Rank: 12
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)
Anoka County’s standing as metro county helps draw providers
As a fairly (but not entirely) metro county, it is easier for providers to make a business case to serve Anoka. They received an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant in 2013, which has helped serve government facilities. As a report from the Institute for Local Self Reliance pointed out, the networks in Anoka County have done little to improve residential or commercial Internet access, though they have led to significant local government savings.
Last year, the Anoka County Regional Economic Development worked with the Blandin Foundation’s Community Broadband Resources program to help the cities of East Bethel, Columbus, Nowthen and Linwood Township with broadband improvement projects. Linwood Township partnered with Midco to connect a 50+ single family development to broadband services. Linwood is also considering options to improve fiber connections in other unserved or underserved portions of their community.
Anoka County saw an increase in coverage this year. They slipped in the ranking but that has more to do with other counties catching up than their own access getting worse. They have applied for Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) funds with a project that would serve 834 unserved residents. That is why they get a green code.
Broadband Access:
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
| 100/20 (2026 goal) | 97.41 | 97.14 | 97.45 | 97.86 | 96.1 |
| 25/3 (2022 goal) | 98.72 | 98.57 | 98.8 | 98.87 | 97.56 |
| County | Households with computer | …with desktop or laptop | …with ONLY smartphone | …with a tablet et al |
| State of MN | 93.6% | 80.6% | 7.7% | 63.8% |
| Anoka | 96.2 | 84.8% | 6.3 | 67.2% |
Previous Grants:
- 2013: The County received federal (ARRA) funding in 2013. In partnership with Zayo, the County was able to build a 287-mile broadband network for government facilities.
Checklist:
- Find more articles on broadband in Anoka County.(http://tinyurl.com/zuvt4x7)
- 100/20 Mbps ranking: 12 (down 2 from 2020)
- Has worked with Blandin: yes
- Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
- Household density: 317.89
Details
- Districts: CD 6
Senate: 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41
House: 31A, 31B, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, 37A, 37B, 38A, 41A, 41B - Find your reps
I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:
- Red (yikes)
- Yellow (warning)
- Green (good shape)
Blandin on Broadband 