Rank: 15
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Anoka County’s standing as metro county helps draw providers

Anoka County ranks 15 (down 3 places) for broadband access and 6 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have stayed constant with about 96 percent coverage of broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2017. They have 4367 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $43 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Anoka will benefit from a border to border grant announced in December 2022:

• Tekstar Communications, Inc. dba Arvig, $219,727.00

Anoka 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.

Anoka gets a green code for ability to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county because Anoka ranks well for digital equity and they have a strong computer ownership. So, while the cost to close the gap is high, it a metro county and residents with high computer ownership are likely to demand better broadband when they need it.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Becker County ranks 14 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Becker ranks 9 out of 87 for computer ownership. 95.8 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

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: 15 (down 3 from 2021)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 309.3

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)