Carlton County
| Year | 100/20 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #76 – 74.04% | #73 – 27.93% |
| 2024 | #78 – 66.77% | |
| 2023 | #82 – 54.47% | |
| 2022 | #83 – 48.71% | |
| 2021 | #79 – 52.08% | |
| 2020 | #77 – 52.02% | |
| 2019 | #73 – 47.57% | |
| 2018 | #44 – 58.22% | |
| 2017 | #40 – 52.32% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Carlton County: Continues slow progress forward
Carlton County’s rank continues to bump up, more importantly, they continue to increase the broadband coverage. For many years, Carlton County was served primary with one national provider, who may not be as invested locally as a local provider or cooperative. But a local cooperative has brough the competition.
At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 3,339 locations in Carlton County. The majority of locations will fiber, which will make a big difference. Also some locations will get a satellite or fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute. They will have to remember those locations are broadband continues to expand.
Statewide there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty. But those changes might be a benefit in Carlton County.
I am boosting Carlton County’s status to Yellow, based on the expectation that the BEAD funding will be disbursed in the next year.
Household Density
16.1
Number of Providers
15
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 – Carlton County w/ Frontier – Phase I: Cromwell/Kettle River – GRANT: $569,058
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa – Big Lake Road Project – GRANT $602,916
2022 – Mediacom Minnesota LLC, $801,834.27 – for a project with a cost of $2,719,526
2022 – Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC) was one of the grant recipients, receiving $4,857,030 in funding (to cover St. Louis, Carlton, and Cass counties)
2023 – Carlton County Broadband Expansion – GRANT $1,271,835
2024:
- County: Carlton
Consolidated Telephone Company CTC Round 10 Wrenshall Community Broadband Project
Grant: $2,127,530
Local Match: $2,127,530
Total Budget: $4,255,060
The Consolidated Telephone Company Round 10 Wrenshall Community Broadband project will provide fiber-to-the premise in 770 locations, of which 481 are unserved and 289 underserved. This project will support efforts of residents to work from home, keep up or continue their education, and for businesses to further their community’s vitality.