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Pennington County

Table of goal data by year
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%
Coverage map graphic

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

A Device 86.0% 95.5%
statewide
Desktop or Laptop 75.5% 83.2%
statewide
Smartphone 69.7% 90.1%
statewide
Tablet 49.5% 65.8%
statewide
Other 3.9% 2.3%
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.

Government Districts

U.S. Congress: CD 7

MN Senate: 01

MN House: 01A

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