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Olmsted County

Table of goal data by year
Year Rank 100/20 Mbps
2024 #20 of 87 97.23%
2023 #19 of 87 95.42%
2022 #17 of 87 94.38%
2021 #17 of 87 93.9%
2020 #16 of 87 92.87%
2019 #15 of 87 92.66%
2018 #62 of 87 41.29%
2017 #62 of 87 34%
Coverage map graphic

Red dots represent unserved locations.

Table of wired and wireless coverage at different speeds (sorry, no alt text)

Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.

Olmsted County: Almost There and Getting Closer

Olmsted County ranks 20 (down one point) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Olmsted County is nearly there, which is why they retain the green code. They are the home of the Mayo Clinic, which acts as an anchor for providers looking to expand service.

They will benefit from more than $3 million in MN state grants, which should take them to nearly ubiquitous coverage next year.

  • Over the years, Olmsted County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
  • Olmsted County will benefit from two 2024 Broadband grants:
    $3.1 million will serve 396 locations in Fillmore, Olmsted and Winona counties and
    $515,564 will serve 83 locations
  • Olmsted County will not benefit from any line extension awards.
  • 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.)
  • In 2022, Olmsted ranked 5 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Household Density

77.6

Number of Providers

21

As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED

Households with Device Access

A Device 92.4% 95.5%
statewide
Desktop or Laptop 85.5% 83.2%
statewide
Smartphone 78.3% 90.1%
statewide
Tablet 61.9% 65.8%
statewide
Other 3.0% 2.3%
statewide

Has Worked with Blandin Foundation

No

Has Received MN Grant(s)

Yes

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.

2022 – Kasson & Mantorville Telephone Company, $1,620,007.00

2023 – KM Telecom – Rural Byron & Salem Corners Fiber Build – GRANT $1,931,046

2024:

  • County: Fillmore, Olmsted, Winona
    MiEnergy Cooperative South West Fremont
    Grant: $3,164,721
    Local Match: $4,747,086
    Total Budget: $7,911,807
    The MiEnergy Cooperative project will see built Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) in the rural areas Southwest of Fremont, Minnesota located primarily in Winona and Filmore Counties. This project will provide services to 396 addresses, including 342 unserved and 54 underserved, and bridge the digital divide by offering residents access to essential services such as telemedicine, online education, and remote work opportunities. Funding partner Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company is contributing $2,373,543.
  • County: Olmsted
    Kasson & Mantorville Telephone Company Rural North Byron
    Grant: $515,564
    Local Match: $630,134
    Total Budget: $1,145,699
    The Kasson & Mantorville Telephone Company project will extend Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) capabilities to locations in rural Olmsted County, leveraging existing middle mile fiber and broadband backhaul. This project will enable delivery of up to 1 GB upstream and downstream for internet access with the ability to add additional GBs as needed, serving 83 locations, including 13 unserved locations and 70 underserved locations.

Government Districts

U.S. Congress: CD 1

MN Senate: 20, 24, 25

MN House: 20B, 24A, 24B, 25A, 25B

Find Your Representatives

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