Isanti County
| Year | 100/20 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #38 – 90.69% | #34 – 66.71% |
| 2024 | #79 – 65.6% | |
| 2023 | #84 – 54.09% | |
| 2022 | #82 – 50.09% | |
| 2021 | #81 – 50.21% | |
| 2020 | #81 – 48.63% | |
| 2019 | #72 – 48.05% | |
| 2018 | #45 – 56.62% | |
| 2017 | #43 – 49.29% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Isanti County: the growth continues
Isanti County is on fire with some very engaged providers. For so long Isanti County was served by one large national provider, that was not meeting their needs. Now, there is a new cooperative in the area (ECE) that is starting to deploy service in the area. And a national provider, Midco, who is also engaging.
At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 1,437 locations in Anoka County. However, the majority of locations will get a satellite or fixed wireless connection, which does not qualify as served in the MN statute.
There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Isanti has not benefited from earlier Line Extension awards. So that might be a strategy worth considering.)
Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.
Continued growth and the promise of continued growth with BEAD funding earner Isanti gets a Green status.
Household Density
34.6
Number of Providers
12
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
2022 – Midcontinent Communications, $1,647,321.00
2022 – East Central Energy – Isanti North – GRANT $5,000,000
2023 – East Central Energy – Isanti South – GRANT $4,900,000
2024:
- County: Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs
East Central Energy Mille Lacs Central
Grant: $3,267,902
Local Match: $5,111,333
Total Budget: $8,379,235
The East Central Energy Mille Lacs Central project will expand on ECE’s electric and broadband operations in East Central Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin, bringing state-of-the-art Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) technology to residents of Mille Lacs, Kanabec, and Isanti Counties. This project will serve a total of 659 locations, including 509 unserved and 150 underserved locations. Funding partners are; Isanti Couty $10,000, Kanabec County $900, Mille Lacs County $4,200, and South Fork Township $800, for a total partner contribution of $15,900. - County: Isanti, Mille Lacs
East Central Energy
ECE Mille Lacs Sout
Grant: $4,885,809
Local Match: $8,319,081
Total Budget: $13,204,890
East Central Energy will connect 1,479 unserved and underserved passings with fiber-to-the premises internet service in the proposed Mille Lacs South project area, which encompasses parts of southern Mille Lacs County and western Isanti County. The total passings include 950 households, 89 businesses, and 440 farms. ECE will utilize its current electric pole line and substation infrastructure to connect the 1,479 passings with 100/100 Mbps or greater internet speeds. The Project will expand on ECE’s electric and broadband operations in east central Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. ECE currently provides electric service to more than 66,000 homes, farms, and businesses. Mille Lacs County is pledging $100,000 and Isanti County is pledging $6,000 toward the project.
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 8
MN Senate: 10, 27, 28, 31
MN House: 10B, 27B, 28A, 31B