Michigan – Thanks to a large government investment of $1.5 billion, Michigan has started a major endeavor to close the digital divide within the state. Derived from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) initiative, this money comes under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law President Biden started. The primary aim is to ensure that every resident of Michigan has access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet.
With Michigan getting one of the largest allocations, the $42.45 billion BEAD program marks a massive federal effort to increase internet connectivity over the United States.
“Every Michigan family deserves access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “I am grateful to the Biden-Harris administration and our congressional delegation for passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made the largest federal investment in internet infrastructure ever,” she added.
The allocated money is set for the deployment or improvement of high-speed internet networks all over the state. One noteworthy feature of the program is its adaptability; any remaining money will be allocated to projects including workforce development initiatives and high-speed internet training once the main deployment targets are met.
Governor Whitmer further underlined the strategic relevance of the project. She said that the investment will link over 200,000 homes and small businesses to high-speed internet therefore greatly strengthening the state’s broadband infrastructure.
“I am so proud that we are getting these resources out the door so we can continue building up the essential broadband infrastructure every community needs,” Whitmer added.
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The impact of this funding was also emphasized during a recent visit by a senior Biden-Harris Administration official to MARA Technologies’ manufacturing facility in Holly, Michigan. There they observed the manufacture of SF-4X Optical Line Terminals (OLTs), important parts conforming with Build America, Buy America (BAVA) criteria. The BEAD program depends on these criteria since they guarantee that the infrastructure created by this project supports American labor and production.
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Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), praised Michigan’s proactive approach. Davidson also praised the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office for their strong proposal to link every citizen to high-speed internet connection, therefore enabling Michigan to move its Internet for All efforts from planning to execution.
This federal money is more than just a cash boost; it’s a basic first step toward changing Michigan’s digital landscape, guaranteeing that the state’s infrastructure satisfies the needs of the contemporary digital economy, and making high-speed internet available to all.