Aitkin County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #73 of 87 | 73.35% |
| 2023 | #40 of 87 | 84.75% |
| 2022 | #77 of 87 | 60.36% |
| 2021 | #78 of 87 | 52.96% |
| 2020 | #82 of 87 | 46.66% |
| 2019 | #80 of 87 | 37.74% |
| 2018 | #82 of 87 | 17.55% |
| 2017 | #76 of 87 | 11.51% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Aitkin County’s Bumpy but Engaged Ride to Broadband
Aitkin’s rank/coverage has bounced up and down over the last three years from 60.36% (2022) to 84.75% (2023) to 73.35 (2024). There have been a lot of changes in the mapping in 2024; I suspect this year is a correction.
Aitkin is engaged and investing in broadband in their community and they have been for many years. They have a mix of local and national broadband providers. It will be interesting to see who bids for BEAD funding and what their goals are. Aitkin County’s poverty level is higher than state average, which may impact business case in the area.
- Over the years, Aitkin County (or cities within) has invested $50,000 (total) for matches for 6 successful MN Broadband grants. This is an indicator of local government that is engaged and (literally) invested in better, local broadband.
- Aitkin County will benefit from a 2024 $1.8 million MN Broadband grant (Round 10) award that will serve 421 locations.
- Aitkin County will benefit from 69 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $19.5 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, Aitkin County worked with Blandin Foundation as an IRBC (Iron Range Broadband Community) and they were cohorts in Blandin’s inaugural Accelerate! program.
- In the past, a roadblock for Aitkin was that the county is widely served by a national provider that had not been upgrading the connections in their area.
- In 2022, Aitkin ranked 84th using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
Household Density
6.9
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 – Shamrock Township Broadband Expansion – GRANT $148,503
2016 – MILLE LACS ENERGY COOPERATIVE FTTP PROJECT – GRANT: $1,757,640
2020 – Emily Cooperative Telephone Company – Round Lake Fiber Project – GRANT $376,000
2020 – Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) – MLEC Phase 3 FTTH Project with CTC – GRANT $1,253,955
2020 – SCI Broadband (Savage Communications Inc.) – Glen Township Broadband Expansion Project – GRANT $195,848
Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) – Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative Phase 4 FTTH – GRANT $198,607. This fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project will serve 80 unserved and five underserved locations along the southeast side of Farm Island Lake in Aitkin County. Through a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, MLEC will bring 1 Gbps speeds to 84 homes and one business on the fiber route, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals.
2023
- 2023: SCI – Aitkin County Broadband Expansion – GRANT $794,822
- Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative, $1,231,818.00
- Paul Bunyan Communications, $3,052,120.00 (also serves Itasca and Louis)
- $4.8 million block grant McGrath Project that is scheduled to be completed by fall 2023
2024
- Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative MLEC Fiber – Cedar Lake
Grant: $1,808,768
Local Match: $2,266,272
Total Budget: $4,075,040
The MLEC Fiber – Cedar Lake project will see continued collaboration between Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) and Consolidated Telecommunications Company (CTC) to expand fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) to a significantly unserved area in Aitkin County. The project will expand off the existing MLEC Fiber network to bring vital communications to help with distance learning, remote working, and telemedicine needs in Aitkin County at 421 locations, including 317 unserved and 104 underserved residential and season homes, small farms, and home businesses. Aitkin County has pledged $25,000 to this project.
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 8
MN Senate: 10, 07
MN House: 07A, 10A