Wadena County

Table of goal data by year

Year	25/3 Mbps	100/20 Mbps
2020	#17 of 87 95.53%	#13 of 87 95.53%
2019	#25 of 87 93.01%	#17 of 87 91.07%
2018	#24 of 87 92.37%	#53 of 87 49.91%
2017	#30 of 87 88.23%	#49 of 87 45.69%

Coverage Map

Rank: 13 (out of 87) for access to 100/20 megabits per second (Mbps)

Wadena County is poised to meet the 2026 broadband speed goals. They are already at 95 percent and they will benefit from a project that received funding in the last MN Border to Border grant round.

What we learned in the past:

Wadena, as part of the Resilient Region, was part of the Blandin Broadband Communities (BBC).

Wadena has benefited from a state broadband grant:

• 2015 – West Central Telephone Association Hwy 71 Wadena NORTH Expansion Project – Grant Award: $193,515

Update from 2020:

Wadena County will benefit from a project that received funding in the last MN Border to Border grant round:

• WCTA (West Central Telephone Association) – Rural Staples Phase I Project – GRANT $555,355
  This last mile project will serve 69 unserved households and 40 unserved businesses, farms, and community anchor institutions in areas of Staples and Villard townships in Todd County; areas of Thomastown township in Wadena County; and areas of Becker township in Cass County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Sourcewell, and Region 5, WCTA will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. Broadband access will allow farmers and ranchers to follow markets, talk with customers and reach new markets, and use the latest precision agriculture tools to enhance their operations. The broadband network will improve access to health care, specifically mental health and senior care through e-visits and tele-health applications. Broadband will also help business owners manage remotely and could stimulate the local economy.
• Total eligible cost is $1,234,123
• Local match is $678,768

Find more articles on broadband in Wadena County.