Rank:  55
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Douglas County: Slow improvement but engaged providers

Douglas County has seen incremental increase in broadband access in the last year, after a nice climb the year before.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 484 locations in Douglas County. Some of the locations will get fiber and some locations will get a satellite, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Douglas has benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems hopeful for them as well.) Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

Douglas will get some fiber when the BEAD funding is disbursed but they will also get satellite, which will not meet the state goals. Douglas retains their Yellow status.

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Douglas: 484
The locations include a mix of fiber and satellite connections.

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Douglas invested $72,4000 on two programs over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

• Douglas County providers received $46,361.52 in the first three rounds of Line Extension awards

Highlights from Past Reports

• 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $39 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)

In 2022, Douglas ranked 15 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past Grants:

• Gardonville Cooperative Telephone – Gardonville – Douglas Cty
  Grant: $223,521, Local Match: $223,522, Total Budget: $447,043
• Gardonville Cooperative Telephone – Buckskin – GRANT $857,013

• 2023 Gardonville Cooperative Telephone – Carlos – GRANT $665,950
• 2022: Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association, $1,212,337.50
• 2022: ReConnect Tekstar Communications $12,602,274

• 2017 – Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association – Douglas County: Country Estates FTTH Project – GRANT $101,624
• 2017 – Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association – Douglas County: Pospisil Drive FTTH Project – GRANT $54,155
• 2016 – GARDONVILLE COOPERATIVE TELEPHONE DOUGLAS COUNTY LAKE LOUISE – GRANT: $68,240
• 2016 – RUNESTONE TELEPHONE HOLMES CITY 2 — GRANT: $700,674
• 2015 – Runestone Telephone Association – Holmes City – Grant award: $189,990
• 2019: Charter Communications – Lake Carlos Project – GRANT $74,540
• 2019: Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association – Krohnfeldt Drive FTTH Project – GRANT $42,921
• 2019: Runestone Telecom Association – South Alexandria Project – GRANT $1,760,423
• Arvig (Tekstar Communications, Inc.) – Lake Osakis, Sauk Lake & Smith Lake Project – GRANT $486,458 This middle and last mile project will upgrade approximately 230 unserved and 39 underserved locations in Todd and Douglas counties.
• Charter Communications (Spectrum) – West Lake Carlos – GRANT $24,450
  This middle and last mile project will serve approximately 42 unserved households on the west side of Lake Carlos in Douglas County.
• Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association – Douglas County – County Road 34 FTTH Project – GRANT $1,551,370 This last mile project will serve 71 unserved and 544 underserved locations in Ida and Carlos townships in Douglas County.
• Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association – Douglas County – Hazel Hill Road FTTH Project – GRANT $692,929 This middle and last mile project will serve 212 unserved households, 79 unserved businesses and one unserved farm in Alexandria Township in Douglas County.
• Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association – Douglas County – Town Hall Road FTTH Project – GRANT $90,251 This last mile project will serve 46 unserved and 3 underserved locations in La Grand Township in Douglas County

Find more articles on broadband in Douglas County. (http://tinyurl.com/jqpohsc)

The maps below come from the 

• Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2025 – tracking wireline access.
• The FCC National Broadband Maps, reflecting data updated November 28, 2025 – tracking fixed wireless access.

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)

Rank:  42
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Dodge County: steady progress has stalled

Dodge County broadband coverage has been stagnant at 88 percent for several years.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 94 locations in Dodge County. However, all the locations will get a satellite, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Dakota has benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems hopeful for them as well.) Statewide here have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

Dodge County retains their yellow status due to stagnation and little prospects from the potential BEAD funding.

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Dodge: 94
The locations will all get satellite.

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

Dodge has not invested over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

• Dodge County providers received $73,944.50 in the first three rounds of Line Extension awards

Highlights from Past Reports

• 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $8.4 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Dodge ranked 9 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past Grants:

• 2023: KM Telecom – Rural Byron & Salem Corners Fiber Build – GRANT $1,931,046
• 2021: KMTelecom – Rock Dell Northwest Fiber Build – GRANT $385,173
• 2021: KMTelecom – Rock Dell Southwest Fiber Build – GRANT $404,709

• 2017 – KMTelecom – Rural Kasson Fiber Build – GRANT $606,108
• 2016 – KMTELECOM RURAL MANTORVILLE – GRANT: $764,663

Find more articles on broadband in Dodge County. (http://tinyurl.com/znpmlfr)

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)

Rank: 35
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

 Cook County: stalled and not much help coming from BEAD

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 83 locations in Cook County. All of the locations will get satellite connections, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Cook has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So maybe that’s a route to consider.) Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

Cook County has been so close for so long but the proposed BEAD funding will not help Cook County reach the MN State speed goals, so I have to bump them to a Yellow status.

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Cook: 83
The locations all satellite connections.

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Cook County, $8,000 was invested in one project over the years.

No New Posts from 2025

Highlights from Past Reports

• 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $4.5 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Cook ranked 29 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past 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)

The maps below come from the 

• Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2025 – tracking wireline access.
• The FCC National Broadband Maps, reflecting data updated November 28, 2025 – tracking fixed wireless access.

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)

Rank: 61
Code:  Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Chisago County: slow improvement needs a jump start

Historically, Chisago County has been very engaged in broadband, as a 2021 report from the Institute for Local Self Reliance pointed out.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 1,278 locations in Chisago County. Most of the locations will get fiber, but some will satellite connections, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute. Yet, that fiber should help reach the state goals

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Chisago does not have a history of seeking Line Extension so maybe something to pursue.) There have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

Chisago County is retains their yellow ranking because they growth seems to have slowed down.

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Chisago: 1,278
The locations include a majority fiber connections with some satellite connections.

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Chisago has invested $2,900,841 in three project over the years.

No New Posts from 2025:

Highlights from Past Reports

• 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $45.3 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)

• In 2022, Chisago ranked 16 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past Grant:

• County: Anoka, Chisago: Midco North Central
  Grant: $801,700, Local Match: $801,700, Total Budget: $1,603,400

• 2022: Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, $465,814.00

• 2017 – CenturyLink – Fish Lake Township FTTH Project – GRANT $1,833,724
• 2016 – SUNRISE TOWNSHIP (CENTURYLINK) FIBER TO THE HOME – GRANT: $1,074,852
• CenturyLink (Qwest Corporation) – Nessel Township FTTH Project – GRANT $1,657,550

Find more article on Chisago (https://blandinonbroadband.org/?s=chisago&submit=Search)

The maps below come from the 

• Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2025 – tracking wireline access.
• The FCC National Broadband Maps, reflecting data updated November 28, 2025 – tracking fixed wireless access.

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)

Rank: 33
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

 Chippewa County stays stagnant

Chippewa County’s coverage jumped up a lot last year and stayed stagnant this year.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 4 locations in Chippewa County. Some locations will get fiber and some locations will get a satellite or fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute. But the notable fact is that they will only get help for 4 locations.

One issue is that using the FCC National Map there is a big discrepancy between wireline access and wireline with fixed wireless. Minnesota doesn’t currently take fixed wireless into consideration when defining areas eligible for grants; the federal government does include access to fixed wireless. That could make a big difference to who is eligible for BEAD funding. So perhaps the federal maps are giving them credit for more coverage than the state maps would.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. That may be helpful since that is state funding. Another statewide issue is changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

Chippewa has made such progress in the last couple of years, but it seems like there may be barriers in the future so they retain their yellow status.

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Chippewa: 4
The locations are getting satellite only.

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Aitkin 0 was invested over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

• Chippewa County providers received $ 2,889,447 in the first three rounds of Line Extension awards

Highlights from Past Reports

• 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $6.8 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)

• In 2022, Chippewa ranked 54 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

Past Grants:

• County: Chippewa, Renville – Hanson Communications – Hanson – Chippewa Cty W
  Grant: $2,081,494, Local Match: $2,544,150, Total Budget: $4,625,644

• 2022: Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, $4,728,186.00

• 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile, Grant award: $808,080

Find more articles on broadband in Chippewa County. (http://tinyurl.com/htwz58a)

The maps below come from the 

• Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2025 – tracking wireline access.
• The FCC National Broadband Maps, reflecting data updated November 28, 2025 – tracking fixed wireless access. 

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)

Rank: 76
Code: Yellow
(See Blandin Foundation interactive map)

Carlton County: Continues slow progress forward

Carlton County’s rank continues to bump up, more importantly, they continue to increase the broadband coverage. For many years, Carlton County was served primary with one national provider, who may not be as invested locally as a local provider or cooperative. But a local cooperative has brough the competition.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 3,339 locations in Carlton County. The majority of locations will fiber, which will make a big difference. Also some locations will get a satellite or fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute. They will have to remember those locations are broadband continues to expand.

Statewide there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty. But those changes might be a benefit in Carlton County.

I am boosting Carlton County’s status to Yellow, based on the expectation that the BEAD funding will be disbursed in the next year.

Possible BEAD support

The Minnesota BEAD Final Proposal has not yet been approved so the information below is subject to change; it includes the number of locations by county specifying provider and broadband type. (Learn more.)

Locations in Carlton: 3,339
The locations include a majority of fiber connections, although there is some satellite connections too.

Local Government Match for State Broadband Grants:

Over the years, many local governments (County, Municipal, Tribal) have invested in broadband deployment. This year, I have tracked how much local investment has been used to match MN State Grants. Local governments invest in other ways too, but this was one number I could realistically find and quantify investment by county, which means investment in that county, whether by county, cities or other local government entity.

In Carlton, $766,654 was invested over the years.

New Posts from 2025:

• Carlton County providers received $75,958 in the first three rounds of Line Extension awards
• Pine and Carlton Counties offer support and possible funding to Mediacom BEAD application

Highlights from Past Reports

• 2023 estimates indicated that it would cost $59.5 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
• In 2022, Carlton ranked 73 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.

• Pine Knot News featured Carlton’s Broadband project in June, “The transformational $10.9 million project features 180 miles of fiber optic cable, and will bring higher internet speeds and greater reliability to households across a wide area of rural Carlton County, all the way north to Munger and Solway Township. Mediacom is responsible for the project that has potential to reach 1,679 homes, 420 of those in Thomson Township, should they choose to sign up for the service.”

Past Grants:

• County: Carlton: Consolidated Telephone Company CTC Round 10 Wrenshall Community Broadband Project
  Grant: $2,127,530, Local Match: $2,127,530, Total Budget: $4,255,060
• 2023: Carlton County Broadband Expansion – GRANT $1,271,835

• 2022: Mediacom Minnesota LLC, $801,834.27 – for a project with a cost of $2,719,526
• 2022: Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC) was one of the grant recipients, receiving $4,857,030 in funding (to cover St. Louis, Carlton, and Cass counties)
• 2017 – Carlton County w/ Frontier – Phase I: Cromwell/Kettle River – GRANT: $569,058
• Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa – Big Lake Road Project – GRANT $602,916

Find more articles on broadband in Carlton County. (http://tinyurl.com/z4me5k4)

The maps below come from the

• Office of Broadband Development interactive map, reflecting data updated on December 16, 2025 – tracking wireline access.
• The FCC National Broadband Maps, reflecting data updated November 28, 2025 – tracking fixed wireless access.

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)