Dakota County

Dakota County: Has Plan, Will Succeed

Dakota County ranks 15 (down one) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 97.17 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 3639 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $33.8 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.

Dakota County has a broadband board and staff who focus on creating better broadband. The Institute for Local Self Reliance reported on Dakota County’s successful policies conducive to collaboration and reinvestment, with the result being a host of benefits which includes significant public savings for internal operations and better connections for community anchor institutions.

They have hovered around 97 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2019. There were two small grants awarded in December 2022 to help them reach their goal: Spectrum got $98,750 and JTN Communications got $113,076.

Dakota County residents were awarded 67 line extension funding requests, which means state funding will subsidize last mile broadband extension to their homes.

Dakota County retains their green ranking because they are close to goal and there are continued strides toward the goal – such as the recent announcement of free Wifi in the city parks.