Rank: 57
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Becker County: big improvements in 2020 but stagnant in 2021

In 2020, Becker got a boost in the form of a MN Border to Border grant; they went from bottom ranking (87) last year to ranking 50. We were expecting to see continued progress because Arvig received a grant to extend service but the access to 100/20 is exactly the same as last year.

What is frustrating is that the access to 25/3 has increased quite a bit. This means someone has invested in improvement, which I’m sure the residents appreciate, but they did not invest in speeds that will meet future needs.

Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Becker is $6,676,129; broadband is one possible use.

Becker County has the opportunity to invest in broadband with federal funding. That would help them reach ubiquitous broadband. They are a code red community.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants

• 2016 – PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS HUBBARD, BECKER & ITASCA COUNTIES – GRANT: $1,742,232
• Arvig (Loretel Systems, Inc.) – Cormorant Lakes Area Project – GRANT $430,780

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Becker County. (http://tinyurl.com/jkah37b)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 57 (down from 50)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 9.91

Details:

• Districts: CD 7
  Senate: 02, 04
  House: 2B
• 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)