Rural access to broadband internet service is a major factor impacting the ability of rural Michigan residents to compete and participate in the economy. A comprehensive policy is vital for the state of Michigan to provide for universal broadband access statewide that is equitable in cost and quality in both rural and urban settings.
We support:
Allowing municipalities to utilize special assessment districts in expanding broadband.
Tax credits or other incentives for residents purchasing internet services for educational or employment purposes.
Encouraging federal, state, and local municipalities to allow public and private internet providers easy and affordable access to build and attach equipment to public-owned communication towers, water towers, and ground.
Public-private partnerships to develop cooperative, alternative funding measures to expand broadband in under-served areas.
Michigan internet providers taking advantage of the available state and federal government loans and grants.
Continued cooperation between the Michigan Public Service Commission, broadband providers, and groups such as Connect Michigan to expand unlimited high-speed internet access in rural and under-served areas.
Publicly available well-defined/site-specific high-speed internet coverage maps.
Allowing municipalities to create service thresholds when negotiating broadband franchise territories.
Requiring electric utilities to allow access to their power poles for the hanging of high-speed fiber-optic lines.
Encouraging rural electric co-ops to continue to expand their offerings of broadband internet.
A report from the Michigan Office of High-Speed Internet on the progress of state and federal money deploying new broadband technology.
We oppose granting of exclusive franchises to broadband providers in municipalities without guaranteed minimum service.