Rank: 47
Code:  Red
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Wilkin County: going the wrong way – need to focus

Wilkin County ranks 52 for broadband access and 42 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have hovered around 77 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2020. Before that time they saw a slight dip in access this year but it is within a margin of error and may simply reflect a more granular look at access. They have 669 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.

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

• Red River Rural Telephone Association, $2,157,663.00

Broadband access in Wilkin County has actually decreased over the years. The access and ranking is decreasing. The recent grant should help pick up traction but they still earn     a code red community.

Broadband Access:

Digital Equity:

Wilkin County ranks 42 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)

Wilkin County ranks 85 out of 87 for computer ownership. 84.4 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.

Past grant:

• 2017 – Advantenon – Rural Grant, Stevens and Wilkin Counties – Grant $316,554

Checklist:

• Find more articles on broadband in Wilkin County (http://tinyurl.com/zh64v29)
• 100/20 Mbps ranking: 52 (down 5)
• Has worked with Blandin: no
• Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
• Household density: 4

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)