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DETROIT NEWS: Michigan gets $920M to expand high-speed internet to underserved areas

Michigan has been awarded $920 million in federal funding to carry out the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program and boost high-speed internet access to unserved areas of the state.

This funding, announced this week by the National Telecommunication and Information Administration, is meant to connect nearly 200,000 homes, businesses and institutions through the BEAD program. State officials said plans include laying down more than 31,000 miles of fiber-optic infrastructure over the next four years to link up both unserved and underserved areas in Michigan.

State officials described the grant as "the single largest investment in high-speed internet infrastructure in Michigan and the nation’s history," noting the private sector has agreed to contribute $550 million in matching funds, bringing the total investment to $1.47 billion.

The funding for the $42.45 billion grant program was passed as part of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure package adopted under President Joe Biden. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, applauded the award Wednesday, noting that about 30% of Michigan households lack affordable high-speed internet.

"The approval of Michigan’s BEAD proposal bridges a gap in ensuring that every community, regardless of zip code or income, can benefit from the opportunities that broadband provides," Dingell said in a statement.

Michigan had the third-highest number of BEAD-eligible locations in the country, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Michigan High Speed Internet Office.

“We’re committed to expanding opportunity in every corner of the state, and we know that access to reliable, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury,” Eric Frederick, chief connectivity officer for LEO, said in a statement.

“This helps Michiganders get access to education, visit doctors, apply for jobs and so much more. Plus, the economic impact has a ripple effect, supporting jobs that build this infrastructure.”