Nobles County
| Year | 100/20 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #52 – 85.58% | #80 – 24.2% |
| 2024 | #48 – 85.17% | |
| 2023 | #38 – 85.35% | |
| 2022 | #44 – 80.27% | |
| 2021 | #39 – 81.24% | |
| 2020 | #35 – 81.24% | |
| 2019 | #41 – 77.66% | |
| 2018 | #24 – 77.18% | |
| 2017 | #35 – 59.25% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
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.
Household Density
9.5
Number of Providers
17
As of 2025 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
Nobles County has worked with the Blandin Foundation. This project matrix includes descriptions of their community work. https://blandinfoundation.org/content/uploads/vy/BBC_2015-16_Project_Matrix.pdf
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080
2016 – LISMORE COOPERATIVE TELEPHONE NOBLES COUNTY BROADBAND – GRANT: $2,944,578
2023 – Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company ReConnect grant: $13,688,114 and loan: $5,723,996
2024:
- County: Nobles
Lismore Cooperative Telephone Co City of Bigelow FTTP
Grant: $208,598
Local Match: $486,730
Total Budget: $695,328
The Lismore Cooperative Telephone Co. project will see the establishment and operation of a Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) network, aimed at bridging the digital divide in the rural City of Bigelow, in Nobles County. The proposed project area encompasses approximately 4.16 miles of last mile buried fiber and fiber drop cabling, serving 113 locations, 19 of which are unserved and 94 underserved. Funding partners are Nobles County $35,000, and City of Bigelow $15,000.