Redwood County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #57 of 87 | 82.38% |
| 2023 | #63 of 87 | 76.23% |
| 2022 | #84 of 87 | 48.35% |
| 2021 | #85 of 87 | 40.04% |
| 2020 | #86 of 87 | 36.48% |
| 2019 | #83 of 87 | 33.56% |
| 2018 | #72 of 87 | 33.56% |
| 2017 | #60 of 87 | 34.37% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Redwood County: Moving Up the Ranking
Redwood County ranks 57 (up 6 places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Redwood County went from almost 40 percent coverage in 2021 to 82 percent now. Last year, they worked on better broadband with the help of a Lead Fellow and a broadband survey. Redwood County’s work getting the community engaged with a survey will likely help them strive to get federal (BEAD) funding once it becomes available. That is how they retain their yellow ranking.
Their progress remain incremental but they retain their yellow ranking.
- Over the years, Redwood County (or cities within) has invested $1,914,986 (total) for match for 1 successful MN Broadband grant. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
- Redwood County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant.
- Redwood County will benefit from 1 line extension award (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $13.4 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, Redwood ranked 70 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
Household Density
6.9
Number of Providers
15
As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
Redwood County has worked with the Blandin Foundation.
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2022 – Hanson Communications, Inc., $923,918.00
2022 – Redwood County Telephone Co. dba Arvig, $1,336,037.04 (Learn more)
MN State Grant awarded in 2021: Minnesota Valley Telephone Company (MVTC) – Rural Franklin Fiber Project – GRANT $226,800 This middle and last mile project will serve approximately 45 unserved locations in the City of Franklin and the townships of Sherman, Eden, Camp and Birch Cooley in Redwood, Renville and Brown counties.
2019 – MVTC (Minnesota Valley Telephone Company, Inc.) – Rural Lucan Fiber Project – GRANT $635,400
2017 – MVTC (Minnesota Valley Telephone Company, Inc.) – Milroy Broadband Project – GRANT $742,365
2016 – ARVIG – REDWOOD COUNTY TELEPHONE MIDDLE MILE FIBER EXTENSION – GRANT: $27,998
2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080
There is a matrix of Minnesota broadband adoption projects.