Renville County Broadband Profile 2022: Red rating: Ranking out 81 of 87

Rank: 81
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Renville 73.69 84 71.78 81 46.24 57 21

Renville County: Still stuck

Renville County’s broadband coverage seems to be incrementally shrinking, albeit within a margin of error. They should receive some BEAD funding but only for satellite and fixed wireless. They maintain their Red status.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 217 locations in Renville County. However, those locations will get a satellite or fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Renville has benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems hopeful for them as well.)

They has been in a potentially precarious position, because there is a discrepancy between wireline access  and wireline with fixed wireless. Minnesota doesn’t currently take fixed wireless into consideration when defining areas eligible for grants; the federal government does include access to fixed wireless.

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

Broadband Access:

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 71.78 71.99 72.23 70.79 70.86 63.23 59.06 51.78 50.43
25/3 (2022 goal) 73.69 73.92 73.98 73.41 74.48 67.74 61.9 55.06 59.27

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Anoka: 329
The locations include a majority of satellite and fixed wireless connections.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC AMG Technology Investment Group, LLC d/b/a Nextlink Internet Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Fixed Wireless
Renville                                      16                                   201                                   217 Renville

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Renville 0 was invested over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $16 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, Renville ranked 66 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past Grants:

  • Hanson Communications – Hanson – Chippewa Cty W
    Grant: $2,081,494, Local Match: $2,544,150, Total Budget: $4,625,644
  • 2016 – RENVILLE COUNTY HBC & RS FIBER – GRANT: $807,966
  • 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080
  • 2014 – R-S Fiber Cooperative, FTTH Project – Award: $1 million.
  • 2019: Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Hutchinson W Project – GRANT $346,282
  • 2019: Midco (Midcontinent Communications) – Renville Project – GRANT $230,835
  • MN State Grant awarded in 2021: Minnesota Valley Telephone Company (MVTC) – Rural Franklin Fiber Project – GRANT $226,800 This middle and last mile project will serve approximately 45 unserved locations in the City of Franklin and the townships of Sherman, Eden, Camp and Birch Cooley in Redwood, Renville and Brown counties.

Find more articles on broadband in Renville County (http://tinyurl.com/hfazdvf)

The maps below come from the 

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)

Redwood County Broadband Profile 2025: Green rating: Ranking out 39 of 87

Rank: 57
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Redwood 91.82 42 90.5 39 25.4 77 15

Redwood County: Moving up the ranking

Redwood County’s broadband coverage has been improving steadily over the years and now they have edge into the above 90 percent barrier. Subsequently, they have bumped from Yellow to Green status.

ranks 57 (up 6 places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Redwood County went from almost 40 percent coverage in 2021 to 82 percent now. Last year, they worked on better broadband with the help of a Lead Fellow and a broadband survey. Redwood County’s work getting the community engaged with a survey will likely help them strive to get federal (BEAD) funding once it becomes available. That is how they retain their yellow ranking.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 373 locations in Redwood County. Half of the locations are slated for fiber; the rest will get a satellite or fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Redwood has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that might be a strategy worth considering.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 90.5 82.38 76.23 80.17 40.04 36.48 33.56 33.56 34.37
25/3 (2022 goal) 91.82 91.94 87.31 48.35 76.12 44.59 70.94 72.07 41.51

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Redwood: 373
The locations include a mix of fiber as well as satellite and fixed wireless connections.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC AMG Technology Investment Group, LLC d/b/a Nextlink Internet Nuvera Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Fixed Wireless Fiber Low Earth Orbit Satellite
Redwood                                         4                                   170                                   198                                         1                                   373 Redwood

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Redwood, $1914986 was invested in one project over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $13.4 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.)

Past Grants:

  • 2022: Hanson Communications, Inc., $923,918.00
  • 2022: Redwood County Telephone Co. dba Arvig, $1,336,037.04 (Learn more)
  • 2017 – MVTC (Minnesota Valley Telephone Company, Inc.) – Milroy Broadband Project – GRANT $742,365
  • 2016 – ARVIG – REDWOOD COUNTY TELEPHONE MIDDLE MILE FIBER EXTENSION – GRANT: $27,998
  • 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080
  • 2019: MVTC (Minnesota Valley Telephone Company, Inc.) – Rural Lucan Fiber Project – GRANT $635,400
  • MN State Grant awarded in 2021: Minnesota Valley Telephone Company (MVTC) – Rural Franklin Fiber Project – GRANT $226,800 This middle and last mile project will serve approximately 45 unserved locations in the City of Franklin and the townships of Sherman, Eden, Camp and Birch Cooley in Redwood, Renville and Brown counties.

Find more articles on broadband in Redwood County (https://tinyurl.com/3z8k43r5)

The maps below come from the 

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)

Red Lake County Broadband Profile 2025: Green rating: Ranking out 1 of 87

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

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Red Lake 100 1 100 1 100 1 8

Red Lake County: Four years of ubiquitous broadband

Red Lake County ranks 1 for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 100 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They haven’t invested local government funding, nor have they benefited from Line Extension but they got there.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 2025 100 100 100 93.85 83.18 83.17 83.17 48.01
25/3 (2022 goal) 2025 100 100 100 99.99 99.86 99.99 99.99 99.99

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Red Lake: 0

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Red Lake 0 was invested over the years.

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost 0 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.)

Past grant:

  • None

Find more articles on broadband in Red Lake County (http://tinyurl.com/gt8g24c)

The maps below come from the 

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)

Ramsey County Broadband Profile 2025: Green rating: Ranking out 3 of 87

Rank: 3
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Ramsey 99.95 2 99.92 3 59.77 44 11

Ramsey County: nearly at 2026 goal already

Ramsey County is a metro-based county where the market makes it feasible for broadband providers to serve broadband profitably. Ramsey County is very close to reaching the state broadband goal; they retain their Green status.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 323 locations in Ramsey County. However, all the locations will get a satellite or a fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Ramsey has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that might be a strategy for reach the last households.) There have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 99.92 99.69 99.98 99.63 99.84 99.84 99.84 99.82 99.39
25/3 (2022 goal) 99.95 99.79 99.98 99.88 99.86 99.86 99.86 99.84 99.75

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Ramsey: 323
The locations include a majority of satellite and fixed wireless connections.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC IBT Group USA, LLC Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Fixed Wireless Low Earth Orbit Satellite
Ramsey                                   177                                   120                                      26                                   323 Ramsey

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Ramsy 0 was invested over the years.

No New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

Past grants:

None

Find more articles on https://bit.ly/2kgeboX

The maps below come from the 

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)

Pope County Broadband Profile 2025: Green rating: Ranking out 8 of 87

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

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Pope 99.53 9 99.53 8 75.7 22 16

Pope County: so close

Pope County is very close to reaching the state broadband goal; they retain their Green status.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 30 locations in Anoka County. However, all of locations are slated to get satellite, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Pope has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that may be a strategy worth considering.)

There have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 99.53 99.75 84.65 79.15 74.48 73 68.92 23.67 24.33
25/3 (2022 goal) 99.53 99,75 90.82 87.81 82.95 80.81 76.99 61.27 62.73

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Pope: 30
The locations include a majority of satellite and fixed wireless connections.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Low Earth Orbit Satellite
Pope                                      29                                         1                                      30 Pope

 

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Pope $1,067,199  was invested on one project over the years.

No New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 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.)

Past Grants:

  • 2022: Hanson Communications, Inc., $4,248,796.00
  • 2017 – Hanson Communications – Minnewaska Area FTTP – GRANT $4,996,791

Find more articles on broadband in Pope County (http://tinyurl.com/hx7q9fd)

The maps below come from the 

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)

Polk County Broadband Profile 2025: Green rating: Ranking out 14 of 87

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

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Polk 98.93 16 98.7 14 58.52 46 11

Polk County: Very close

Polk County’s broadband coverage remains steady at almost 99 percent. It’s that proximity that helps them retain their Green status.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 37 locations in Polk County. However, all the locations will get a satellite, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Polk has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that strategy may be worth considering.) There have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 98.7 97.6 97.79 95.24 91.72 91.76 88.35 85.39 80.89
25/3 (2022 goal) 98.93 97.85 97.83 95.25 93.02 93.09 93.11 93 90.78

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Polk: 37
The locations will get satellite.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Low Earth Orbit Satellite
Polk                                      35                                         2                                      37 Polk

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Polk 0 was invested over the years.

No New Posts from 2025

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $2.5 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.)

Past Grant:

  • Garden Valley Telephone Co – Garden Valley Tel – Rural E Grand Forks
    Grant: $1,050,465, Local Match: $350,150, Total Budget: $1,400,620
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.

Find more articles on broadband in Polk County (http://tinyurl.com/zk8apgm)

The maps below come from the 

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)

Pipestone County Broadband Profile 2025: Red rating: Ranking out 48 of 87

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

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Pipestone 88.84 50 86.3 48 28.01 72 12

Pipestone County: stagnant at 85 percent

Pipestone County’s broadband coverage has been stagnant for a few years and their prospects for BEAD funding is not going to close the gap; so they have been bumped from Yellow to Red status.

They have been in a potentially precarious position because there is a discrepancy between wireline access and wireline with fixed wireless. 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.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 63 locations in Pipestone County. All of the locations qualify for fiber. That being said, 63 locations isn’t a lot.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Pipestone has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that may be a strategy worth considering.) There have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 86.3 86.43 86.35 80.7 80.11 79.73 79.73 79.73 44.54
25/3 (2022 goal) 88.84 88.78 88.81 82.44 82.54 82.97 81.1 79.73 79.36

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Pipestone: 63
The locations include a majority of satellite and fixed wireless connections.

County Woodstock Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Fiber
Pipestone                                      63                                      63 Pipestone

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Pipestone 0 was invested over the years. However last year, Pipestone County Commissioners recently (Nov 2024) voted to provide $268,822 for a fiber optic internet project Woodstock Communications is planning if they get a MN State grant.

New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 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.)

Past Grants:

  • Woodstock Telephone Co – Woodstock Comm – Hatfield FTTH
    Grant: $1,612,932, Local Match: $537,644, Total Budget: $2,150,576
  • 2017 – Woodstock Telephone Company – Pipestone County Wireless – GRANT $363,851
  • 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Find more articles on broadband in Pipestone County (http://tinyurl.com/zhjm4pe)

The maps below come from the 

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

Pine County Broadband Profile 2025: Yellow rating: Ranking out 82 of 87

Rank: 82
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Pine 75.27 82 71.29 83 51.75 54 15

Pine County: Progress is coming

Pine County’s broadband coverage increased greatly in the last year and with BEAD proposing to fund fiber in more than 2000 locations, their status has been upgraded from Red to Yellow.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 2,587 locations in Pine County. The majority of locations will get fiber, however a few will get satellite or fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Pine has benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems like a strategy worth considering.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty. The emergence of East Central Energy has been a positive force in Pine County.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 71.29 61.63 40.71 35.1 39.89 39.13 37.26 38.18 37.37
25/3 (2022 goal) 75.27 68.4 49.95 44.74 52.02 60.24 58.28 42.84 40.12

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Anoka: 2,587
The locations include a majority of fiber and a few satellite and fixed wireless connections.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC East Central Energy Fiber IBT Group USA, LLC Mediacom LLC Midco Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Fiber Fixed Wireless Fiber Fiber Low Earth Orbit Satellite
Pine                                      84                              1,975                                      24                                   123                                   374                                         7                              2,587 Pine

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Pine $160,000 was invested in one project over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $84.4 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.)

Past Grants

  • Savage Communications Inc – SCI – East Central MN
    Grant: $3,563,817, Local Match: $3,713,817, Total Budget: $7,277,634
  • 2022: East Central Energy, $4,750,000.00 (serving Pine and Kanabec) (Learn more)
  • 2022: East Central Energy – Kanabec Central – GRANT $4,403,000
  • 2017 – SCI (Savage Communications Inc.) — Dell Grove Township Broadband Expansion – GRANT $118,248

Find more articles on broadband in Pine County (http://tinyurl.com/ha8burg)

The maps below come from the 

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)

Pennington County Broadband Profile 2025: Green rating: Ranking out 10 of 87

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

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Pennington 99.5 11 99.44 10 89.77 14 9

Pennington County: inching closer

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. They are very close to goal and retain their Green status.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 86 locations in Pennington County. The locations will get a satellite, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Pennington has benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that might be a strategy worth considering.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 99.44 99.51 99.53 99.4 98.19 96.95 96.18 90.75 9.63
25/3 (2022 goal) 99.5 99.6 99.55 99.4 99.37 98.53 97.21 91.78 91.78

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Pennington: 86
The locations qualify for satellite.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Low Earth Orbit Satellite
Pennington                                      85                                         1                                      86 Pennington

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Pennington 0 was invested over the years.

No New Posts from 2025

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 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.)

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

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

The maps below come from the 

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)

Otter Tail County Broadband Profile 2025: Green rating: Ranking out 40 of 87

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

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Otter Tail 94.98 35 90.16 40 22.61 82 16

Otter Tail County: getting in stride

Otter Tail County continues slow and steady progress. BEAD funding should help boost fiber connectivity, which would be helpful. They maintain their Green status.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 933 locations in Otter Tail County. Many of the locations qualify for fiber; the rest for satellite, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Otter Tail has benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems hopeful for them as well.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 90.16 88.12 77.72 70.54 67.02 65.55 35.34 2.36 1.75
25/3 (2022 goal) 94.98 93.44 94.48 92.69 90.97 75.02 92.93 89.56 59.34

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Otter Tail: 933
The locations include a mix of fiber and satellite and fixed wireless connections.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC Midco Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Spectrum Mid-America, LLC Tekstar Communications, Inc. (Arvig) Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Fiber Low Earth Orbit Satellite Fiber Fiber
Otter Tail                                   235                                      65                                         6                                   124                                   503                                   933 Otter Tail

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Otter Tail $3,671,557 was invested in five projects over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 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.)

Past Grants

  • County: Otter Tail – Otter Tail Telcom West Fergus Falls
    Grant: $3,700,198, Local Match: $1,233,399, Total Budget: $4,933,598
  • 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 come from the 

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)

Olmstead County Broadband Profile 2025: Green rating: Ranking out 26 of 87

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

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Olmsted 96.64 29 96.16 26 96.11 8 17

Olmsted County: almost there

Olmsted County’s broadband coverage dipped a little from last year, but not beyond an acceptable margin. They are not going to get a lot of help from BEAD funding in terms of meeting MN state broadband goals but they are so close and that’s why they retain their Green status.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 2,329 locations in Olmsted County. Some locations will get fiber but the majority of locations will get a satellite or fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Olmsted has benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems like a strategy worth considering.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 96.16 97.23 95.42 94.38 93.9 92.87 92.66 41.29 34
25/3 (2022 goal) 96.64 97.77 96.18 95.41 95.88 95.74 94.63 93.7 97.75

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Olmsted: 2,329
The locations include a mix of Fiber as well as satellite and fixed wireless connections.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC IBT Group USA, LLC Mediacom LLC Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Fixed Wireless Fiber Low Earth Orbit Satellite
Olmsted                                   989                              1,175                                      43                                   122                              2,329 Olmsted

 

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Olmsted 0 was invested over the years.

No New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 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.)

Past Grants

  • County: Fillmore, Olmsted, Winona – MiEnergy Cooperative South West Fremont
    Grant: $3,164,721, Local Match: $4,747,086, Total Budget: $7,911,807
  • County: Olmsted – Kasson & Mantorville Telephone Company Rural North Byron
    Grant: $515,564, Local Match: $630,134, Total Budget: $1,145,699
  • 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 come from the 

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)

Norman County Broadband Profile 2025: Red rating: Ranking out 77 of 87

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

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Norman 98.56 20 73.33 77 20.79 84 9

Norman County: recent progress but needs more

Norman County has seen a nice increase in broadband in the last year, unfortunately they still have a long way to go. They are not in line for any BEAD funding and I haven’t seen any action in the county. They retain their Red status.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 0 locations in Norman County. It’s telling to see that a county with need would not get any bids for service.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Norman has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems like a strategy worth considering.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 73.33 63.1 54.22 55.52 55 54.44 20.62 20.55 20.52
25/3 (2022 goal) 98.56 95.16 99.73 99.34 79.45 66.63 98.45 98.02 37.67

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Norman County: 0

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Norman 0 was invested over the years.

No New Posts from 2025

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023estimates indicated that it would cost $10.9 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.)

Past grants:

  • none

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

The maps below come from the 

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)

Nobles County Broadband Profile 2025: Red rating: Ranking out 52 of 87

Rank: 52
Code:  Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Nobles 88.37 53 85.58 52 24.2 80 17

Nobles County: Stagnant but building relationships

Nobles County’s broadband coverage has remained stagnant for three years. They have been building a relationship with a local provider. But unfortunately, it looks they will not get much help from BEAD funding. That is why they have dropped from Yellow to Red status.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 65 locations in Nobles County. However, locations will get a fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Nobles has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems like a strategy worth considering.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 85.58 85.17 85.35 80.27 81.24 81.24 77.66 77.18 59.25
25/3 (2022 goal) 88.37 87.99 87.76 83.1 83.71 83.54 80.89 79.24 75.69

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Nobles: 65
The locations include fixed wireless connections.

County AMG Technology Investment Group, LLC d/b/a Nextlink Internet Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Fixed Wireless
Nobles                                      65                                      65 Nobles

 

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Murray $50,000 was invested in one project over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $9.4 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.)

Past Grants

  • County: Nobles – Lismore Cooperative Telephone Co City of Bigelow FTTP
    Grant: $208,598, Local Match: $486,730, Total Budget: $695,328
  • 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

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

The maps below come from the 

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)

Nicollet County Broadband Profile 2025: Red rating: Ranking out 66 of 87

Rank: 66
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Nicollet 84.01 69 80.91 66 63.23 39 17

Nicollet County: stagnant since 2019

Nicollet County has not seen broadband progress in the last year, so they retain their Red status.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 1,130 locations in Anoka County. Locations qualify for an even split between fiber and satellite/fixed wireless connections, which do not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Nicollet has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that might be a strategy worth considering.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 80.91 80.72 76.25 77.29 78.49 78.29 78.42 33.29 54.54
25/3 (2022 goal) 84.01 85.23 85.19 86.83 83.87 83.67 82.68 83.91 86.1

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Nicolett: 1,130
The locations include a pretty even split between fiber and satellite or fixed wireless connections.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC AMG Technology Investment Group, LLC d/b/a Nextlink Internet IBT Group USA, LLC Midco Nuvera Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Fixed Wireless Fixed Wireless Fiber Fiber
Nicollet                                         4                                   551                                         1                                   531                                      43                              1,130 Nicollet

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Nicollet 0 was invested over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $25 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, Nicollet ranked 17 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past grants:

  • 2022: Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Nicollet County RTF DTF FTTP – GRANT $479,011 (Learn more)
  • 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile = Grant award: $808,080
  • 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.

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

The maps below come from the 

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)

Murray County Broadband Profile 2025: Red rating: Ranking out 87 of 87

Rank: 87
Code:  Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Murray 61.25 87 57.44 87 28.02 71 15

Murray County: still at bottom of the ranking

Murray County’s broadband coverage has remained stagnant over the last few years. That has kept them at the bottom of the ranking and keeps them with a Red status.

Murray has been in a precarious position because looking maps there is a big discrepancy between wireline access and wireline with fixed wireless. 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 made a difference to who is eligible for BEAD funding.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 13 locations in Murray County. There is a mix of fiber and satellite connections, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute. But with such low coverage it’s the number of locations awarded funding that is notable.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Anoka has benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems hopeful for them as well.) There have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 57.44 57.12 55.9 51.38 54.37 51.59 51.59 50.78 41.65
25/3 (2022 goal) 61.25 61.09 58.69 57.5 58.05 65.2 65.37 51 50.47

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Murray: 13
The locations include a majority of satellite and fixed wireless connections.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC Woodstock Xfinity Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Fiber Fiber
Murray                                         4                                         9                                      13 Murray

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Murray $1,326,455 was invested in two projects over the years.

No New Posts from 2025

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $18 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, Murray ranked 62 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past Grants

  • County: Murray – Woodstock Telephone Company Skandia FTTH Low Density
    Grant: $2,914,733, Local Match: $971,578, Total Budget: $3,886,311
  • 2022: Woodstock Telephone Company – Lake Sarah Township FTTP – GRANT $1,333,199
  • 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080
  • 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.
  • 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.

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

The maps below come from the 

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)