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Benton County

Table of goal data by year
Year Rank 100/20 Mbps
2023 #20 of 87 94.14%
2022 #25 of 87 89.94%
2021 #24 of 87 90.25%
2020 #21 of 87 89.36%
2019 #21 of 87 88.18%
2018 #75 of 87 25.83%
2017 #74 of 87 14.28%

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.

Household Density

31.8

Number of Providers

19

As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED

Households with Device Access

A Device 89.3% 95.5%
statewide
Desktop or Laptop 76.8% 83.2%
statewide
Smartphone 74.8% 90.1%
statewide
Tablet 54.2% 65.8%
statewide
Other 3.6% 2.3%
statewide

Has Worked with Blandin Foundation

Yes

Has Received MN Grant(s)

Yes

2014 – CenturyLink Foley, Benton County–Balkan Township – Award: $382,883.

2017 – Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Rice Ramey – GRANT $765,015

2017 – Palmer Wireless – Duelm Hwy 95 – GRANT $162,814

2020 – Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase I – GRANT $936,759

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase 2 Project – GRANT $338,011

2023 – Cooperative Telephone – Benton County South of Trunk Highway 23 – GRANT $2,988,275

Government Districts

U.S. Congress: CD 6

MN Senate: 10, 13, 14

MN House: 10B, 13B, 14B

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