Willmar City Council to decide on broadband plan amidst some criticism

Posted on by
Reply

The West Central Tribune reports…

The Willmar City Council on Monday, Jan. 5, is expected to consider awarding the bid for the construction of phase one of the Willmar Connect initiative to construct a city-owned, open-access broadband network.

At the Dec. 15 City Council meeting, Bob Enos was joined by approximately 10 people to speak against the initiative. Enos spoke while others held up signs stating, “Shame on you! Willmar City Council — $25 million for internet and you don’t ask?” The signs also had a graphic of people below the text.

Willmar has been working on better broadband for years…

The project is planned in three phases, with phase one covering all businesses and residences west of First Street South between U.S. Highway 12 and 19th Avenue. Phase one’s estimated cost is approximately $7.8 million. As of the Dec. 15 meeting, city staff were vetting a bid of $7.6 million.

Phase two will build out the network in the southern and eastern portions of the city and phase three will build it out to the north at a cost of approximately $7 million each.

During his address, Enos accused city staff of failing to conduct due diligence on the project and of withholding information from the City Council regarding failed municipal networks.

“The public is left with three questions. Number one, did the city staff fail to do the basic due diligence that I did at home in my spare time? If not, that’s pure laziness and incompetence,” Enos continued. “Number two, did the city staff, in fact, do its due diligence and then withhold information that didn’t support the desired narrative? If that’s so, that’s fraudulent. Or, has the City Council been fully aware of the financial damage other cities suffered — the risk of this infrastructure becoming prematurely obsolete in an industry evolving at hyper speed — and yet chooses to put the taxpayers at risk anyway? If so, that’s immoral.”

The City Council responded…

“With all due respect, I appreciate the opinions and the point of view that any member of the community may have on the project, that’s why we’re at this public forum or public setting to have these conversations,” Box said. “ … I can absolutely take criticism if I need to, but I feel we’ve done our due diligence. We have been very conservative in all of our project funding. We’ve tried to keep this as tight as we can without having to slow the project down too much, where we lose interest.”

He noted that he has never said there would be zero risk in completing this project, and if the council approves moving forward with it and nobody signs up for it, the city still has to pay the debt for it. He also noted there is a lot of data about both successful and failed projects.

The article goes on to outline several municipal networks.

Starlink plans to lower satellite orbit to enhance safety in 2026

Posted on by
Reply

KFGO reports…

Starlink will begin a reconfiguration of its satellite constellation by lowering all of its satellites orbiting at around 550 km (342 ‍miles) to 480 km over the course of 2026, Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink engineering, said on Thursday.

The company is looking to increase space safety by lowering the satellites’ orbit.

This comes after Starlink said in December ‌that one of its satellites experienced ‌an anomaly in space, creating a “small” amount of debris and cutting off communications with the spacecraft at 418 km in altitude, a rare kinetic accident in orbit for the satellite ​internet giant.

The company had said the satellite, one of nearly 10,000 in space for its broadband internet ‍network, quickly fell four kilometers ​in altitude, suggesting some kind of ​explosion occurred on board.

“Lowering the satellites results in condensing Starlink ‍orbits, and will increase space safety in several ways,” Nicolls said in a post on social media platform X, adding “the number of debris objects and planned satellite constellations is significantly lower below 500 km, ‍reducing the aggregate likelihood of collision.”

EVENT Jan 7: 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮: 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱

Posted on by
Reply

From the Center on Rural Innovation…

Join CORI for a deep dive into the future of rural tech talent. This webinar will spotlight how six rural communities have strengthened their tech workforce pipelines through cross-sector collaboration, informed strategy, and learner-centered supports.

CORI staff will share key findings from our Advancing Digital Skilling in Rural America project—a three-year national initiative funded by Ascendium that aimed to expand equitable access to technology careers for rural learners, particularly women, people of color, and low-income individuals.

What You’ll Learn

Drawing from CORI’s work with communities in Ada, Oklahoma; Chambers County, Alabama; Cochise County, Arizona; Selma, Alabama; Taos, New Mexico; and Wilson, North Carolina; we’ll explore:

  • Trends in rural tech job demand and what employers say they need most
  • How rural partners engaged over 90 employers and educators to align training with real-world demand
  • What’s working, what’s challenging, and what’s next for sustainable tech talent ecosystems

Participants will also hear directly from local leaders in Wilson and Cochise County as they reflect on their on-the-ground experience building pathways that connect rural learners to economic opportunity.

Broadband makes Pine County’s Top 20 2025 list

Posted on by
Reply

The Pine City Review posts the Year-in-Review 2025. Actions related to broadband make the list…

County offers letter of support, financial contribution to proposed broadband project

Pine County Commissioners agreed to send a letter in support to Minnesota Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) on behalf of Mediacom Broadband, which is seeking to expand broadband access for residents in Pine County through grant funding.

 

Chairman Carr Highlights Wins Delivered by the FCC in 2025

Posted on by
Reply

The FCC reports on Chairman Brendan Carr summary of the FCC’s key wins in 2025…

“2025 was a historic year for the FCC and I am proud of all the wins we were able to achieve for the American people,” Chairman Carr stated.  “I want to express my thanks and appreciation to the agency’s talented staff for the great and efficient results that they delivered all year long.  But this is just the beginning.  The FCC is firing on all cylinders, and we will build on this momentum to deliver even more wins in 2026.”

The items were organized into the following topics…

  • UNLEASHING HIGH-SPEED INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDS

  • RESTORING AMERICA’S LEADERSHIP IN WIRELESS

  • BOOSTING AMERICA’S SPACE ECONOMY

  • STRENGTHENING AMERICAS TELECOM WORKERS

  • REINVIGORATING THE FCC’S CONSUMER PROTECTION WORK

  • EMPOWERING LOCAL BROADCASTERS

  • PROMOTING NATIONAL SECURITY

  • ADVANCING PUBLIC SAFETY

  • STREAMLINING REGULATIONS & MODERNIZING AGENCY OPERATIONS

A reminder that lack of broadband is still an issue in rural Minnesota (Anoka County)

Posted on by
Reply

MinneapoliMedia is a new media source in Coon Rapids MN. It features local folks and tells their stories. A recent article caught my eye because it started with an image that will be familiar to many readers and it’s a story that folks who have good broadband think is in the past, a farmer without adequate broadband…

Naima Dhore apologizes for the delay. She is in rural Minnesota, where broadband thins the farther you move from city limits, where the land opens wide but infrastructure does not always follow. She explains that she needs to stay still so the connection does not drop.

It is an unintentional metaphor for the work itself.

To farm here is to learn patience. To hold your ground. To stay present even when conditions are uncertain. To root yourself deeply enough that what you are building can endure.

“I do exist,” she says, smiling when the image finally comes through. “I’m not AI.”

What can I do with my MN County Broadband Profile?

Posted on by
Reply

Last week I posted the annual MN County Broadband Profiles. They are an opportunity for folks to see what’s happening in their community, what they can expect in terms of broadband and where they might need help. Someone asked me about how they could best use them. So, I came up with some ideas to share depending on how your county is doing and what your role might be. Aside from the first idea, the assumption is that improving broadband is part of your job or that you work for local government. If you don’t, you add “talk to your local government connections (County Commission/City Council/Town Board) about…”

Often broadband improvement comes down to a passionate champion and that champion doesn’t always work at City Hall. Or often the passionate person at the County needs an outsider to help make the case.

Are you Green?

  • Thank your County Commission and/or local providers. (They will appreciate it!)

Are you Yellow or Green but not completely covered? (Do you have a few households that still need help?)

  • Look at the expected BEAD support to see if it is likely to help. It’s listed in the Profile. (Did you get enough funding? Will it fund connections you want?
  • Look into Line Extensions. The MN Office of Broadband Development plans to open another round but it will likely happen soon.

Are you Red? (Do you have more than a few households that need help?)

  • Look at the counties that are similar to yours and are doing well. Contact their Broadband Leads, Economic Developers or County Commissioners for advice.
  • Look at counties, cities and towns near you. Would they be willing to partner with you? Or maybe there’s a regional resource? Contact their Broadband Leads, Economic Developers or County Commissioners for information and opportunities.
  • Look at the providers that serve areas near you. It is often easier for a provider to expand to contiguous areas. Contact them to see if they are looking to expand.
  • Look at providers who serve many other areas.

For everyone.

  • Look for grant or low interest loan opportunities.
  • Pay attention to the MN Legislature see if funding for broadband comes up.
  • If broadband is important to you, just share the information.

Willmar Council considers awarding bid for Willmar Connect in January

Posted on by
Reply

The West Central Tribune reports…

The Willmar City Council on Dec. 15 heard an update on the Willmar Connect initiative from City Operations Director Kyle Box, who said awarding of the bid for the project should be ready for consideration in January.

Willmar City Council is expected to consider awarding the bid for the Willmar Connect initiative at its first meeting in January 2026, according to Willmar City Operations Director Kyle Box.

Box provided an update on the Willmar Connect initiative at the Dec. 15 meeting of the City Council.

The Willmar Connect initiative is the city’s plan to construct a citywide, city-owned, open-access fiber broadband network. The city will own the infrastructure and Hometown Fiber will operate and manage the network on which multiple internet service providers can operate.

The various ISPs operating on the system will pay fees to the city, which will be used to service the debt and interest on approximately $24.5 million in bonds issued to pay for its construction.

Klobuchar Announces Federal Funding for Minnesota Broadband Infrastructure

Posted on by
Reply

I mentioned this news over the weekend, but it’s fun to see more folks post about it, especially Senator Klobuchar…

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee and co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, announced that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Minnesota’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal. Minnesota received $652 million in funding to implement its BEAD proposal.

“I’m thrilled to announce that Minnesota’s broadband funding proposal has been approved, which will bring fast, affordable, reliable internet to families in every corner of our state,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This funding is available thanks to my bipartisan legislation that I fought to pass so that Minnesota families—regardless of their ZIP code—have access to high-speed internet.”

“This BEAD milestone represents a major step forward in our commitment to ensuring every Minnesotan — regardless of geography — has access to reliable, high quality broadband,” said Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Matt Varilek. “Minnesota extends its sincere appreciation to the many Internet service providers and partners across the state who worked alongside us to shape this proposal. Their dedication, expertise and willingness to engage deeply in this effort have been essential to reaching this point. With this BEAD approval, Minnesota is one step closer to closing the digital divide and building a more connected future for all.”

This development advances Minnesota’s affordable broadband rollout to unserved and underserved areas of the state.

Klobuchar has long led efforts to expand broadband access, support rural broadband, and bridge the digital divide.

Klobuchar’s Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act was incorporated into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and has delivered significant federal funding to Minnesota for expanding high-speed internet access statewide.

In June 2023, Klobuchar announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce had awarded major federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring reliable, affordable, high-speed internet access to every household in Minnesota. The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, Klobuchar’s legislation with then-House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) to expand high-speed internet nationwide, served as the basis for the program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

In March 2023, Klobuchar and Senators John Thune (R-SD), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to expand broadband access to rural communities. The Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act would strengthen funding mechanisms for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF), which promotes universal access to broadband and other telecommunications services. Currently, the USF is primarily funded through landline fees, disproportionately impacting seniors, who are more likely to use landlines than other Americans.

In February 2023, Klobuchar introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to strengthen broadband access for rural communities. The Rural Broadband Protection Act would ensure that providers applying for federal funding can reliably deliver broadband to underserved, rural communities.

In July 2021, Klobuchar introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to expand rural broadband access by streamlining the funding process and removing barriers for broadband connectivity in hard-to-serve rural areas.

 

Important dates set for MN Legislative session – especially for passing bills

Posted on by
Reply

From Minnesota Legislature…

Legislative leaders on Tuesday officially set the timeline for getting bills through the committee process during the upcoming 2026 session.

Here are the three deadlines for the 2026 session (first and second deadlines are the same day):

Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m.: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin and committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.

Friday, April 17 at 5 p.m.: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.

The annual Easter/Passover break is scheduled to begin on March 27 at 5 p.m. The Legislature will be in recess until 8 a.m. on April 7. 

Per Joint Rule 2.03, the deadlines do not apply to the House Capital Investment Division; the House Taxes, Ways and Means, or Rules and Legislative Administration committees; nor the Senate Capital Investment, Finance, Taxes or Rules and Administration committees.

The Legislature must complete its work by May 18.

These dates are important for successfully getting bills through to become bills.

EVENT April 7-9: Telehealth Everywhere 2026

Posted on by
Reply

From the Midwest Telehealth Edition…

TELEHEALTH EVERYWHERE! is a regional telehealth conference for executives, providers, managers, staff engaged in the delivery of telehealth services.

April 7, – 9, 2026

Hyatt Regency at the Mall of America 3200 East 81st Street
Bloomington, MN 55425 United States

Yellow Medicine County Broadband Profile 2025: Red rating: Ranking out 79 of 87

Posted on by
Reply

Rank: 79
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Yellow Medicine 78.27 80 72.93 79 12.51 87 12

Yellow Medicine County: improvement is coming

Yellow Medicine County’s broadband coverage has jumped up considerably in the last year, which helps them 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 0 locations in Yellow Medicine County.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Yellow Medicine has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems like a strategy worth consideration.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 72.93 58.77 61.09 58.17 48.81 37.71 38.86 37.72 19.28
25/3 (2022 goal) 78.27 67.27 68.63 68.7 64.65 59.83 68.31 46.91 20.42

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Yellow Medicine: 0

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Yellow Medicine 0 was invested over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $15.7 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.)

Past Grants:

  • 2023: Interstate Telecommunications Company – Yellow Medicine County West Fiber-To-The-Home Project – GRANT $4,988,174
  • 2016 – MIDCO CANBY TO MARSHALL MIDDLE MILE AND LAST MILE – GRANT AMOUNT: $623,000
  • 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Find more articles on broadband in Yellow Medicine County (http://tinyurl.com/zhsj3ke)

The maps below come from the 

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

  • Red (yikes)
  • Yellow (warning)
  • Green (good shape)

Wright County Broadband Profile 2025: Green rating: Ranking out 50 of 87

Posted on by
Reply

Rank: 50
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Wright 91.78 43 88.01 44 32.02 67 23

Wright County: continued progress

Wright County’s broadband coverage has been increasing over the last few years. They have BEAD funding come in in for fiber, which will help them reach the state goals. Subsequently, the retain Green status.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 5,024 locations in Wright County. The majority of locations will get fiber but some 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. (Wright has benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems hopeful for them as well.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 88.01 84.5 75.43 78.02 86.15 82.51 81.02 80.61 29.26
25/3 (2022 goal) 91.78 89.35 80.54 83.58 92.71 89.69 91.07 87.89 81.17

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Wright: 5,024
The locations include a mix of fiber as well as of satellite and fixed wireless connections.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC Frontier IBT Group USA, LLC Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Midco Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Spectrum Mid-America, LLC Xfinity Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Fiber Fixed Wireless Fiber Fiber Low Earth Orbit Satellite Fiber Fiber
Wright                                      36                                      29                                   384                              1,046                              2,994                                         3                                   440                                      92                              5,024 Wright

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Wright $703,900 was invested in three projects over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $19.5 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, Wright ranked 10 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past Grant:

  • County: Wright
    Grant: $945,133, Local Match: $1,155,163, Total Budget: $2,100,296
  • 2023: Frontier – Wright County – City of Clearwater – GRANT $829,800
  • 2023 Arvig (Tekstar) – Wright County Area Fiber Extension – GRANT $879,747
  • 2023: Meeker Coop Light & Power – French Lake Township – Wright County – GRANT $1,270,132
  • 2022: Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc., $2,832,155.00 (Learn more)
  • 2022: Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Collinwood Lake – GRANT $104,337
  • Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc. – Wright County Project 4 – GRANT $1,008,146
  • 2017 – Midco (Midcontinent Communications) – Annandale East – GRANT $537,050
  • Meeker Coop. Light & Power Assoc. (Vibrant Broadband) – Lake Louisa/Lake Marie Project – GRANT $297,940

Find more article on Wright County https://blandinonbroadband.org/?s=%22wright+county%22&submit=Search

The maps below come from the 

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

  • Red (yikes)
  • Yellow (warning)
  • Green (good shape)

Winona County Broadband Profile 2025: Green rating: Ranking out 38 of 87

Posted on by
Reply

Rank: 38
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

County 25/3
(% covered)		 25/3 rank 100/20
(% covered)		 100/20 rank Gig
(% covered)		 Gig
rank
Winona 89.7 46 89.19 38 26.66 66

Winona County: Rank goes from Yellow to Green

Winona County’s broadband coverage has gone up incrementally this year. Subsequently, 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 1,463 locations in Winona County. The locations will get a satellite 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. (Winona has benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems hopeful for them as well.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 89.19 85.33 85.62 87.59 87.47 86.43 86.31 81.17
25/3 (2022 goal) 89.7 87.55 88.88 91.65 88.09 86.58 86.48 92.13

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Winona: 1,463
The locations include satellite connections.

County Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Locations         Grand Total County
Technology Type Low Earth Orbit Satellite Low Earth Orbit Satellite
Winona                                   952                                   182                              1,463 Winona

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Aitkin 0 was invested over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $23 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, Winona ranked 20 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Winona County has been focused on broadband for years; they were part of the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) starting in 2010, a Blandin-led and federal (ARRA) funded broadband adoption project.

Past Grant:

  • County: Fillmore, Olmsted, Winona – MiEnergy Cooperative South West Fremont
    Grant: $3,164,721, Local Match: $4,747,086, Total Budget: $7,911,807
  • 2022: Ace Telephone Association, Inc., $3,218,201.00
  • 2016 – WINONA COUNTY PICKWICK AREA – GRANT: $416,640
  • 2015 – Hiawatha Broadband Communications – Winona County Whitewater Area – Grant Award: $247,000
  • 2015 – Winona County Hiawatha Broadband Communications – Cedar Valley Area – Grant award: $314,450
  • 2019: AcenTek – Rural Houston Exchange FTTH – GRANT $2,895,318
  • MN State Grant awarded in 2021: AcenTek – Rural Peterson Exchange FTTH – GRANT $1,492,096 This last mile project will serve 214 unserved households, 18 unserved businesses, 88 unserved farms, and two unserved community anchor institutions as well as 47 underserved households and five underserved businesses in areas of Fillmore and Winona counties.

Find more articles on broadband in Winona County (http://tinyurl.com/hqsckxg)

The maps below come from the 

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

  • Red (yikes)
  • Yellow (warning)
  • Green (good shape)

Wilkin County Broadband Profile 2025: Green rating: Ranking out 31 of 87

Posted on by
Reply

Rank 31
Code:  Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

county 25/3 253 rank 100/20 10020 rank Gig gig rank Providers
Wilkin 99.52 10 94.99 31 94.96 11 12

Wilkin County: still increasing

Wilkin County’s broadband coverage has increased slightly in 2025; they are close to goal so 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 0 locations in Anoka County.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Wilkin has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems like a strategy worth consideration.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
100/20 (2026 goal) 94.99 93.68 81.97 77.48 77.06 77.06 80.84 82.08 80.84
25/3 (2022 goal) 99.52 94.09 87.33 83.56 83.01 83.1 88.01 86.53 80.84

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Wilkin: 0
Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Wilkin 0 was invested over the years.

No New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

  • 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $4.3 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.)

Past Grants:

  • 2023: Red River Rural Telephone Association – Rural Campbell – GRANT $2,035,500
  • 2023 Red River Rural Telephone Association – North Wilkin County – GRANT $2,227,363
  • 2022 Red River Rural Telephone Association, $2,157,663
  • 2017 – Advantenon – Rural Grant, Stevens and Wilkin Counties – Grant $316,554

Find more articles on broadband in Wilkin County (http://tinyurl.com/zh64v29)

The maps below come from the 

I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:

  • Red (yikes)
  • Yellow (warning)
  • Green (good shape)