A local broadband company has received $6.3 million to build a reliable, high-speed internet network in Hillsdale and Branch counties. The money comes from a federal grant program that was funded by President Joe Biden’s economic recovery program.
DMCI Broadband LLC, based in Reading, will use the funds to build out a fiber optic network to 1,400 homes and businesses in Branch and Hillsdale. Once completed in the fall of 2027, the network will run 90 miles across the two counties.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Program, the project is part of President Joe Biden’s Internet for All effort to bridge the divide between people who have easy access to reliable internet and those who do not. That “digital divide” became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic when many people had to rely on free Wi-Fi from businesses and public buildings because they didn’t have internet access at home.
DMCI’s award is split evenly between a $3.1 million grant and a $3.1 million loan. The 1,400 locations receiving the network include 94 farms, 56 businesses, and four educational facilities.
WHY IT MATTERS:
Many companies hesitate to expand broadband in rural America where there are too few customers to justify the expensive installation costs. The undeveloped terrain can also pose physical obstacles that drive up installation costs even more. In response, the federal government is providing grants and low-interest loans to help defray the upfront costs of building out broadband networks.
According to the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI), about one-third of Michigan households do not have reliable, fast internet. The impact can be dramatic. Students with access to high-speed internet at home have an average GPA of 3.18, while those without home internet access have a lower average GPA of 2.81. Students who rely solely on their phone for the internet have an even lower average GPA of 2.75. Additionally, small businesses with their own websites earn more yearly, and businesses that use social media regularly are three times more likely to have recently created a new job; farmers report a 6% increase in revenue after gaining high-speed Internet and households see an estimated economic impact of $1,850 annually.
Once complete, DCMI’s users will be able to upload and download data at speeds of 100 megabits per second – the rate that the Federal Communications Commission deems “high-speed.”
Key Facts:
- Local broadband company DMCI Broadband LLC has received $6.3 million from a federal grant program to install reliable, high-speed internet in Hillsdale and Branch counties.
- The funding for the project comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Program, which is part of President Joe Biden’s Internet for All initiative designed to reduce the “digital divide” highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The expansion will reach more than 1,400 locations including 94 farms, 56 businesses, and four educational facilities.
