Blue Earth County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #63 of 87 | 79.55% |
| 2023 | #61 of 87 | 76.46% |
| 2022 | #41 of 87 | 81.88% |
| 2021 | #40 of 87 | 80.76% |
| 2020 | #43 of 87 | 77.81% |
| 2019 | #40 of 87 | 77.91% |
| 2018 | #83 of 87 | 14.13% |
| 2017 | #37 of 87 | 55.6% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Blue Earth County: Middle of the Pack and Dropping
Blue Earth County dropped from 61 to 63 following a dip of 41 to 61 the year before for broadband out of 87 counties.
Blue Earth County had a broadband feasibility study done in 2019. They might do well to loop back to that study for ideas of what to do to prepare for future funding. They are getting a red ranking because they have moved backwards and there doesn’t seem to be a current push to move forward.
- Over the years, Blue Earth County (or cities within) has invested $39,249 (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.
- Blue Earth County will benefit from a 2024 435,838 MN Broadband grant (Round 10) award that will serve 101 locations between Blue Earth and Faribault Counties.
- Blue Earth County will not benefit from line extension awards.
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $49.1 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, Blue Earth ranked 18 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
Household Density
28.2
Number of Providers
20
As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile Grant award: $808,080
2024:
- County: Blue Earth, Faribault
Bevcomm (Easton) Telephone
Bevcomm (Easton) Rural MN Lake
Grant: $435,838
Local Match: $1,016,956
Total Budget: $1,452,794
Bevcomm will build an underground fiber broadband network to 101 locations (86 unserved and 15 underserved), offering speeds up to a Gigabit symmetrically with unlimited data, to portions of rural Faribault and Blue Earth Counties. This project will impact 55 farms, 32 households, and 14 businesses. Faribault County EDA has pledged $5,000 and Minnesota Lake Township has pledged $1,000 toward project costs. Bevcomm has to date received 25 state grants, all of which have been successfully deployed and completed on time.
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 1
MN Senate: 15, 18, 22
MN House: 15B, 18A, 18B, 22A, 22B