Polk County

Table of goal data by year

Year	25/3 Mbps	100/20 Mbps
2019	#24 of 87 93.11%	#20 of 87 88.35%
2018	#23 of 87 93%	#16 of 87 85.39%
2017	#27 of 87 90.78%	#19 of 87 80.89%

County Profile Coverage Map

Rank: 19 (out of 87) for broadband speeds of 100/20 megabits per second (Mbps)

Based as much on their recent momentum as on their numbers, Polk County could very well meet the speed goals for 2022 and 2026; their odds are probably higher for 2026.

Polk County has benefited from three state broadband grants:

• 2016 – HALSTAD TELEPHONE COMPANY KERTSONVILLE AREA – GRANT: $296,665
  Serving 51 unserved households in Kertsonville and Onstad Townships in Polk with service levels to 1 Gigabit.
• 2015 – Halstad Telephone Company – Gentilly Township
  Grant award: $424,460
  Halstad Telephone Company will build out FTTH infrastructure in Gentilly Township in Polk County to provide state speed goal broadband service and above to 114 households, 20 businesses, and 1 community anchor institution in the Village of Gentilly and Gentilly Township (except for the NW corner of the township which is served already). The total project costs are $931,000; the remaining $504,540 (54 percent local match) will be provided by Halstad Telephone Company.
• 2014 – Halstad Telephone Co., Halstad Tract MN 11902500 FTTH
  Award: $1.65 million. Total project cost: $3.3 million. Impact: Service to 249 unserved locations in Polk County.

In 2018, Polk County also benefited when  Garden Valley Telephone Company received a loan of $20,360,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)  and  when Red River Valley Cooperative Power Association received a $8,000,000 USDA loan to improve infrastructure for a smart grid system.  They also will receive almost $2 million in FCC funding over the next 10 years.

While Polk County has a way to go to meet the 2026 goals, they have a lot of activity working in that direction. It may take even more activity but it’s easier to build on growing momentum.

Polk County could benefit from future grants. In 2019, Halstad Telephone Company and Garden Valley Telephone Company applied to upgrade service in Polk. (That doesn’t mean they will get the grant; they have only applied.)

Find more articles on broadband in Polk County.