Rank: 10
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Hennepin County: population density helps attract broadband

Hennepin County ranks 10 for broadband access and 7 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have had more than 98 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since we started tracking. They have 7281 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $67.7 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

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

• Comcast Cable Communications LLC, $1,941,841.00

Hennepin has the population density that makes an easy business case for providers to want to serve the area. But that population also means that while percentage-based their coverage is good, they still have more than 7,000 unserved households and estimated cost to deploy services is $67.7 million.

In 2021, Hennepin County authorized $10 million to address the digital divide. In April 2022, Hennepin County and Minnetrista partnered for Midco broadband expansion to reach 500 new households.

These activities will 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:

Digital Equity:

Hennepin County ranks 7 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Hennepin County ranks 7 out of 87 for computer ownership. 96.6 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grants:

• 2017 – Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Medina 2018 Broadband Build – GRANT $62,219
• 2021: Mediacom Minnesota LLC – Minnestrista Project – GRANT $189,752 This last mile project will serve 80 unserved households in Minnestrista in Hennepin County.

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Hennepin County. (http://tinyurl.com/z9n7ea6)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 10 (down 2)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 915.6

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)