What is Broadband?
Broadband is defined as a high-capacity transmission technology using a wide range of frequencies, which enables a large number of messages to be communicated simultaneously. This is how the internet is accessed.
What are the types of broadband?
There are several types of broadband, or ways the transmission is delivered.
You have likely heard of, and used, wireless internet at your homes or while visiting businesses. Likewise, you have probably used your smartphone to help you navigate to a location using GPS, or the Global Positioning System, which uses satellites.
Broadband internet can be delivered in several ways. This includes satellites, powerlines (also called BPL), Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), or a cable modem/Coaxial Cable. Even if you have wireless internet you have a modem like this somewhere in your house.
Fiber is a permanent connection from a wire buried in the ground to your home or business. This results in the fastest and most reliable source of broadband internet. That is why grants are available to help bring broadband from ‘border-to-border’ across Minnesota and the nation.
Since the telephone’s advent over 100 years ago, the dominant way to “wire” the home involved the use of copper cabling. The copper phone wire is perfectly adequate for a voice signal, which is what it was intended for. All things considered, however, it offers very limited bandwidth.
Source: Fiber, Copper, Or Wireless: Which Connection is Best for Your Company?
Who provides broadband service in Kandiyohi County?
There are several telecommunications providers in Kandiyohi County that offer broadband internet service. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates interstate and international communications through cable, radio, television, satellite and wire. You can find the map of service providers' areas on the Federal Communications Commission website.
Broadband Opportunities
for Businesses and Residents
The Line Extension Connection Program is administered by Minnesota’s Office of Broadband Development. The program's goal is to connect residents and businesses that lack access to broadband internet service to service providers and then assist in extending broadband to those locations.
Residences and businesses that are close to currently established providers and lines can review the full details of this program in the Line Extension Connection handout from DEED.
What you need to know:
You can apply if your current location lacks broadband service or has actual broadband speeds of less than 25/3 Megabytes per second.
How to apply:
You can learn more from the DEED Office of Broadband Development (OBD) information sheet. Apply by visiting the OBD website. You can also pick up a paper version of the application at KCED located at AppleTree Square, Suite 3, 1601 U.S. Highway 12 East, Willmar or call the line extension phone number at 651-259-7610.
K-12 Connect Forward is a group that is working to ensure that all students and teachers in Minnesota have access to scalable infrastructure, affordable high-speed bandwidth, and ubiquitous access for distance learning.
Learn more about the K-12 Connect Forward Initiative.
This program is managed by the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development to provide specific funding resources from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). Twelve federal agencies provide increased accessibility to communities and groups for specific instances including but not limited to distance learning and telemedicine, service providers, healthcare facilities, and low to moderate income communities.
Learn more about Financial Assistance.
Get assistance making a Community Broadband Roadmap and find toolkits for getting organized from numerous organizations here. Is your community ready for access? Visit the site today!
Examples of Funded Broadband Projects
Past Broadband Projects
Year: 2022
Funding: Kandiyohi County American Rescue Plan Act
Project Details:
- Provider: Arvig
- Area: Prinsburg
Amount Provided: $330,300 by Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners, $450,000 by Arvig, and $45,00 from the City of Prinsburg’s ARPA funds
Year: 2022
Project Details:
- Provider: Vibrant Broadband
Year: 2022
Project Details:
- Provider: Federated Telephone Cooperative
Year: 2022-2023 Awards
Grant: 2023 Border to Border (B2B) Broadband Grant – Round 8 / Low-Density Pilot Program
Project Details:
- Provider: Meeker Coop Light & Power
- Area: Lake Elizabeth, East Lake Lillian Townships. 185 households, farms and businesses
Award Amount: $1,428,066
Contributions/Matching Funds: Kandiyohi County ($148,125), Lake Elizabeth Township ($20,800), East Lake Lillian Township ($19,000).
Year: 2022
Grant: USDA ReConnect – Round 4
Project Details:
- Provider: Meeker Coop
- Area: Burbank, Roseville and Irving Townships
Awarded Amount: $19 million total for Meeker, Kandiyohi and Stearns Counties
Year: 2022-2023
Grant: 2023 B2B Broadband Grant – Round 8
Project Details:
- Provider: Meeker Coop Light & Power
- Area: Harrison Township, 216 households, farms, businesses and community anchor institutions
Award Amount: $533,959
Contributions/Matching Funds: Kandiyohi County ($251,600), Harrison Township ($44,400)
Year: 2023
Grant: Border to Border
Project Details:
- Area: Arctander, Dovre, Lake Andrew, Mamre and St. Johns Townships, 645 locations, 343 unserved and 302 underserved properties
- Provider: Federated Telephone Cooperative
Award Amount: $4.9 million
Contributions/Matching Funds: Kandiyohi County ($1,3 million in American Rescue Act Plan funds), remainder covered by the townships
Year: 2024
Grant: 2024 Broadband Grant – Round 9
Project Details:
- Provider: Meeker Coop Light & Power Association
- Area: Fahlun Township, 124 locations, including businesses, farms, and the township hall.
- As of fall 2024 Fahlun Township is near completion
Award Amount: $590,709
Contributions/Matching Funds: $333,587 of Kandiyohi County ($283,986.50) and Fahlun Township ($49,600) ARPA funds
Current Broadband Projects
Year: 2024
Grant: 2024 Broadband Grant – Round 9
Project Details:
- Provider: Federated Telephone Cooperative
- Area: Colfax, Dovre, Lake Andrew and Norway Lake Townships. Of the total 1,289 locations that will be served, 458 are currently unserved (including at least 35 farms, 22 businesses, and 2 community anchor institutions) and 831 are underserved (including at least 23 farms, 27 business, and 2 community anchor institutions
Award Amount: $8,202,000
Contributions/Matching Funds: Kandiyohi County ($2,423,575), Colfax Township ($483,600), Dovre Township ($11,700), Lake Andrew Township ($1,103,700), Norway Lake Township ($3,510) and St. Johns Township ($45,500)
Year: 2024
Grant: 2024 Broadband Grant – Round 10
Project Details:
- Provider: Vibrant Broadband powered by Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association
- Area: Gennessee Township. Of the total 167 locations that will be served, 120 are currently unserved and 41 are underserved
Award Amount: $662,430
Contributions/Matching Funds: Kandiyohi County ($327,692), Gennessee Township ($71,200)
Year: 2024
Grant: 2024 Broadband Grant – Round 10
Project Details:
- Provider: Vibrant Broadband powered Meeker Coop Light & Power Association
- Area: Kandiyohi Township, including 136 unserved and 52 underserved addresses
Award Amount: $744,967
Contributions/Matching Funds: Local Match ($910,513), Kandiyohi County ($224,000), Kandiyohi Township ($71,600)
Current Project Updates
There are no open broadband grant applications at this time. KCED and the Broadband Committee monitor progress toward deployment of the Federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. More information can be found at Minnesota's Office of Broadband Development website.
Support Broadband Access
Broadband expansion projects across Minnesota improve the overall availability of high-speed internet service. To ensure all Minnesotans can connect, Minnesota must also address internet service affordability, device access, and digital skills. Minnesota's completed and NTIA-approved Digital Opportunity Plan can be found on the Office of Broadband Development's website.
Learn more about the State of Minnesota's priorities and projects and for further education by visiting the Office of Broadband Development webpage.
Not in an area that has a project or is being submitted for a project?
You can trust that KCED and partners continue to work to bring fiber-optic broadband to you. Talk to your township supervisors or city council members about your need and desire for high-speed and reliable broadband service.