Houston County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #46 of 87 | 86% |
| 2023 | #36 of 87 | 85.89% |
| 2022 | #38 of 87 | 82.98% |
| 2021 | #51 of 87 | 75.26% |
| 2020 | #58 of 87 | 69.66% |
| 2019 | #57 of 87 | 67.81% |
| 2018 | #37 of 87 | 66.63% |
| 2017 | #30 of 87 | 65.08% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Houston County: Incremental Change
Houston County ranks 46 (down 10 places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Houston has slow incremental growth in broadband over the years. Not much seems to have happened in 2024, but Mayo Clinic Partners with Zipline to bring drone medication delivery to Houston, Jacksonville and Rochester, Minnesota.
With slow progress, Houston County receives a yellow ranking.
- Over the years, Houston County (or cities within) has invested $75,000 (total) for matches for 1 successful MN Broadband grant. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
- Houston County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant.
- Houston County not will benefit from any line extension awards.
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $10.5 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, Houston ranked 19 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
- Houston benefitted from ReConnect funding in 2023.
Household Density
14.1
Number of Providers
16
As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
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.