.65

Details:

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

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

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

Rank: 74
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

McLeod County: maybe the tide has turned

McLeod County’s ranking has been slipping over the years. Their percentage covered has been stagnant. But this year they have received their first State broadband grants; maybe the tide is turning for them.

McLeod County will benefit from a few 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.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in McLeod is $6,961,226; broadband is one possible use. That would go a long way to helping them get better broadband coverage. They are at code red.

They may benefit from intervention, such as the Blandin Accelerate program, a process to spur community acquisition and deployment of federal and state broadband funds, to find an alternative solution.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

None

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in McLeod County (http://tinyurl.com/hx65gqh)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 74 (down 4)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 28.14

Details:

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

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

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

Rank: 68
Code:  Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Martin County: need more investment

In 2020, Martin County saw a nice increase in coverage; somehow that has decreased in the last year. (Probably a correction; not removal of broadband.) They will see improvements based on a recent MN Border to Border grant award.

Martin County will benefit from a 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.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Martin is $3,817,397; broadband is one possible use. Matin County will need a push to get to better broadband; they are code red.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

• 2017- BEVCOMM (Granada Telephone Company) — Granada Rural Final – GRANT: $202,410
• 2016 – GRANADA TELEPHONE COMPANY (DBA BEVCOMM) SOUTH RURAL GRANADA – GRANT:  $157,920
• 2016 – MARTIN COUNTY (WITH FRONTIER) RURAL BROADBAND INITIATIVE – GRANT: $1,677,823
• 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)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 68 (up 3)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 13.96

Details:

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

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

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