Itasca County
Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
---|---|---|
2023 | #31 of 87 | 88.39% |
2022 | #31 of 87 | 85.5% |
2021 | #29 of 87 | 86.65% |
2020 | #28 of 87 | 84.14% |
2019 | #27 of 87 | 83.06% |
2018 | #23 of 87 | 79.44% |
2017 | #21 of 87 | 76.35% |
Itasca County: Recent Grant Will Help Improve Access
Itasca County ranks 31 for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 88.39 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 2806 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $26 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.
Itasca County is home to the Blandin Foundation and the community is engaged in broadband development; in early 2022, they looked at the local digital divide before and after/during COVID pandemic.
They have hovered around 85 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up since 2019. In 2023, Paul Bunyan Telephone was awarded $10 million in ReConnect funds for networks in Hubbard, Itasca, and St. Louis counties. That should help close some gaps but not to the point of earning a green versus yellow ranking.
Household Density
8.3
Number of Providers
17
As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2015 – Paul Bunyan Central Itasca County Fiber – Grant Award: $1,980,000
2016 MEDIACOM HARRIS TOWNSHIP – GRANT: $224,369
2016 – PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS HUBBARD, BECKER & ITASCA COUNTIES – GRANT: $1,742,232
2017 – Paul Bunyan Communications – North Central Fiber – GRANT $802,620
Paul Bunyan Communications – North Central Minnesota Fiber Project– GRANT $2,562,916
2023 – Paul Bunyan Telephone awarded $10 million in ReConnect funds for networks in Hubbard, Itasca, and St. Louis counties
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 8
MN Senate: 02, 03, 06, 07
MN House: 02B, 03A, 06A, 07A