Rice County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #47 of 87 | 85.44% |
| 2023 | #45 of 87 | 84.16% |
| 2022 | #32 of 87 | 85.23% |
| 2021 | #33 of 87 | 85.58% |
| 2020 | #31 of 87 | 82.95% |
| 2019 | #28 of 87 | 82.47% |
| 2018 | #74 of 87 | 32.63% |
| 2017 | #45 of 87 | 48.85% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Rice County: Dropped From Yellow to Red Ranking
Rice County ranks 47 (down 2 points) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Rice County had a great leap of broadband in 2019; they have been stagnant since.
Because they have been stagnant for so long, Rice County keeps their red ranking
- Over the years, Rice County (or cities within) has invested $15,000 (total) for matches for 1 successful MN Broadband grant. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
- Rise County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant.
- Rice County will benefit from 3 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $30.8 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, Rice ranked 12 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
Household Density
40.6
Number of Providers
25
As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
No
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
MN State Grants awarded in 2021: Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Webster Rural FTTP – GRANT $431,260 This last mile project will serve 103 unserved and 178 underserved locations in Wheatland and Webster townships in Rice County, Euraka and Greenvale townships in Dakota County, and New Market and Cedar Lake townships in Scott County.
BEVCOMM (Cannon Valley Telecom, Inc.) – Rural Morristown Fiber Expansion Project – GRANT $210,692 This last mile project will serve approximately 14 unserved and 94 underserved locations in portions of Rice, Waseca, and Steele counties.
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 1, CD 2
MN Senate: 19, 22, 58
MN House: 19A, 22B, 58A, 58B