Wright County
| Year | Rank | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #65 of 87 | 75.43% |
| 2022 | #49 of 87 | 78.02% |
| 2021 | #31 of 87 | 86.15% |
| 2020 | #32 of 87 | 82.51% |
| 2019 | #33 of 87 | 81.02% |
| 2018 | #21 of 87 | 80.61% |
| 2017 | #65 of 87 | 29.26% |
Wright County: Still Stalled at 80 Percent Coverage
Wright County ranks 65 (down 16 points) for broadband access out of 87 counties. They have 75.43 percent coverage to broadband of 100 Mbps down and 20 up. They have 2708 households without access to broadband at that speed. Estimates indicate that it will cost $25.1 million to get to ubiquitous broadband in the county.
Last year’s report from the Institute for Local Self Reliance looked at broadband in Monticello and Buffalo in Wright County.
In December 2022, the Office of Broadband Development (OBD) awarded Border to Border grants that will benefit Wright County
- Spectrum received $2.8 million to cover 626 households and 12 businesses
- Meeker Cooperative received $104,337 to serve 86 unserved rural households, 16 underserved rural households and 5 farms in central Minnesota.
- Spectrum received $1 million to provide reliable high speed internet to 387 homes and 25 business in portions of the City of St. Michaels and the Township of Rockford in Wright County
Wright County is a code yellow community in part because their percentage of access has been stalled and the reporting is inconsistent.
In 2023, OBD awarded Border to Border grants that will benefit Wright County
- Arvig received $879,747 to build to 256 households, farms and businesses throughout parts of rural Wright County
- Frontier received $829,800 to provide 5 Gbps symmetrical service to 316 households, businesses, community anchor institutions and farms
- Meeker Cooperative received $1.2 million to serve 525 households, businesses and the French Lake Township Hall in central Minnesota
Also, Meeker and Midco have applications in to the latest (still open) round of Border to Border funding; results should be available in early 2024.
Wright County has a lot going on for broadband right now. That will help them increase coverage and prepare them to take advantage of federal (BEAD) funds. The retain their yellow ranking.
Household Density
72.4
Number of Providers
27
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
2023 – Frontier – Wright County – City of Clearwater – GRANT $829,800
2023 – Arvig (Tekstar) – Wright County Area Fiber Extension – GRANT $879,747
2023 – Meeker Coop Light & Power – French Lake Township – Wright County – GRANT $1,270,132
2022 – Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc., $2,832,155.00 (Learn more)
2022 – Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association (Vibrant Broadband) – Collinwood Lake – GRANT $104,337
Spectrum Mid-America, LLC managed by Charter Communications Inc. – Wright County Project 4 – GRANT $1,008,146
2017 – Midco (Midcontinent Communications) – Annandale East – GRANT $537,050
Meeker Coop. Light & Power Assoc. (Vibrant Broadband) – Lake Louisa/Lake Marie Project – GRANT $297,940
There is a matrix of Minnesota broadband adoption projects.
Government Districts
U.S. Congress: CD 6
MN Senate: 17, 29, 30, 34
MN House: 17A, 29A, 29B, 30A, 30B, 34A