Rank: 34
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Roseau County: Incremental but consistent improvements

Roseau County ranks 23 for broadband access and 74 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have had steady improvements since 2018 landing at 90 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 663 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $6.2 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Roseau County saw an amazing leap in broadband in 2018 – from 0 to 67 percent. They have seen incremental growth since then. Meeker County has been engaged in broadband expansion for years. In  2017, Meeker County released a broadband feasibility study, with Blandin Foundation’s support. They released an update in 2018.

Roseau County has the opportunity to invest in broadband with federal funding. That would help them reach ubiquitous broadband. They are code yellow.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Roseau County ranks 74 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Roseau County ranks 31 out of 87 for computer ownership. 92.2 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grants:

• 2017 – Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband – GRANT $1,307,785
• 2016 – SJOBERG’S INC. ROSEAU AND LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTIES — GRANT: $354,740
• 2016 – CENTURYLINK THIEF RIVER MIDDLE MILE – GRANT: $1,324,400
• 2016 – WIKSTROM TELEPHONE COMPANY WIKTEL NW MN – GRANT: $950,823
• 2014 – Sjoberg Cable, Broadband Grant Proposal – Award $261,575
• 2014 – Wikstrom Telephone, Kittson, Marshall, Roseau Broadband Extension Amount $425,000
• 2019: Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband Project – GRANT $1,151,526

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Roseau County (http://tinyurl.com/gsq45ua)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 23 (up 11)
• Has worked with Blandin: yes
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 4.2

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)