Benton County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #16 of 87 | 97.95% |
| 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% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Benton County: So Close After Steady Progress for Years
Benton County’s rank bumps up to 16 from 20 for broadband after a nice climb from 25 last year. They hovered around 89 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2019 but this year they broke through to almost 98 percent!
Benton County gets a green ranking because they are so close to the goal and seem to have built momentum to getting it done.
- Over the years, Benton County (or cities within) has invested $1,154,008 (total) for matches for 4 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
- Benton County will not benefit from a recent MN Broadband grant.
- Benton County will not benefit from line extension awards.
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $7 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, Benton ranked 30 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
Household Density
31.8
Number of Providers
19
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
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