The bipartisan Building Michigan Together plan includes some of the largest infrastructure investments in Michigan history. With an aim to connect more households and small businesses to high-speed internet, the plan will improve the access and adoption of broadband throughout the state. $250.6M is included to establish a grant program for governmental/educational institutions to operate or construct a broadband network.
Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist noted that their administration has set a goal to provide 100% access to high-speed internet and 95% adoption by households during the next five years. “We’re working to make sure the internet access projects can be started and completed in rural communities so that kids, families, and seniors can really take advantage of the benefits that everything the internet brings us,” he said. They have also created the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office and the Connecting Michigan Task Force to coordinate the state’s high-speed internet work and align the efforts with economic development opportunities. Read more here.