Murray County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
Murray County: Getting State and Local Investment Just Need More
Murray County ranks 81 for broadband access out of 87 counties. They 55.9 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 1946 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $18 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.
Murray County have 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 was not promising; it indicated that it is not economically feasible to build fiber everywhere. Subsequently, they are left looking at hybrid models, trying to convince the state to increase the 50 percent match or find another solution. Last summer (2022), the county committed $500,000 to support the broadband project that ended up receiving a border to border grant.
They 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 (53.44 percent coverage) and wireline with fixed wireless (98.05 percent). 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.
In December 2022, Woodstock Telephone was awarded $1.3 million to serve 201 unserved households, 29 unserved businesses, and 57 unserved farms as well as 16 underserved farms, 8 underserved businesses, and 58 underserved residences in Murray County.
Murray County holds onto its red ranking.
Household Density
6.1
Number of Providers
22
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
MN State Grants awarded in 2021: Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company (Lismore Broadband) – Iona FTTP – GRANT $219,714 This last mile and middle mile project will serve approximately 100 unserved locations including 75 households, nine businesses, 13 farms, and three community institutions within the town of Iona.
2022 – Woodstock Telephone Company – Lake Sarah Township FTTP – GRANT $1,333,199