Mille Lacs County
| Year | 100/20 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #60 – 84.06% | #58 – 45.06% |
| 2024 | #66 – 75.76% | |
| 2023 | #75 – 68.72% | |
| 2022 | #73 – 66.71% | |
| 2021 | #72 – 60.1% | |
| 2020 | #70 – 58.9% | |
| 2019 | #67 – 52.77% | |
| 2018 | #49 – 54.42% | |
| 2017 | #47 – 47.07% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Mille Lacs County: More progress made
Mille Lacs County has seen good broadband expansion in the last year, they have the opportunity to get more fiber in the area with BEAD funding and continue to engage with local coop East Central Energy (ECE), subsequently they get bumped from Red to Yellow status.
At the time of writing, the MN BEAD final proposal has not been approved, but the current proposal would mean coverage for 453 locations in Mille Lacs County. The majority of locations will get fiber but the rest will received a mix of 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. (Mille Lacs has not benefitted from earlier Line Extension awards. So that may be a strategy worth considering.)
Statewide, there have been changes with local and national broadband providers, which also leads to uncertainty. In Mille Lacs, that uncertainty is mitigating with the arrival of ECE.
Household Density
17.2
Number of Providers
14
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
2016 – BENTON COOPERATIVE TELEPHONE COMPANY BOCK – GRANT: $510,000
2019 – Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase I – GRANT $936,759
MN State Grants awarded in 2021: Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) – Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (Onamia) Broadband Expansion – GRANT $70,261 This last mile fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project will serve 102 unserved households within the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Reservation in Mille Lacs County.
Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Ramey Phase 2 Project – GRANT $338,011 This last mile project will serve 119 unserved locations in the Ramey telephone exchange located in portions of Lakin and Mount Morris townships in Morrison County and a small portion of Dailey and Page townships located in Mille Lacs County.
2022 – Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) – Northern Mille Lacs County 2022: Broadband Expansion – GRANT $476,108
Benton Cooperative Telephone Company – Borgholm Township Project – GRANT $1,118,289 (Learn more)
2024:
- County: Mille Lacs
East Central Energy Mille Lacs North
Grant: $3,604,567
Local Match: $5,637,915
Total Budget: $9,242,482
The East Central Energy (ECE) Mille Lacs North project will expand on ECE’s electric and broadband operations in East Central Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin. This project will offer 100/100 Mbps, 250/250 Mbps, and 1 Gbps/1 Gbps service options to a total of 803 locations, 677 unserved and 126 underserved, consisting of 680 households, 101 businesses, and 22 farms. Funding partner are Mille Lacs County with a contribution of $15,800 and Page Township with a contribution of $8,000. - 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
MN House: 10A, 10B, 27B