Rank: 8
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Hennepin County: population density helps attract broadband

Hennepin County is dipping in the ranking but their coverage remains the same. It just means other counties are catching up to them and that’s’ good since they have nearly ubiquitous coverage.

Hennepin has the population density that makes an easy business case for providers to want to serve the area.

Hennepin County will benefit from a few MN State Grants awarded in 2021:

• Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Minnestrista Project – GRANT $189,752 This last mile project will serve 80 unserved households in Minnestrista in Hennepin County.

The grant will likely help push Hennepin County even closer to their goal but it is their population density and metro standing that make the code green so easy.

Broadband Access:

Computer Access:

Past grants:

• 2017 – Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Medina 2018 Broadband Build – GRANT $62,219

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Hennepin County. (http://tinyurl.com/z9n7ea6)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 8 (down 2)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 861.28

Details:

• 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
• 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)