Chippewa County
| Year | 100/20 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #33 – 93.64% | #79 – 24.48% |
| 2024 | #28 – 93.63% | |
| 2023 | #44 – 84.52% | |
| 2022 | #43 – 80.55% | |
| 2021 | #37 – 82.67% | |
| 2020 | #29 – 83.55% | |
| 2019 | #31 – 81.7% | |
| 2018 | #77 – 24.8% | |
| 2017 | #69 – 24.45% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Chippewa County stays stagnant
Chippewa County’s coverage jumped up a lot last year and stayed stagnant this year.
At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 4 locations in Chippewa County. Some locations will get fiber and some locations will get a satellite or fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute. But the notable fact is that they will only get help for 4 locations.
One issue is that using the FCC National Map 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 could make a big difference to who is eligible for BEAD funding. So perhaps the federal maps are giving them credit for more coverage than the state maps would.
There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of houses just beyond existing infrastructure. That may be helpful since that is state funding. Another statewide issue is changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.
Chippewa has made such progress in the last couple of years, but it seems like there may be barriers in the future so they retain their yellow status.
Household Density
8.0
Number of Providers
13
As of 2025 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
There is a matrix of Minnesota broadband adoption projects; it includes projects from this area.
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile, Grant award: $808,080
2022 – Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, $4,728,186.00
2024:
- County: Chippewa, Renville
Hanson Communications
Hanson – Chippewa Cty W
Grant: $2,081,494
Local Match: $2,544,150
Total Budget: $4,625,644
Hanson will build and operate a Fiber To The Premises (FTTP) network covering the unserved and underserved areas within Southwest Chippewa County. There are 283 total fiber passings in the project. This project comes in partnership with Chippewa County, who has committed $200,000 to the project. Over 68 businesses lacking a 100/20 mbps connection are included in the project area. Most businesses in the project area are related to agrobusiness, machinery, construction, transportation, services & consumer goods. For livestock operations, broadband is a necessity. Remote monitoring and alarm systems, critical for ensuring the health and safety of livestock, rely heavily on broadband connectivity. Additionally, the process of buying and selling livestock and equipment at online auctions is emerging in the online marketplace.
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 7
MN Senate: 15, 16
MN House: 15A, 16A