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Freeborn County

Table of goal data by year
Year Rank 100/20 Mbps
2023 #28 of 87 89.1%
2022 #29 of 87 86.36%
2021 #32 of 87 85.89%
2020 #27 of 87 84.51%
2019 #25 of 87 83.88%
2018 #71 of 87 34.18%
2017 #11 of 87 94.59%

Freeborn County: A Matter of Funding Momentum

Freeborn County ranks 28 (up one place) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have hov89.1 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 1361 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $12.6 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

They had hovered around 85 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2019; they have seen a little bump up to 89 percent this year. They also have the unfortunate distinction from Recon Analytics to be named the unhappiest broadband county in the US.

They retain their yellow ranking with minimal increase in broadband, although they are bumping up against the 90 percent benchmark.

Household Density

17.3

Number of Providers

22

As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED

Households with Device Access

A Device 85.1% 95.5%
statewide
Desktop or Laptop 71.2% 83.2%
statewide
Smartphone 66.2% 90.1%
statewide
Tablet 52.6% 65.8%
statewide
Other 6.3% 2.3%
statewide

Has Worked with Blandin Foundation

No

Has Received MN Grant(s)

Yes

2015 – BEVCOMM Cannon Valley Telecom – Rural Freeborn Fiber-to-the-Premises Project – Grant award: $149,625

2016 – CANNON VALLEY TELECOM, INC. (DBA BEVCOMM) RURAL FREEBORN – GRANT:  $150,700

2017 – BEVCOMM (Cannon Valley Telephone) – Freeborn Southwest Rural Final – GRANT $122,460

Freeborn is also getting almost $2 million in FCC funding but that is over the next 10 years.

Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association – SE Faribault/W Freeborn County FTTP – GRANT $953,842 This last-mile fiber optic project will bring service to 319 unserved locations, including 289 homes, 16 businesses, 11 farms, and three community anchor institutions in the townships of Clark, Foster, Kiester, Seely, Alden, Carlston, Manchester, Mansfield, and Pickerel Lake located in Southeastern Faribault and Western Freeborn counties.

2022 – ReConnect program, will help connect over 6,000 people, 150 businesses, and 680 farms across Freeborn, Morrison, Stearns, Houston, and Todd counties.

Government Districts

U.S. Congress: CD 1

MN Senate: 23

MN House: 23A, 23B

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