Rank: 54
Code: Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)
Pope County: near bottom of the broadband ranking
In 2017, Pope County unveiled a feasibility study that found that installing fiber everywhere in the county would cost about $29.3 million. Last year, policymakers have publicly recognized the need for improved broadband, especially during COVID. So broadband is part of the community conversation.
Projected allocation of American Recovery Project ARP funds in Pope is $2,181,674; broadband is one possible use.
Pope 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:
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
| 100/20 (2026 goal) | 74.48 | 73 | 68.92 | 23.67 | 24.33 |
| 25/3 (2022 goal) | 82.95 | 80.81 | 76.99 | 61.27 | 62.73 |
| 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% |
| Pope | 86.4 | 75.3 | 5.9 | 57.3 |
Past grant:
- 2017 – Hanson Communications – Minnewaska Area FTTP – GRANT $4,996,791
Checklist:
- Find more articles on broadband in Pope County (http://tinyurl.com/hx7q9fd)
- 100/20 Mbps ranking: 54 (down 3)
- Has worked with Blandin: yes
- Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
- Household density: 6.33
Details:
- Districts: CD 7
Senate: 12
House: 12A, 12B - 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 