Meeker County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #51 of 87 | 84.27% |
| 2023 | #55 of 87 | 78.04% |
| 2022 | #61 of 87 | 72.85% |
| 2021 | #77 of 87 | 53.86% |
| 2020 | #75 of 87 | 53.86% |
| 2019 | #74 of 87 | 45.08% |
| 2018 | #57 of 87 | 45.08% |
| 2017 | #57 of 87 | 38.13% |
Red dots represent unserved locations.
Wired (wireline) and wireless (fixed, non-mobile) served location percentage at various speeds.
Meeker County: Developing Hometown Tools
Meeker County ranks 62 (down six places) for broadband access out of 87 counties. Meeker County has had steady, incremental increase in access since 2017. Meeker County is making good progress. They have several providers interested in the area, yet with less than 80 percent coverage, they retain their yellow ranking.
Perhaps most hopeful for Meeker County is the creation of MC Fiber, under Consolidated Telephone Company and Meeker Cooperative Light and Power, which is located in Meeker County.
- Over the years, Meeker County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
- Meeker County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant (.
- Meeker County will benefit from 10 line extension awards.
- 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, Meeker ranked 50 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
- In December 2022, Meeker Cooperative were awarded five successful Border to Border grants totaling $327,000 to expand broadband in the county.
Household Density
14.8
Number of Providers
23
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
2019 – Nuvera Communications, Inc. – Hutchinson W Project – GRANT $346,282
MN State Grant awarded in 2021: Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Lake Koronis – GRANT $41,927 This last mile project will serve approximately 28 unserved and seven underserved locations in Union Grove Township in Meeker County.
2022 – Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Big Swan Lake – GRANT $94,182
2022 – Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Collinwood Lake – GRANT $104,337
2022 – Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Dunns & Richardson Lakes – GRANT $80,202
2022 – Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Lake Erie – GRANT $19,093
2022 – Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Long Lake – GRANT $29,702 (Learn more)
2023 – ReConnect grant connecting nearly 500 people, 124 farms, 16 businesses, and one educational facility to high-speed internet in Kandiyohi, Meeker and Stearns counties.
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 7
MN Senate: 16, 17, 29
MN House: 16A, 17A, 29A