June 7, 2023

Since 2021, the Calhoun County Broadband Task Force has been working toward solutions to expand affordable, high-speed internet to our residents and businesses. This email shares updates on what has been accomplished so far during 2023, and what to expect over the coming months.

Earlier this year, a report was issued by the County’s consultants, CTC Technology and Energy, outlining possible options for improving connectivity in Calhoun County and increasing the number and success of residents who use the internet.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) for Broadband Network Expansion was issued at the end of 2022. Five internet service providers (ISP) responded, and the County supported two grant applications—from ACD.net and Comcast--seeking funding through Michigan’s new Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure (ROBIN) program.

The County’s Communications and Geographic Information Services (GIS) staff took the lead in submitting a countywide challenge to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) maps showing where internet is currently available. On the map, 9,558 locations in Calhoun County are labeled to have high-speed internet, and we believe they really do not. As of the beginning of June, 2,247 have been confirmed by the Internet Service Providers to agree with our assertion that those households are in fact not served. This challenge helps our county be more eligible for grant funding.

In April 2023 the Calhoun County Broadband Task Force formed a Digital Equity Subcommittee that will work on Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) education and outreach, and also helping to coordinate a countywide plan for improving resources for residents needing help with internet access and usage.

Several County employees have continued to be engaged with broadband groups around Michigan by attending conferences and meetings with Merit Network, the Michigan High Speed Internet Office Listening Tour in Coldwater and Battle Creek, and Federal Program Officer Ben Fineman from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. We also keep in touch with other county administrators to discuss broadband solutions, and our Communications staff presented Calhoun’s Broadband Initiative at Merit Network’s Go Boldly! Conference in May. Our Broadband Task Force continues to be seen as a leader in Michigan with the work we’ve done with surveys and other community input, efforts to correct national availability map data, engineering consulting, legislative advocacy and conversations with our local internet providers. Our investment of American Rescue Plan Allocation (ARPA) funds, and our progress so far will position us well for our share of billions of dollars of new federal funds soon to be allocated for broadband expansion initiatives. We are committed to increasing affordability and access for Calhoun County residents.

Next steps: 

• Continue to have strategic conversations with internet service providers as potential partners to seek funding and develop plans to expand to all locations within the County high-speed, affordable internet.
• Monitor and help ensure corrections for Calhoun County addresses are made to the national FCC map, and then participate in challenging discrepancies on the Michigan map.
• Close the digital divide by building up local digital resources and tools in the County.

For more information, contact

Lucy Blair, Communications Director

Calhoun County Government

lblair@calhouncountymi.gov; 269-781-0926