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Houston County

Table of goal data by year
Year 100/20 Mbps 1 Gbps
2025 #53 – 85.51% #36 – 64.96%
2024 #46 – 86%
2023 #36 – 85.89%
2022 #38 – 82.98%
2021 #51 – 75.26%
2020 #58 – 69.66%
2019 #57 – 67.81%
2018 #37 – 66.63%
2017 #30 – 65.08%
Coverage map graphic

Red dots represent unserved locations.

Houston County: incremental change

Houston County broadband coverage has dipped since last year. It’s within an acceptable margin but it also reflects three years of stagnation.

At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 1,594 locations in Houston County. The majority of locations will get fiber but some will get a satellite or fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute. That sets up a divide of different qualities.

There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of  houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Houston has  not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So this might be a strategy to consider.)

Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.

With slow progress, Houston County retains their Yellow ranking.

Household Density

14.1

Number of Providers

12

As of 2025 · Source: MN DEED

Households with Device Access

A Device 86.4% 95.5%
statewide
Desktop or Laptop 78.2% 83.2%
statewide
Smartphone 65.5% 90.1%
statewide
Tablet 51.7% 65.8%
statewide
Other 3.5% 2.3%
statewide

Has Worked with Blandin Foundation

No

Has Received MN Grant(s)

Yes

2019 – AcenTek – Rural Houston Exchange FTTH – GRANT $2,895,318

2022 – The investment, provided through the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s ReConnect program, will help connect over 6,000 people, 150 businesses, and 680 farms across Freeborn, Morrison, Stearns, Houston, and Todd counties.

Government Districts

U.S. Congress: CD 1

MN Senate: 26

MN House: 26B

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