Internet Connectivity Committee

Improving Internet Access and Reliability for Businesses and Residents

High-speed internet access is more important to our community than ever. As virtual work, learning and telemedicine have become more commonplace, it’s crucial that our businesses and residents have affordable access to this essential utility. 

The Midland County Internet Connectivity Committee was formed in 2019 with the mission to provide high-speed internet in Midland County which is critical for our community to thrive. The goal is to provide all Midland County households, businesses and schools with access to affordable, quality broadband. The Committee works with industry experts to identify high-priority areas and cost-efficient measures to deliver high-speed internet to significant portions of the population helping to close the digital divide.

Committee Objectives:

• “All Midland County households have access to affordable, adequate/quality, broadband”
• All – All who desire the service
• Access - Focus on households, businesses, and organizations
• Affordable – Cost in-line with best practices regarding this utility
• Adequate – Sufficient service upload/download speeds and reliability

Progress So Far

• Coverage in Midland County: Through several legacy state and federal programs, as well as organic growth among existing Internet Service Providers (ISPs), approximately 93% of Midland County already has high speed internet (at least 100 megabits per second (mbs) download/ 25 mbs upload)
• BEAD Program: As the single largest investment in high-speed internet infrastructure in Michigan and the nation’s history, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is a federal program with the intent of delivering high-speed internet to locations across the U.S. that are still either unserved or underserved. ISPs will contribute an additional $550 million in matching funds, bringing the total upcoming investment in Michigan’s high-speed internet infrastructure to $1.47 billion.
• The remaining 7% of residences will be covered by the BEAD program. Most of these locations are outside the city in the townships.
• The MCICC has been in constant communications with our existing ISPs and new ones that have won BEAD contracts to monitor their progress.