Kittson County
| Year | 100/20 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12 – 98.82% | #6 – 98.82% |
| 2024 | #23 – 95.92% | |
| 2023 | #23 – 92.69% | |
| 2022 | #27 – 87.57% | |
| 2021 | #42 – 80.13% | |
| 2020 | #36 – 80.11% | |
| 2019 | #44 – 74.99% | |
| 2018 | #30 – 71.38% | |
| 2017 | #82 – 3.46% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Kittson County: keeps improving and getting close
Kittson County has continued to improve for the last few years and now they are very close to goal, which is why they retain their Green status.
At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 14 locations in Kittson County. However, the majority of locations will get a satellite and only 14 locations are slated to get support.
There is still Line Extension funding yet to be distributed, which helps connect handfuls of houses just beyond existing infrastructure. (Kittson has benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that seems hopeful for them as well.)
Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty.
Household Density
1.7
Number of Providers
8
As of 2025 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
No
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2014 – Wikstrom Telephone, Kittson, Marshall, Roseau Broadband Extension – Award $425,000
2016 – WIKSTROM TELEPHONE COMPANY WIKTEL NW MN – GRANT: $950,823
2017 – Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband – GRANT $1,307,785
2019 – Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband Project – GRANT $1,151,526
There is a matrix of Minnesota broadband adoption projects; it includes projects from this area.
2022 – Wikstrom Telephone Co. Inc, $665,699.00 (serving Beltrami, Kittson, Lake of the Woods and Marshall)
2023 – Wikstrom Telephone Company – Wiktel NW MN Broadband 2023 – GRANT $2,531,488
2024:
- County: Kittson
Wikstrom Telephone Co, Inc.
Wiktel – NW MN Broadband RD9
Grant: $3,066,630
Local Match: $1,022,210
Total Budget: $4,088,840
Wiktel will deploy fiber to 263 customers in remote areas in Lake of the Woods, Kittson & Marshall counties, all part of far Northwestern Minnesota, passing 263 locations, many of which are businesses and community anchor institutions. The speed improvements will be from no service in some areas to Gigabit speeds. Wikstrom began providing Internet services in 1996 for local schools and libraries and since have installed DSL broadband service to over 2500 customers, and fiber to over 5000 customers. Many school children in the project do not have access to broadband for their school work, relying on time at the library or the few buses that have wifi capability. Cellular coverage is particularly spotty in rural areas, limiting alternatives.