Kittson County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #23 of 87 | 92.69% |
| 2022 | #27 of 87 | 87.57% |
| 2021 | #42 of 87 | 80.13% |
| 2020 | #36 of 87 | 80.11% |
| 2019 | #44 of 87 | 74.99% |
| 2018 | #30 of 87 | 71.38% |
| 2017 | #82 of 87 | 3.46% |
Kittson County: Gaining Traction
Kittson County ranks 23 (up 4 poimts) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 92.69 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 137 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $534,000 to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.
Kittson County saw small increases in access until 2022 but their progress is continuing. In December 2022, Wikstron Telephone was awarded a $665,699 Border to Border award serving Beltrami, Kittson, Lake of the Woods and Marshall. In 2023, Wikstron got another grant of $2.5 million to serve rural, sparsely populated areas in Kittson and Marshall counties in far northwest Minnesota, passing 199 homes, businesses and farms. And Wikstrom has applied for a grants i the latest Border to Border broadband grant round, which is still open but winner should be announced in early 2024.
Kittson seems to be gaining traction with local provider partnership, which should serve them well when federal funding (BEAD) becomes available but they retain their yellow ranking for now.
Household Density
1.7
Number of Providers
10
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
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