Nobles County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #48 of 87 | 85.17% |
| 2023 | #38 of 87 | 85.35% |
| 2022 | #44 of 87 | 80.27% |
| 2021 | #39 of 87 | 81.24% |
| 2020 | #35 of 87 | 81.24% |
| 2019 | #41 of 87 | 77.66% |
| 2018 | #24 of 87 | 77.18% |
| 2017 | #35 of 87 | 59.25% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Nobles County: ReConnect Funding Will Help Reach Goals
Nobles County ranks 48 (down 10 places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Nobles County has seen slow progress. They saw a small bump last year but no improvements this year. They will benefit from a 2024 MN State grant; hopefully that will help them see improvements in the coming year.
Nobles County retains yellow ranking.
- Over the years, Nobles County (or cities within) has invested $50,000 (total) for matches for 1 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
- Nobles County will benefit from a 2024 $208,598 MN Broadband grant award that will serve 113 locations.
- Nobles County will not benefit from any line extension awards.
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $9.4 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, Nobles ranked 69 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
Household Density
9.5
Number of Providers
23
As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
Nobles County has worked with the Blandin Foundation. This project matrix includes descriptions of their community work. https://blandin-staging.bicycletheory.net/content/uploads/vy/BBC_2015-16_Project_Matrix.pdf
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080
2016 – LISMORE COOPERATIVE TELEPHONE NOBLES COUNTY BROADBAND – GRANT: $2,944,578
2023 – Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company ReConnect grant: $13,688,114 and loan: $5,723,996
2024:
- County: Nobles
Lismore Cooperative Telephone Co City of Bigelow FTTP
Grant: $208,598
Local Match: $486,730
Total Budget: $695,328
The Lismore Cooperative Telephone Co. project will see the establishment and operation of a Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) network, aimed at bridging the digital divide in the rural City of Bigelow, in Nobles County. The proposed project area encompasses approximately 4.16 miles of last mile buried fiber and fiber drop cabling, serving 113 locations, 19 of which are unserved and 94 underserved. Funding partners are Nobles County $35,000, and City of Bigelow $15,000.