Becker County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #55 of 87 | 82.62% |
| 2023 | #40 of 87 | 84.75% |
| 2022 | #48 of 87 | 78.45% |
| 2021 | #57 of 87 | 73.42% |
| 2020 | #51 of 87 | 73.41% |
| 2019 | #87 of 87 | 6.22% |
| 2018 | #85 of 87 | 12.95% |
| 2017 | #81 of 87 | 6.58% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Becker County: Starting to Stall?
Becker County rank dropped from 41 to 56 for broadband access out of 87 counties. The speed dipped slightly, but in a year where the map saw bigger changes. I don’t think the issue is going backward but stalling, which is why they are getting a yellow rating.
They don’t have any grants coming in but these do have a large number (89) of line extensions coming in, which will help get broadband to 89 locations and maybe reach more in the process.
- Over the years, Becker County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
- Becker County will not benefit from recent MN Broadband grant awards.
- Becker County will benefit from 89 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations. This is a high number of awards. (Arvig was awarded 69 of the awards.)
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $27.5 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, Becker ranked 38 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
- ecker 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.
Household Density
12.5
Number of Providers
11
As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2016 – PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS HUBBARD, BECKER & ITASCA COUNTIES – GRANT: $1,742,232
Arvig (Loretel Systems, Inc.) – Cormorant Lakes Area Project – GRANT $430,780
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 7, CD 8
MN Senate: 02, 04, 05
MN House: 02B, 04B, 05B