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Olmsted County

Table of goal data by year
Year 100/20 Mbps 1 Gbps
2025 #26 – 96.16% #8 – 96.11%
2024 #20 – 97.23%
2023 #19 – 95.42%
2022 #17 – 94.38%
2021 #17 – 93.9%
2020 #16 – 92.87%
2019 #15 – 92.66%
2018 #62 – 41.29%
2017 #62 – 34%
Coverage map graphic

Red dots represent unserved locations.

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.

Household Density

77.6

Number of Providers

17

As of 2025 · 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

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