Kittson County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #23 of 87 | 95.92% |
| 2023 | #23 of 87 | 92.69% |
| 2022 | #27 of 87 | 87.57% |
| 2021 | #42 of 87 | 80.13% |
| 2020 | #36 of 87 | 80.11% |
| 2019 | #44 of 87 | 74.99% |
| 2018 | #30 of 87 | 71.38% |
| 2017 | #82 of 87 | 3.46% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Kittson County: Upgrading Rank to Green
Kittson County ranks 23 (again) for broadband access out of 87 counties. But same ranking doesn’t mean no progress; coverage has continued to increase. Looks like Kittson was awarded MN gran money in 2023, which helped with the increase. Kittson got another grant for 2024, which should get them even closer.
Their ranking has gone from yellow to green
- Over the years, Kittson County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
- Kittson County will benefit from a 2024 $3,066,630 MN Broadband grant award that will serve 263 locations.
- Kittson County will benefit from 1 line extension awards (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
- Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $534,000 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, Kittson ranked 67 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
Household Density
1.7
Number of Providers
10
As of 2023 · Source: MN DEED
Households with Device Access
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
statewide
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
No
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes
2014 – Wikstrom Telephone, Kittson, Marshall, Roseau Broadband Extension – Award $425,000
2016 – WIKSTROM TELEPHONE COMPANY WIKTEL NW MN – GRANT: $950,823
2017 – Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband – GRANT $1,307,785
2019 – Wikstrom Telephone – Wiktel NW MN Broadband Project – GRANT $1,151,526
There is a matrix of Minnesota broadband adoption projects; it includes projects from this area.
2022 – Wikstrom Telephone Co. Inc, $665,699.00 (serving Beltrami, Kittson, Lake of the Woods and Marshall)
2023 – Wikstrom Telephone Company – Wiktel NW MN Broadband 2023 – GRANT $2,531,488
2024:
- County: Kittson
Wikstrom Telephone Co, Inc.
Wiktel – NW MN Broadband RD9
Grant: $3,066,630
Local Match: $1,022,210
Total Budget: $4,088,840
Wiktel will deploy fiber to 263 customers in remote areas in Lake of the Woods, Kittson & Marshall counties, all part of far Northwestern Minnesota, passing 263 locations, many of which are businesses and community anchor institutions. The speed improvements will be from no service in some areas to Gigabit speeds. Wikstrom began providing Internet services in 1996 for local schools and libraries and since have installed DSL broadband service to over 2500 customers, and fiber to over 5000 customers. Many school children in the project do not have access to broadband for their school work, relying on time at the library or the few buses that have wifi capability. Cellular coverage is particularly spotty in rural areas, limiting alternatives.