In 2014, Hennepin County’s broadband coverage was 98 percent (broadband was defined at a slower speed); currently they have 99 percent coverage for speeds of 25/3 (Mbps down/up) and 98 percent coverage for speeds of 100/20. Much of Hennepin County is served because it is a market success. There population density is high, many multiple family dwellings and lots of business. There is a lot of competition between the incumbent telephone and cable companies and US Internet, which has focused on gig (even 10 gig) access at low prices.

There have been some parts Hennepin County that have banded together to encourage providers, which indicates that even in urban areas there are access issues.

Hennepin County is also in line to receive $92,485 in CAF 2 funding to upgrade 305 locations. Unfortunately CAF 2 recipients are only required to upgrade to 10/1 access. Many may choose to upgrade to better speeds but there are no requirements.

In 2013, Hennepin County received a nice nod as a top digital counties list noting one that at the end of 2012 that Hennepin County reduced Medicaid costs by 40 percent to 90 percent for its most expensive participants through a pilot program called Hennepin Health

Numbers:

The Office of Broadband Development released data on broadband covered in fall of 2016, based on information gathered in July 2016. Here’s how Hennepin County ranked:

• Percentage served with 25/3 or better: 99.16
• Percentage served with 100/20 or better: 98.57

Mississippi State University Extension have come up with a ranking system to gauge the digital divide index (DDI) by county. (The lower the number the better – the state average is 40.66.) Here’s how Hennepin ranked:

DDI score of 21.7 out of 100.

More info:

• Find more articles on broadband in Hennepin County. (http://tinyurl.com/z9n7ea6)
• Districts: CD 4, 5 & 6
  Senate: 29, 30, 33, 34, 36, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63
  House:  29A, 30B, 33A, 33B, 34A, 34B, 36A, 36B, 40A, 40B, 41B, 44A, 44B, 45A, 45B, 46A, 46B, 48A, 48B, 49A, 49B, 50A, 50B, 59A, 59B, 60A, 60B, 61A, 61B, 62A, 62B, 63A, 63B

I plan to profile each county in Minnesota – tracking broadband access, digital divide and annotated links to news of what’s happening with broadband in the county. I’m keeping it high level because there are 87 counties!