Itasca County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #32 of 87 | 91.62% |
| 2023 | #31 of 87 | 88.39% |
| 2022 | #31 of 87 | 85.5% |
| 2021 | #29 of 87 | 86.65% |
| 2020 | #28 of 87 | 84.14% |
| 2019 | #27 of 87 | 83.06% |
| 2018 | #23 of 87 | 79.44% |
| 2017 | #21 of 87 | 76.35% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Itasca County: Recent Grant Will Help Improve Access
Itasca County ranks 31 (Down one place) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have had incremental but steady growth in the last two years. In February 2024, Paul Bunyan announced the expansion of FTTH to 1,500 locations in Itasca, St. Louis, and Aitkin Counties. That should help close some gaps but not to the point of earning a green versus yellow ranking.
- Over the years, Itasca County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
- Itasca County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant.
- Itasca County will benefit from 12 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $26 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, Itasca ranked 48 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
- Itasca County is home to the Blandin Foundation and the community is engaged in broadband development; in early 2022, they looked at the local digital divide before and after/during COVID
- In 2023, Paul Bunyan Telephone was awarded $10 million in ReConnect funds for networks in Hubbard, Itasca, and St. Louis counties.
Household Density
8.3
Number of Providers
17
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
2015 – Paul Bunyan Central Itasca County Fiber – Grant Award: $1,980,000
2016 MEDIACOM HARRIS TOWNSHIP – GRANT: $224,369
2016 – PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS HUBBARD, BECKER & ITASCA COUNTIES – GRANT: $1,742,232
2017 – Paul Bunyan Communications – North Central Fiber – GRANT $802,620
Paul Bunyan Communications – North Central Minnesota Fiber Project– GRANT $2,562,916
2023 – Paul Bunyan Telephone awarded $10 million in ReConnect funds for networks in Hubbard, Itasca, and St. Louis counties
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 8
MN Senate: 02, 03, 06, 07
MN House: 02B, 03A, 06A, 07A