Midland, Michigan – All of Midland County should expect to have access to high-speed internet by the end of 2029, thanks to Michigan’s receipt of $920 million in federal funds to administer the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program that will continue expanding high-speed internet access statewide.

As the single largest investment in high-speed internet infrastructure in Michigan and the nation’s history, the 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. Internet Service Providers (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.

“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,” said Eric Frederick, Michigan High-Speed Internet Office Chief Connectivity Officer. “This funding will help us continue building critical infrastructure allowing us to bring high-speed internet statewide. 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.”

In Midland County, 5,403 households – or around 15.4% -- are still unserved or underserved. Of these, 2,968 are covered by previous broadband programs and are currently being worked on by existing ISPs in the county. The remaining 2,435 locations are now covered by the recently approved BEAD program, which represents about 6.9% of the total locations.

The Midland County Internet Connectivity Committee (MCICC) has been working to keep local players informed about different funds and assisted with funding applications to ensure all locations in Midland County will be covered. The committee included representatives from Midland County who worked diligently to provide accurate maps of the county’s coverage.

“Moving forward, the MCICC will work to help facilitate the efficient delivery of services with ISPs,” said Bridgette Gransden, Midland County Administrator/Controller. “We want to ensure high-speed internet is delivered as fast and affordable as possible to every Midland County resident.”

Ten ISPs were selected to receive BEAD funding for work in Midland County. From this list, 20% are satellite providers.

“Having multiple ISPs working in Midland County will be positive long-term as it will provide competition and keep costs reasonable,” said Tony Stamas, MBA President and CEO.

Each ISP receiving BEAD funding will be required to sign a contract with the State of Michigan and complete the work by December of 2029. Through BEAD funding and previous government funding programs, all locations in Midland County will be covered by this date.

“We are excited that there is a clear path forward for access to high-speed internet for everyone in Midland County,” said Sharon Mortensen, Midland Area Community Foundation President & CEO. “Having affordable internet at acceptable speeds is an essential need in today’s world.”

To find out more information about coverage across Michigan, visit the Michigan Broadband Map at www.michiganbroadbandmap.com. This site allows users to input their address and find out the status of their coverage for BEAD and other funding sources. Please stay tuned for additional information and updates via the MCICC website at www.mbami.org/broadband.