Aitkin County
| Year | 100/20 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #50 – 86.13% | #32 – 69.46% |
| 2024 | #73 – 73.35% | |
| 2023 | #40 – 84.75% | |
| 2022 | #77 – 60.36% | |
| 2021 | #78 – 52.96% | |
| 2020 | #82 – 46.66% | |
| 2019 | #80 – 37.74% | |
| 2018 | #82 – 17.55% | |
| 2017 | #76 – 11.51% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Aitkin County Still Engaged and Better
It looks like Aitkin’s map corrected in the last year, after a significant drop in 2024, which may have been due to mapping changes or irregularities. In 2024, they were awarded a Minnesota State Grant and received 69 Line Extension grants, which likely have helped reach more households in 2025.
Aitkin is engaged and investing in broadband in their community and they have been for many years.
At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 1,255 locations in Aitkin County. However, while some of that will go to fiber, some will go to satellite, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute. So that’s a mixed blessing.
There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Aitkin has done well with earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems hopeful for them as well.) There have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.
Aitkin County’s continued engagement helps them maintain their yellow status; Otherwise less than 90 percent coverage to 100/20 OR 25/3 would indicate red status. Engagement from local providers has helped as well.
Household Density
6.9
Number of Providers
14
As of 2025 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2017 – SCI – Shamrock Township Broadband Expansion – GRANT $148,503
2016 – MILLE LACS ENERGY COOPERATIVE FTTP PROJECT – GRANT: $1,757,640
2020 – Emily Cooperative Telephone Company – Round Lake Fiber Project – GRANT $376,000
2020 – Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) – MLEC Phase 3 FTTH Project with CTC – GRANT $1,253,955
2020 – SCI Broadband (Savage Communications Inc.) – Glen Township Broadband Expansion Project – GRANT $195,848
Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) – Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative Phase 4 FTTH – GRANT $198,607. This fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project will serve 80 unserved and five underserved locations along the southeast side of Farm Island Lake in Aitkin County. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, MLEC will bring 1 Gbps speeds to 84 homes and one business on the fiber route, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals.
2023
- 2023: SCI – Aitkin County Broadband Expansion – GRANT $794,822
- Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative, $1,231,818.00
- Paul Bunyan Communications, $3,052,120.00 (also serves Itasca and Louis)
- $4.8 million block grant McGrath Project that is scheduled to be completed by fall 2023
2024
- Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative MLEC Fiber – Cedar Lake
Grant: $1,808,768
Local Match: $2,266,272
Total Budget: $4,075,040
The MLEC Fiber – Cedar Lake project will see continued collaboration between Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) and Consolidated Telecommunications Company (CTC) to expand fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) to a significantly unserved area in Aitkin County. The project will expand off the existing MLEC Fiber network to bring vital communications to help with distance learning, remote working, and telemedicine needs in Aitkin County at 421 locations, including 317 unserved and 104 underserved residential and season homes, small farms, and home businesses. Aitkin County has pledged $25,000 to this project.
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 8
MN Senate: 10, 07
MN House: 07A, 10A