Rank: 27
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Marshall County gaining momentum into green ranking

Marshall County ranks 27 (up 12 points) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 89.15 percent coverage. They have 390 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $362,700 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Marshall County has seen consistent, incremental improvements in broadband coverage, and they have benefited grants almost every year grants were available. That trend has continued this year. Marshall has engaged providers. They have a history of consistent improvement. If they have an opportunity to invest federal funding into broadband; therefore they are code yellow.

In December 2022, Garden Valley got a Border to Border grant for $1.5 million to serve 96 unserved and underserved households, businesses, farms and community anchor institutions and Wikstrom Telephone got one for $665,699 to serve rural sparsely populated areas in Kittson, Lake of the Woods, & Marshall in far NW Minnesota, passing 150 home, business, and farm locations.

In 2023, Garden Valley got a grant for $1.5 million to serve 96 unserved and underserved households, businesses, farms and community anchor institutions.

Given their ongoing momentum and proximity to 90 percent coverage, Marshall County now has a green ranking.

grants:

• 2023: Garden Valley Technologies – 2023 Rural Warren SW – GRANT $1,488,322
• 2022: Garden Valley Technologies – Rural Warren East & Rural Oslo – GRANT $1,462,569 (serves Marshall and Polk)
• 2022: Wikstrom Telephone Co. Inc – Wiktel NW MN Broadband 2022 – GRANT $665,699 (serves Kittson, Lake of the Woods, & Marshall)
• MN State Grant awarded in 2021: Garden Valley Technologies – Northwest Thief River Falls and Euclid – GRANT $1,640,722 This middle and last mile project will serve 104 unserved and 22 underserved locations in portions of Marshall and Polk counties.

• 2017 – Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband – GRANT $1,307,785
• 2016 – GARDEN VALLEY TELEPHONE COMPANY RURAL THIEF RIVER FALLS EAST – GRANT: $2,027,035
• 2016 – WIKSTROM TELEPHONE COMPANY (WITH BEAMCO, INC.) RURAL ALVARADO – GRANT: $43,481
• 2016 – WIKSTROM TELEPHONE COMPANY WIKTEL NW MN – GRANT: $950,823
• 2014 – Wikstrom Telephone, Kittson, Marshall, Roseau Broadband Extension – Award $425,000
• Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband Project – GRANT $1,151,526

Find more articles on broadband in Marshall County (http://tinyurl.com/zamfwj3)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 1
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Lincoln County – winning ubiquitous coverage

Lincoln County shares top ranking with Red lake and Rock Counties with ubiquitous coverage to broadband at speeds of 100 Mbps down and 20 up.

In 2021, ITC announced a fiber-optic expansion to the City of Ivanhoe in Lincoln County. Along with ITC’s investment in the fiber-optic expansion, this project is funded by the City of Ivanhoe and Lincoln County. And they have been working on improving digital equity with help from the Blandin Foundation.

They continue to earn their green ranking. They’d get gold if we had it!

Grants:

• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080
• 2014 – Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative (ITC), Hendricks Town FTTP – Award: $700,000.

Find more articles on broadband in Lincoln County (http://tinyurl.com/jxqwlab)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 5
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Lac Qui Parle (LqP) County: nearly perfect

LqP County ranks 5 (down one) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 2 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $7800 to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

LqP has had more than 99 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since we started tracking.  They have slipped in ranking but what that really means is that other counties are catching up.

Broadband Access:

Grants:

• 2009, Blandin Foundation funded a feasibility study for LqP County and Farmers Telephone Cooperative. The feasibility study’s engineering, operational, and market development plans were later used to support the partners’ successful ARRA funding
• 2010 The county and Farmers were awarded a $9.6 million ARRA award
• 2017 – Farmers Mutual Telephone – City of Watson and SW Lac qui Parle County FTTP – GRANT $760,501
• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile – Grant award: $808,080

Find more articles on broadband in Lac qui Parle. (http://tinyurl.com/zc2tfay)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 9
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Hennepin County: population density helps attract broadband

Hennepin County ranks 9 (up one) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 99.11 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up si. They have 2983 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $27.7 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

They have had more than 98 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since we started tracking. In December 2022, Comcast Cable got a Border to Border grant for almost $2 million. In 2023, Midco received $1.5 in funding to serve 423 households, businesses, farms and community anchor institutions in rural Independence and Greenfield.

Hennepin County is in the top 10 ranking and nearly at 100 percent coverage and therefore they have earned an easy green ranking.

Grants:

• 2022: Comcast Cable Communications LLC, $1,941,841.00

• 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)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

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

Dakota County: Has plan, will succeed

Dakota County ranks 15 (down one) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 97.17 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 3639 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $33.8 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Dakota County has a broadband board and staff who focus on creating better broadband. The Institute for Local Self Reliance reported on Dakota County’s successful policies conducive to collaboration and reinvestment, with the result being a host of benefits which includes significant public savings for internal operations and better connections for community anchor institutions.

They have hovered around 97 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2019. There were two small grants awarded in December 2022 to help them reach their goal: Spectrum got $98,750 and JTN Communications got $113,076.

Dakota County residents were awarded 67 line extension funding requests, which means state funding will subsidize last mile broadband extension to their homes.

Dakota County retains their green ranking because they are close to goal and there are continued strides toward the goal – such as the recent announcement of free Wifi in the city parks.

Grants funding:

• 2022: JTN Communications, $113,076.00
• 2022: Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc., $98,750.00

• 2020: Charter Communications – Rosemount North Project – GRANT $499,072
• 2020: Dakota County approved $800,000 in CARES Act funding for broadband.
• Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Webster Rural FTTP – GRANT $431,260 This last mile project will serve 103 unserved and 178 underserved locations in Wheatland and Webster townships in Rice County, Eureka and Greenvale townships in Dakota County, and New Market and Cedar Lake townships in Scott County.

Find more articles on broadband in Dakota County. (http://tinyurl.com/hxslue9)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 37
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Crow Wing County: Need a push to get ubiquitous broadband

Crow Wing County ranks 37 (down 9) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 85.84 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 5482 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $51 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Crow Wing County has been hovering at 87 percent access since 2019. This year their access and ranking have dipped. It’s likely due to map corrections or challenges but it does mean getting farther from their goal.

They did get some good news in the last year. In December 2022, Tri-Co Technologies got $343,552 to serve approximately 245 unserved households in Crow Wing County. In 2023, CTC began a $5.7 million project to expand its broadband fiber optic network to approximately 500 unserved or underserved locations. In June 2023, the Commissioners of Crow Wing County submitted a Request for Proposal from broadband providers interested in serving the area.

Crow Wing County residents were awarded 183 line extension funding requests, which means state funding will subsidize last mile broadband extension to their homes.

Crow Wing County is getting an optimistic green code; they have been stagnant but it seems as if actions are being made toward improvement.

Grants:

• 2022: Tri-Co Technologies, LLC dba Crosslake Communications, $343,552.00

• 2016 – TDS TELECOM CASS & CROW WING COUNTIES — GRANT: $3,000,000
  2015 – Consolidated Telecommunications Company – Fort Ripley Phase II
  Grant award: $759,525
• 2014 – Consolidated Telephone Cooperative, Region 5 Virtual Highway Project – Amount $2 million
• 2020: CTC (Consolidated Telephone Company) – Fort Ripley/Executive Acres Project – GRANT $830,587
• Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC) – Stark-Ross Lake Area – GRANT $350,805 This last mile project will serve approximately 180 unserved locations in a portion of Ross Lake Township in Crow Wing County.
• Crosslake Communications – O’Brien/Goodrich Lake Fiber Project – GRANT $618,970 This last mile O’Brien/Goodrich Lake Fiber Project will serve approximately 232 unserved households in Crow Wing County.

Find more articles on broadband in Crow Wing County. (http://tinyurl.com/zechgaw)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 22
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Cook County: stalled with pretty good coverage

Cook County ranks 26 (down 4) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Cook County has 90.36 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 483 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $4.5 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Cook County has had more than 90 percent broadband coverage at speeds of 100/20 Mbps since we started tracking progress, thanks to a federal ARRA funding in 2010. There was a dip in coverage last year, likely due to increased granularity of mapping.

Cook County is so close but with little evidence of concerted effort to increase coverage, they retain their yellow ranking.

Grants:

• 2010: Cook County formed a partnership with Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, which applied for and was awarded over $16 million in federal stimulus grants and low interest loans to build a fiber-to-the-home broadband network throughout Cook County.
• In addition, Cook County awarded Arrowhead Cooperative a $4 million grant from the 1% sales tax fund.

Find more articles on broadband in Cook County. (http://tinyurl.com/hgbzlt7)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 13
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Clearwater County: nearly there

Clearwater County ranks 13 (down from 9) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 98.28 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 60 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $558,000 to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Clearwater County benefited from a Garden Valley Telephone Company upgrade in 2018. They  dipped in ranking this year but that’s really just other counties catching up. They rank fifth in Gig access. They retain their green ranking because they are so close to the goal.

Grants/Funding:

• In 2018, Garden Valley Telephone Company received a $20 million loan from the USDA to deploy fiber in Polk, Clearwater, Pennington, Marshall and Red Lake counties.
• AT&T launched a new FirstNet cell site in Clearwater County.

Find more articles on broadband in Clearwater County. (http://tinyurl.com/homdjrt)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 25
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Clay County: consistent, incremental improvements over years

Clay County ranks 25 (down from 20) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Clay County has 90.72 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 1874 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $17.4 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Clay County has seen a dip in ranking and percentage of access since last year. That is likely because of map correction, but it is frustrating. 702 Communications got $2.6 million in December 2022 in Border to Border funding to serve 369 households, businesses, and farms in rural Clay County. Red River Communications has two applications in the current round of Border to Border grants, which should be decided early in 2024.

Clay County residents were awarded 21 line extension funding requests, which means state funding will subsidize last mile broadband extension to their homes.

Clay County gets a green ranking because they have 90 percent coverage and it appears as if they are actively seeking improvement.

Grants

• 2022: 702 Communications – Western Clay County Kragnes Township– GRANT $2,624,830
• 2019: Arvig (Loretel Systems, Inc.) – Cormorant Lakes Area Project – GRANT $430,780

Find more articles on broadband in Clay County. (http://tinyurl.com/hcgg9rm)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 24
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Carver County: CarverLink makes plans for 2024

Carver County ranks 24 (down from 19) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 2967 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $27.5 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Carver County is lucky to have CarverLink, a publicly owned broadband fiber optics network that celebrated a 10-year anniversary in September 2023. (They shared a nice history of the project at the time.) Unfortunately, they have seen a slight dip in ranking and coverage in the last year, but that’s likely to be from map correction. But their they made a plan in September to help reverse that…

Sept 2023 the County Board unanimously approves moving forward with the preliminary 2024 recommended budget which includes $2.5 million that would be utilized to expand the current Connect Up Carver project with a Connect Up Carver 2.0 project. This project and funding would essentially provide the County what it needs to become the first County in the State of MN to make available high speed bandwidth to all locations within the County that want it.

With leadership from CarverLink, Carver County retains its green ranking.

Grants:

• 2013, Carver County received ARRA funding for Carverlink, a publicly owned 89-mile base ring with 33 miles of lateral lines. It was completed in Fall of 2013.

Find more articles on broadband in Carver County. (http://tinyurl.com/jxj9v9x)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 6
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Big Stone County almost there

Big Stone County ranks 12 for broadband access out of 87 counties a bump up from 12 last year. They are at 99.71 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2018. They have 7 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $65,000 to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Big Stone is on the way to getting to goal coverage. They rank in the top 10 and that’s what they get a green rating. They got a great advantage when Federated Telephone got grant funding to building in the area in 2014.

Grants:

• 2014 – Federated Telephone Cooperative, Big Stone County

Find more articles on broadband in Big Stone County. (http://tinyurl.com/zfgwstd)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 20
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Benton County: getting traction toward goal again

Benton County ranks 20 for broadband, up from 25 last year. They have hovered around 89 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2019. They have 769 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $7 million get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Benton County seems to be getting traction again. They have comfortably edged over 90 percent coverage. In 2023, Cooperative Telephone got almost $3 million to build to 836 households, businesses, farms, and community institutions in Glendorado Township and portions of Gilmanton, Maywood, Minden, and Saint George Townships.

Benton County gets a green ranking because they are so close to the goal and seem to have built momentum to getting it done.

Broadband Access:

Grants:

• 2023:  Cooperative Telephone – Benton County South of Trunk Highway 23 – GRANT $2,988,275
• 2017 – Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Rice Ramey – GRANT $765,015
• 2017 – Palmer Wireless – Duelm Hwy 95 – GRANT $162,814
• 2014-CenturyLink Foley, Benton County–Balkan Township – Award: $382,883.
• 2020: Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase I – GRANT $936,759
• Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase 2 Project – GRANT $338,011

Find more articles on broadband in Benton County (https://blandinonbroadband.org/?s=benton+county&submit=Search)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 12
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Beltrami County well served thanks to Paul Bunyan

Beltrami County ranks 12 for broadband access. They have hovered around 99 percent access to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2019. They have 230 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $230,000 to get ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Beltrami County has fallen in the ranking for broadband coverage but that’s only because others have been catching up. They have an engaged cooperative provider and it seems likely that they should reach the goal of ubiquitous broadband. It’s worth noting that they rank number 4 for Gig access.

Grants:

• 2020: Paul Bunyan received a MN Border to Border grant to bring fiber to the Leach Lake Indian Reservation and the southeast Beltrami.

Checklist:

Find more articles on broadband in Beltrami County. (http://tinyurl.com/z5yvec6)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 41
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Becker County: eking toward total coverage

Becker County ranks 41 for broadband access out of 87 counties. That’s up from 48 last year. They have 84.75 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 2765 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $27.5 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Becker County went from 6 percent coverage to 100/20 in 2020. They have had measured increase to the goal since. In 2022, local provider Arvig committed to spending almost $20 million on upgrades in Becker, Otter Tail and Redwood Counties. In 2023, Arvig announced their plan to use E-ACAM funds to bring 100Mbps broadband to Becker, Hubbard, Otter Tail, Redwood, Stearns, Todd Counties.

Becker County residents were awarded 34 line extension funding requests, which means state funding will subsidize last mile broadband extension to their homes.

They get a green rating because they continue to move toward the goal, they are closing the gap between access to 25/3 versus 100/20, which means expansion in the area is better quality and they have providers interested in building out.

Grants

• 2016 – PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS HUBBARD, BECKER & ITASCA COUNTIES – GRANT: $1,742,232
• Arvig (Loretel Systems, Inc.) – Cormorant Lakes Area Project – GRANT $430,780

Find more articles on broadband in Becker County. (http://tinyurl.com/jkah37b)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.

Rank: 11
Code: Green
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Anoka County Almost there

Anoka County ranks 11 (up 4 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 received an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant in 2013, which has helped serve government facilities. It has taken a while for broadband to get to residents but at almost 99 percent coverage, it’s getting very close. In 2023, Comcast was awarded more than $2.5 million to bring fiber to more than 1200 residents in Nowthen. Both Comcast and MidCo have applied for Border to Border grants in to the Office of Broadband Development; decision should be announced Winter 2024.

Anoka gets a green ranking because they are so close to goal. Anoka is part of the seven county metro area, which means the population density is much of the county makes it an attractive market for providers, but there are certainly rural parts to Anoka County as well.

Broadband Access:

Previous Grants:

• 2023: Comcast-Xfinity – Comcast/City of Nowthen – GRANT $2,549,413
• 2022: Tekstar Communications Inc, dba Arvig, $219,727

• 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.

Find more articles on broadband in Anoka County.(http://tinyurl.com/zuvt4x7)

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)

The maps below on the left comes from the Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on Oct 31, 2023. Red dots represent locations unserved with wireline broadband; the Orange dots represent underserved locations. The map on the right comes from the FCC National Broadband map showing access to wired and licensed fixed wireless access, the darker the color, the greater percentage of broadband coverage.