Becker County

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.