Polk County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #17 of 87 | 97.6% |
| 2023 | #14 of 87 | 97.79% |
| 2022 | #16 of 87 | 95.24% |
| 2021 | #20 of 87 | 91.72% |
| 2020 | #17 of 87 | 91.76% |
| 2019 | #20 of 87 | 88.35% |
| 2018 | #16 of 87 | 85.39% |
| 2017 | #19 of 87 | 80.89% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Polk County: Very Close With Grant Coming in for 2025
Polk County ranks 17 (down three points) for broadband access out of 87 counties.
They have had incremental improvement since we have been tracking; staying about even with last year. They will benefit from $1 million 2024 MN State grant, which might help give them a jump in coverage.
Their coverage and continued efforts keep Polk County in green ranking.
- Over the years, Polk County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
- Polk County will benefit from a 2024 $1 million MN Broadband grant award that will serve 80 locations.
- Polk County will not benefit from any line extension awards.
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $2.5 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, Polk ranked 44 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
Household Density
6.3
Number of Providers
12
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
2024:
- County: Polk
Garden Valley Telephone Co
Garden Valley Tel – Rural E Grand Forks
Grant: $1,050,465
Local Match: $350,15
Total Budget: $1,400,620
The Garden Valley Technologies Rural East Grand Forks Low Density project proposed by Garden Valley Technologies (GVT) is a last mile Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) project which will serve 80 total locations. Of the 80 locations, 49 are residential households, 2 businesses, 3 community institutions and 26 farms located in northwest Minnesota. The geography of the project is mostly farm land and encompasses an area in northwest Minnesota that include portions of Northland, Sullivan, and Tabor townships in Polk County. GVT has been providing telecommunications services in northwestern Minnesota since 1906 and has been awarded five previous state grants. Individual residents contributed a $650 match toward the project.
2023 – Garden Valley Technologies – 2023 Rural Warren SW – GRANT $1,488,322
2022 – Garden Valley Technologies – Rural Warren East & Rural Oslo – GRANT $1,462,569
MN State Grants awarded in 2021: Garden Valley Technologies – Northwest Thief River Falls and Euclid – GRANT $1,640,722 This middle and last mile project will serve 104 unserved and 22 underserved locations in portions of Marshall and Polk counties.
Halstad Telephone Company – North Fisher Expansion – GRANT $619,000 This last mile project will upgrade approximately 57 unserved and seven underserved locations in portions of Huntsville, Nesbit and Fanny townships in Polk County.
Wikstrom Telephone Co. Inc. – Wiktel NW MN Broadband 2020 – GRANT $490,997 The last mile project will serve 153 unserved locations in sparsely populated areas in Kittson, Marshall and Polk counties.
2019 – Halstad Telephone Company – Rural East Grand Forks Expansion Project – GRANT $440,000
2016 – HALSTAD TELEPHONE COMPANY KERTSONVILLE AREA – GRANT: $296,665
2015 – Halstad Telephone Company – Gentilly Township – Grant award: $424,460
2014 – Halstad Telephone Co., Halstad Tract MN 11902500 FTTH Amount $1.65 million