Pennington County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #6 of 87 | 99.4% |
| 2021 | #10 of 87 | 98.19% |
| 2020 | #10 of 87 | 96.95% |
| 2019 | #11 of 87 | 96.18% |
| 2018 | #12 of 87 | 90.75% |
| 2017 | #77 of 87 | 9.63% |
Rank: 6 (out of 87) for access to 100/20 megabits per second (Mbps)
Pennington County ranks 6 for broadband access and 35 for digital equity out of 87 counties. They have almost ubiquitous coverage with 99.4 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 40 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $370,000 to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.
In 2018, Pennington went from 9 percent access to 90 percent with the help of state (border to border) and federal loan (USDA to Garden Valley). They have had steady improvement ever since, which is why they earn a green code.
Digital Equity:
Pennington County ranks 35 out of 87 for digital equity. (See full Digital Equity Profile)
Pennington County ranks 28 out of 87 for computer ownership. 92.2 percent of homes have a computer of device as compared to statewide ownership of 95.5 percent.
Household Density
10.7
Number of Providers
9
As of 2022 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2019 – Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband Project – GRANT $1,151,526
2017 – Sjoberg’s Inc. – NW MN Rural Broadband – GRANT $307,088
2016 – CENTURYLINK THIEF RIVER MIDDLE MILE – GRANT: $1,324,400
2016 – GARDEN VALLEY TELEPHONE COMPANY RURAL THIEF RIVER FALLS EAST – GRANT: $2,027,035
There is a matrix of Minnesota broadband adoption projects.