Washington County

Table of goal data by year

Year	Rank	100/20 Mbps
2024	#26 of 87	94.56%
2023	#16 of 87	97.09%
2022	#18 of 87	93.59%
2021	#15 of 87	96.02%
2020	#12 of 87	95.8%
2019	#12 of 87	95.8%
2018	#9 of 87	96.1%
2017	#9 of 87	94.97%

Red dots represent unserved locations.

Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.

Washington County: Nearly There With a Grant in Process

Washington County ranks 26 (down 10 places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Washington County is part of the 7-metro county region. It has some suburban areas and some rural areas. Some areas attract providers while other areas need incentive.

In 2023, Scandia started working on a 5-year broadband plan. While the county has stalled for many years now but they will benefit from a 2024 grant happening in Scandia. That may lead to more activity especially once BEAD funding becomes available.

Washington retains green ranking.

• Over the years, Washington County (or cities within) has invested $375,085 (total) for matches for 3 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
• Washington County will benefit from a 2024 $689,700 MN Broadband grant award that will serve 161 locations in Washington and Chisago Counties.
• Washington County will benefit from 86 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $22.4 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, Washington ranked 4 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.