Stevens County

Table of goal data by year

Year	Rank	100/20 Mbps
2024	#4 of 87	99.72%
2023	#18 of 87	96.06%
2022	#13 of 87	97.08%
2021	#14 of 87	96.79%
2020	#11 of 87	96.79%
2019	#10 of 87	96.74%
2018	#7 of 87	96.74%
2017	#5 of 87	96.73%

Red dots represent unserved locations.

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

Stevens County: So Close

Stevens County ranks 4 (up 14 points) for broadband access out of 87 counties.

Stevens County ranking will notch back to yellow in part because of the reductions seen on the map and in part because of the lack of movement forward for so many years.

• Over the years, Stevens County (or cities within) has not invested in matches for any successful MN Broadband grants.
• Stevens County will not benefit from a 2024 MN Broadband grant.
• Stevens County will benefit from 1 line extension award (Rounds 1 and 2), which extend broadband to individual locations.
• Last years’ estimates indicated that it would cost $1.1 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, Stevens ranked 25 using Microsoft’s Digital Equity Tool, which looks at various factors of a community.
• Stevens County has been involved with broadband for years – going back to working with Blandin Foundation-led, Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (2009-2012) effort.