Faribault County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #72 of 87 | 70.43% |
| 2022 | #62 of 87 | 72.68% |
| 2021 | #84 of 87 | 43.95% |
| 2020 | #83 of 87 | 40.56% |
| 2019 | #77 of 87 | 39.2% |
| 2018 | #60 of 87 | 42.28% |
| 2017 | #44 of 87 | 49.13% |
Faribault County: Needs an Accelerated Pace
Faribault County ranks 72 for broadband access out of 87 counties. Faribault has 70.43 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 1876 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $17.4 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.
Faribault got traction in 2022 with an increase from 44 to 73 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. Their ranking and percentage has slipped in the last year, likely to map correction or changes based on challenges. 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.
Faribault retains their yellow ranking. Progress has been made but there isn’t a lot of evidence for progress moving forward.
Household Density
8.8
Number of Providers
20
As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
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.
2022 – Blue Earth Valley Telephone Co., dba Bevcomm and Cannon Valley Telecom, Inc.,dba Bevcomm, $1,444,030.00
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 1
MN Senate: 22, 23
MN House: 22A, 23A