Pine County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #82 of 87 | 61.63% |
| 2023 | #86 of 87 | 40.71% |
| 2022 | #86 of 87 | 35.1% |
| 2021 | #86 of 87 | 39.89% |
| 2020 | #85 of 87 | 39.13% |
| 2019 | #81 of 87 | 37.26% |
| 2018 | #68 of 87 | 38.18% |
| 2017 | #59 of 87 | 37.37% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Pine County: Progress is Coming
Pine County ranks 82 (up 4 places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have gone from 41 percent coverage to 61 percent. They have a long way to go but that is a great jump in coverage. They are set up to benefit from a $3.7 million 2024 MN state grant and $5.5 million in a ReConnect grant, so it seems like the momentum could continue.
Pine County has been actively seeking better broadband for years; they were part of a Blandin Broadband Communities cohort a few years ago. Unfortunately, much of Pine County is served by one large national provider. That may have been a bottleneck to better access in those areas.
They are still code red, but it seems like they are poised for a change in the next year.
- Over the years, Pine County (or cities within) has invested $16,000 (total) for matches for 1 successful MN Broadband grant. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
- Pine County will benefit from a 2024 $3.6 million MN Broadband grant award that will serve 1,069 locations in Pine and Aitkin.
- Pine County will benefit from 40 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $84.4 million to get ubiquitous broadband in the county. (I haven’t updated the number because recent report offers scenarios of costs based on BEAD funding rules that make current estimates less predictable than in the past. Yet, I think the number is still helpful.)
- In 2022, Pine ranked 86 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
- Pine County was awarded $5.5 million in ReConnect funding in December 2024.
Household Density
10.7
Number of Providers
15
As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2017 – SCI (Savage Communications Inc.) — Dell Grove Township Broadband Expansion – GRANT $118,248
2021 – DEED awarded Pine County $2,787,734 of Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus funding to serve low and moderate-income areas with fiber to the premise which just started construction this past summer (2023).
2022 – Pine County received a congressionally-directed spending award through USDA ReConnect, in the amount of $5,576,250 to construct nearly 300 miles of fiber to 2,440 households.
2022 – East Central Energy, $4,750,000.00 (serving Pine and Kanabec) (Learn more)
2022 – East Central Energy – Kanabec Central – GRANT $4,403,000
2024:
- County: Pine, Aitkin
Savage Communications Inc
SCI – East Central MN
Grant: $3,563,817
Local Match: $3,713,817
Total Budget: $7,277,634
Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) will build Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) to 1,069 Locations within the townships of Barry, Finlayson, Hinckley, Kettle River, Norman, Partridge, Pine Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Wagner Townships and the city of Rutledge located in Pine and Aitkin County. SCI plans to offer initial Internet speeds of 1Gbps download and 1Gbps upload. Farms and businesses are in the project area, as are three (3) township halls. The company currently provides service to over 40 communities throughout East Central and Northern Minnesota since 1984. Pine County is contributing $75,000 toward the project.