To support the countywide effort to improve access to the internet in Calhoun, the Calhoun County Broadband Task Force urges county residents and business owners to do an individual challenge to the national Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) broadband maps. This process will ensure that the federal government knows whether each of our residents and businesses have available internet options, or not, so that funding allocated to our community will be sufficient based on the actual need to improve internet coverage.
The deadline for submitting challenges to be reflected in federal grant allocations is January 13, 2023. However, challenges will be accepted after that deadline, as well, and are still worth submitting as these maps will likely also impact how state dollars are distributed.
In addition to individual challenges that households can conduct, Calhoun County will also "bulk" challenge these maps with data that we have. We will challenge the map's location data to ensure it matches the address data that the County's GIS Department manages. Also, in working with the Michigan Merit Network, County Government will bulk challenge the availability data with information gained from the countywide broadband survey conducted in 2021.
Calhoun County Government, with support from the Broadband Task Force and in partnership with local internet service providers, anticipates applying for state and federal funds to assist with the expansion of broadband internet. Ensuring the data on the FCC maps is accurate is a step toward making sure unserved areas can receive this federal funding.
Help us spread the word about these important map challenges! We've developed a toolkit of resources to assist with spreading the word about this initiative. Visit calhouncountymi.gov/broadband and find the links under the graphic, which provides assets and copy that can be used to assist with promotion.
