Murray County

Table of goal data by year

Year	Rank	100/20 Mbps
2024	#86 of 87	57.12%
2023	#81 of 87	55.9%
2022	#81 of 87	51.38%
2021	#76 of 87	54.37%
2020	#78 of 87	51.59%
2019	#69 of 87	51.59%
2018	#51 of 87	50.78%
2017	#53 of 87	41.65%

Red dots represent unserved locations.

Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.

Murray County: 2024 MN State Grant May Help Get Them Out of the Bottom Ranking

Murray County ranks 86 (down 5 places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Murray County has hovered around 50 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since we started tracking. In 2018, with support from the Blandin Foundation, released a feasibility study that suggested that fiber would be too expensive and they should look at hybrid options. Although dated, that report might help them prepare for BEAD funding opportunities since BEAD is apt to fund hybrid options.

Murray may be concerned about being in a potentially precarious position because looking at access in the County using the FCC National Map there is a big discrepancy between wireline access and wireline with fixed wireless. Minnesota doesn’t currently take fixed wireless into consideration when defining areas eligible for grants; the federal government does include access to fixed wireless. That could make a big difference to who is eligible for BEAD funding.

Murray will benefit from almost $3 million MN state grant. It will be interesting to see if that helps push them closer to the goal. However, as it stands, Murray County holds onto its red ranking.

• Over the years, Murray County (or cities within) has invested $1,326,455 (total) for matches for 2 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
• Murray County will benefit from a 2024 $2.9 million MN Broadband grant award that will serve 190 locations.
• Murray County will not benefit from any line extension awards.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $18 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, Murray ranked 62 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.