Harbor Area Broadband Team Joins New Technology Enhancement Program

HARBOR Inc. teams up with Connect Michigan in a plan for building a technology-ready community

Harbor Springs, MI – HARBOR Inc.’s Broadband Team has joined forces with Connect Michigan by enrolling in the Connected community certification program, an initiative that offers a comprehensive way to bridge the digital divide impacting many communities including the Harbor Springs area by building community partnerships to assess broadband access, adoption, and use issues in the area. HARBOR Inc.’s high-speed Internet committee, at work since 2007, is now a Broadband Team working to provide connectivity to area homes and businesses.

“Broadband access is a crucial component of economic development,” said HARBOR Inc. Executive Director Rachel Smolinski. “The Connected community certification program will facilitate the building of a comprehensive action plan for developing a technology-ready community by reviewing the technology landscape, developing regional partnerships, working with our Broadband Team, and conducting community assessments.”

Connect Michigan is the designated entity for broadband mapping and planning in the state and is a public-private partnership between the Michigan Public Service Commission and Connected Nation to help provide high-speed Internet to underserved areas like Harbor Springs.

“We look forward to working with HARBOR Inc. on these efforts,” said Jan Kellogg, economic specialist, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance. “Northern Michigan has to have fast, reliable, and affordable broadband in order to stay competitive.”

The HARBOR Inc. Broadband Team is working to discuss options and plans to include additional area partners to work together on providing Internet to the underserved areas. HARBOR Inc. also will participate in the Connect Michigan Community engagement program, which guides communities through an assessment of their overall broadband and technology progression.

“Northern Michigan is a beautiful place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Eric Frederick, program manager for Connect Michigan. “Quaint towns, abundant natural resources, and friendly neighbors attract residents to northern Michigan and broadband enables them to stay by supporting entrepreneurs, creating jobs, and connecting with resources across the globe.”

“We have a great deal of work to do and by partnering with Connect Michigan, we believe we can find solutions that will provide broadband to our area,” said Smolinski.

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Michigan CBC Continues the Work of Leveraging Technology as a Platform for Innovation

Lansing, MI - The Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee (CBC) is set for another informative meeting on December 15.

The CBC is a group of representatives from K-12 education, higher education, broadband service providers, non-profits, tourism, business, agriculture, government, and other organizations that have an interest in improving Michigan’s broadband availability and encouraging meaningful adoption.

In June, Connect Michigan, in partnership with the Michigan Public Service Commission, convened the first CBC meeting with a mission to maximize Michigan’s opportunity for using broadband as a platform for technological modernization through transformational solutions.

Since that time, there have been some exciting developments in the state as three communities have engaged Connect Michigan’s innovative new technology development program.

Committees from Clare County, Barry County, and the Harbor Springs region have all joined the Connected community certification program, an initiative that facilitates the building of comprehensive action plans for developing technology-ready communities by reviewing the technology landscape, developing regional partnerships, establishing local teams, and conducting thorough community assessments.

At the upcoming CBC meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from eight guest presenters who will discuss broadband and technology-related projects and programs from across the state including:

• Shared Services – Opportunities and Updates: Jessica Moy – Department of Technology Management and Budget
• Rural Utilities Service Telecommunications Programs: Ron Mellon – United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service
• Michigan Benefits Access Initiative: Nancy Lindman – Michigan Association of United Ways
• Michigan Virtual University: Julie Swartz and students from Maple Valley High School, Vermontville, Michigan, and Jay Bennett from the Michigan Virtual University
• Center for Community and Economic Development: John Melcher, Michigan State University
• Utilizing School Technology for Positive Community Impact: Tom Richardson, Van Buren County ISD
• Michigan State University Gig.U Initiative and Other Projects: Tremaine Phillips and Steve Webster, Prima Civitas Foundation
• Exploring Broadband and Economic Development in Michigan: Tyler Borowy, Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University

“Everyone on the CBC works every day to expand the access, adoption, and use of broadband technology throughout the state. The holiday season is a perfect time to take an important step back and listen to others and be reminded of how that work impacts the lives of Michigan students, families, communities, and other organizations,” said Eric Frederick, program manager for Connect Michigan. “We are excited for the new year and the new opportunities it brings to expand broadband in Michigan.”

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Clare County First in State to Join Innovative Broadband Expansion Effort

Leaders enlist in Connect Michigan’s Connected program to bridge technology gap, boost economy, and quality of life

Clare County, MI - Clare County leaders Tuesday became the first in the state to enroll their community in an innovative program that seeks to boost the local economy and quality of life for residents though increased access, adoption, and use of broadband.

Staff from Connect Michigan, the statewide nonprofit promoting broadband expansion, led 16 Clare County leaders through the steps of the new “Connected” community certification program that offers a comprehensive and localized way for communities to bridge the digital divide impacting many communities.

While broadband access at basic speeds is 97 percent (excluding mobile access) across Michigan, that figure plunges to 75 percent for Clare County’s 31,000 residents.

Clare County’s rolling hillsides, heavy foliage, and low-density housing have hampered high-speed Internet development – a factor that research has shown to also be a barrier to economic development.

“We have observed since the beginning of our efforts that the most significant challenge facing the deployment of broadband technology in Clare County is what attracts many people in making their choice to live here - beautiful, rural communities with vast amounts of open and wooded space,” said Steven Kingsbury, former elected city commissioner, treasurer, finance director, and director of information technology for the City of Clare.

This digital gap led local officials to begin working on fixed wireless broadband expansion plans and eventually start working with Connect Michigan for assessments of local adoption and use - all with positive results.

“Partnering with the Connected Nation and Connect Michigan initiatives provides our local group access to additional resources to further our project,” Kingsbury said. Connected Nation is Connect Michigan’s parent organization.

The Clare County Broadband Network Group’s efforts have already successfully connected several governmental buildings during the last two years.

“We have also in this timeframe connected all four townships on the east side of the county through the deployment of 150-foot or taller wireless communication towers and at the present time we are continuing to work with several other townships to connect them through the wireless network,” Kingsbury said.

Another major step forward in closing the digital divide came when officials decided to enroll in the Connected community certification program.

“From the beginning of our project we recognized that broadband availability is important in promoting our area to potential home and/or cottage owners as well as commercial and industrial developments. We also fully appreciate how important deployed availability of this technology is in leveling the educational opportunities for the school aged children and young adults living throughout the county,” Kingsbury said.

“The Clare County Broadband Network Group has been following the progress of the Connect Michigan program since mid-summer and had requested that once Connect Michigan launches its Connected program that they be one of the first communities that I visit and present them an opportunity to become a certified Connected broadband community,” said Tom Stephenson, Connect Michigan regional planning consultant.

The initial meeting was held in Harrison and was attended by community leaders including county commissioners, several township supervisors, and municipal officials who decided to immediately move forward with the certification process.

“For me, the room was full of heroes, a proud group of hard working people that have fallen onto hard times, yet are determined to lift themselves and the citizens they serve out of dismal times and toward a better life,” Stephenson said.

The Connected certification program entails building a comprehensive action plan for developing a technology-ready community by reviewing the technology landscape, developing regional partnerships, establishing local teams, and conducting thorough community assessments.

“Our initial meetings with representatives from the Connected program have been very positive,” Kingsbury said. “We have accomplished a great number of our initial goals and are anxious to continue our momentum in connecting local governmental entities into our governmental network and also in expanding broadband access to the unserved and underserved residents of our county. We are also very interested in sharing with other communities how a grassroots, community focused and centered initiative can get broadband connectivity into rural Michigan.”

“I commend Clare County officials and Connect Michigan for working together to help bring broadband to more rural Michigan residents,” said Sen. Darwin Booher, R-Evart. “In an ever increasingly digital and online world, access to new technologies, like broadband, are vital to keeping Michigan workers competitive for jobs and preparing our students for success.”

“I am excited to see this initiative start right here in Clare,” District 97 Representative Joel Johnson said. “The need for broadband access in our rural areas is a challenge, and success here will lead to more deployment throughout Michigan.”

“The Clare group realizes that making broadband available to all its citizens was only part of the solution, and they still needed to deal with adoption and usage issues,” Stephenson said. “The Clare group was well organized and had a broadband plan for their county; they knew that Connect Michigan along with its regional partners could help provide the necessary resources to address those adoption and use issues and allow them to fulfill their dream. Their dream is to have affordable broadband available to all of its citizens and to have a sign on every road entering Clare County say, ‘Welcome to Clare County, a Certified Connected Community.’ If you listen to their story, hear their passion and see the determination on their faces, you know that dream will someday come true.”

# # #

About Connect Michigan: As the designated entity for broadband mapping and planning in the state of Michigan, Connect Michigan is a public-private partnership between the Michigan Public Service Commission and Connected Nation to unite local governments, businesses, and citizens in the goal of increasing broadband service in the state’s underserved areas. For more information about what Connect Michigan is doing to accelerate technology in Michigan’s communities, visit www.connectmi.org.

About the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC): The MPSC is a state agency within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. For more information about the MPSC visit www.michigan.gov/mpsc.

About Connected Nation: Connected Nation is a leading technology organization committed to bringing affordable high-speed Internet and broadband-enabled resources to all Americans. Connected Nation effectively raises the awareness of the value of broadband and related technologies by developing coalitions of influencers and enablers for improving technology access, adoption, and use. Connected Nation works with consumers, community leaders, states, technology providers and foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered on a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. www.connectednation.org.

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Connect Michigan Releases 2011 Residential Broadband Adoption Survey Results

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39% of Michigan residents still do not subscribe to broadband at home

Lansing, MI – Today, Connect Michigan released new residential broadband adoption survey results revealing the top trends in technology use among key demographics in Michigan. The preliminary indicators from the survey are available online, which gives a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities for expanding broadband in targeted sectors. The survey reveals that approximately 39% of Michigan residents are still not using broadband at home. Most notably, the majority of low-income, senior, disabled adult, and African-American households are without broadband at home, leaving them facing an uphill battle in keeping up with essential online resources, job and educational opportunities, and social services.

“The results of the residential broadband survey will allow Michigan stakeholders to have more detailed information available for broadband planning strategies as we move forward,” said Robin Ancona, director of the Telecommunications Division of the Michigan Public Service Commission.

This survey is conducted in support of Connect Michigan’s efforts to close Michigan’s digital gap. The survey explores the main barriers to adoption – cost, digital skills, and relevance – and also provides unique insights into the national broadband landscape.

Connect Michigan State Program Manager Eric Frederick said, “These survey results will help develop programs to ensure all Michigan residents have access to and are aware of the benefits of broadband.”

The survey reveals that:

• 44% of Michiganders living in rural areas do not subscribe to broadband service at home.
• When comparing to the 61% of all households that do subscribe, there remain large gaps among key demographics:
       o 65% of low-income households;
       o 44% of Hispanic households; and
       o 73% of seniors are without broadband.
• 55% of low-income households with children are without access to this essential tool at home.
• The biggest gap is among low-income seniors. Only 4% of low-income seniors subscribe to broadband and only 20% have a computer at home.
• The largest barrier to non-adopters is relevance - 27% of non-adopters say there isn’t Internet content worth viewing. The second most common barrier cited is that it is too expensive.
• The top reasons Michiganders say they started using broadband is because they realized it was worth the cost or it became available.

These results, and comparisons to many others, are available on Connect Michigan’s new consumer trends widget. This interactive tool gives people the ability to view, share, and download the results. Connect Michigan will use these survey results to target solutions in communities based on the demographic and economic barriers that the surveys indicate are most relevant to those communities.

This release comes on the heels of the FCC’s newly released plans to launch a comprehensive public-private initiative called Connect to Compete, aimed at extending digital literacy training and providing employment assistance to communities. Connect Michigan’s parent organization, Connected Nation, is one of the top strategic advisors in the national initiative.

Connect Michigan’s 2011 residential survey was conducted in the summer of 2011 and includes responses from 2,400 residents. The survey was conducted as part of the State Broadband Initiative (SBI) grant program, funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.


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Connect Michigan Report Reveals Expanded Broadband Availability and Higher Speeds in Many Michigan Counties

Updated Planning Report Presented at the Second Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee Meeting

Lansing, MI — Connect Michigan today released an updated assessment of the broadband market in Michigan. Data collected and reflected in this update indicate much higher broadband availability in many Michigan counties, both at higher speed tiers and by certain platforms, than the data collected in the fall of 2010. The report is made public online at Connect Michigan's website. 

“These new data lead us to estimate that the number of households in Michigan that can’t get broadband is over 27 percentage points lower than our previous estimates,” said Eric Frederick, Connect Michigan program manager. “This is significant progress toward our goal of ensuring all Michiganders are able to work, learn, and connect online. I want to thank the provider community and members of the Collaborative Broadband Committee for their commitment to broadening our economic opportunities through broadband expansion.”

Key findings from this report:

(Note: The data in this report are subject to data validation.)

• From October 2010 to April 2011, the data indicate a change from 121,701 to 87,786 unserved households (or 2.32% of total households), a drop of over 27 percentage points.

• Increases were estimated across all speed tiers, including a jump from 11.4% to 37.25% in households that can subscribe to 25 Mbps download or greater. The 50 Mbps speed tier availability grew from 4.32% to 21.74% of households.

• The report indicates increases in the number of providers offering cable, fiber, fixed wireless, and mobile wireless platforms.

“This report highlights both the gains and the challenges in developing a vibrant broadband infrastructure and in promoting a broadband adoption mindset,” said Brian Mefford, CEO of Connect Michigan’s parent organization Connected Nation. “Overcoming adoption aversion is a key component for effectively implementing broadband technology to foster social and economic inclusion.”

The report was conducted in partnership with the Michigan Public Service Commission and the Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee as part of the Michigan State Broadband Initiative (SBI) grant program.

These continued assessments of the state’s broadband landscape are designed to be a catalyst for stimulating stakeholder discussions on key policy goals and strategies to expand and enhance broadband opportunities for all Michigan residents.

The report was released today at the second meeting of the recently formed Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee (CBC). The CBC is a group of representatives from K-12 education, higher education, broadband service providers, non-profits, tourism, business, agriculture, government, and other organizations that have an interest in improving Michigan’s broadband availability and encouraging meaningful adoption.

In May of 2010, Connect Michigan produced an initial map of broadband availability to identify served and unserved areas across the state. Since the initial map’s release, Connect Michigan has collected and released new data every six months, with updates in October 2010 and April 2011.

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Connect Michigan Releases Report on Broadband Access and Consumer Technology Habits

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67 percent of Michigan residents subscribe to broadband, while 82 percent have a home computer

Lansing, MI – Connect Michigan, in partnership with the Michigan Public Service Commission, today released a new broadband planning report bringing the state one step closer to closing the digital divide. This report — an assessment of the state’s broadband landscape — is designed to be a catalyst for discussions on key policy goals and strategies to expand and enhance broadband opportunities for all Michigan residents.

“Michigan is making steady progress in identifying ways to expand broadband availability and adoption,” said Orjiakor Isiogu, chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). “The report issued today pinpoints the areas where broadband does not yet exist, and it helps us better understand the barriers that have prevented people from adopting broadband where it is available.”

“We are pleased to partner with the Michigan Public Service Commission, broadband service providers, and leaders of the healthcare, tourism, education, agriculture, and business sectors to address the economic development opportunities that are possible through broadband,” said Brian Mefford, CEO of Connect Michigan’s nonprofit parent organization, Connected Nation. “This report presents Michigan policymakers and community leaders with a clear picture of Michigan’s broadband landscape — data critical for translating technology trends into actionable plans that will help us promote broadband use statewide.”

Connect Michigan conducted surveys of residential technology use to understand broadband demand trends across the state. The residential findings are a resource for anyone interested in understanding the common uses of technology in the state. The purpose of this research is to better understand the drivers and barriers so that planning efforts can begin tackling the core issues that affect technology and broadband adoption. Importantly, it demonstrates how local officials can utilize Connect Michigan resources to increase broadband availability in the future.

Highlights from the report:

• Statewide, 82 percent of all residents own a home computer. This translates into over 1.3 million adults in Michigan without a home computer, and close to three-fourths of those without a computer say they do not believe they need one.

• Ten percent of adults surveyed report that their only way of accessing the Internet is at a location outside their home.

• Michigan’s 67 percent broadband adoption rate indicates that approximately 30 percent of Michigan households have broadband available, but for various reasons are choosing not to subscribe to the service in the home.

• Forty-three percent of Michigan residents who do not have home broadband service say it is because they do not need Internet service or don’t understand the benefits it affords. For many, it is a matter of making the technology relevant for the user.

• Sixteen percent of Michigan households who do not subscribe to home broadband service report a lack of available broadband service. In many cases, the consumer is simply not aware that a broadband service provider is in their area. Connect Michigan has published a real-time broadband availability map that allows consumers to search for area providers.

• Eight percent of non-computer owners report they don’t have one because computers are too complicated, a digital literacy barrier that can be addressed through training programs.

Connect Michigan is working to unite public and private partners to increase the access, adoption, and use of broadband throughout the state. Connect Michigan recently hosted the first Collaborative Broadband Committee meeting. The committee has representatives from various sectors, each bringing unique perspectives to address technology use in schools, hospitals, rural communities, and businesses.

All Michigan residents are encouraged to visit the Connect Michigan website, www.connectmi.org, to join in this important initiative and offer feedback. The website gives residents a one-stop portal where they can find broadband providers at their address, check their current Internet speeds, notify officials of unserved areas, and share stories of how high-speed Internet has affected their lives.

What others are saying about the broadband report:

“The Connect Michigan report is useful (for) anyone who is interested in the facts on broadband in the state today. It reveals an adoption gap that far exceeds the gap in availability in our state. (Michigan Cable Telecommunications Association) is proud to be a part of the Collaborative Broadband Committee, providing this critical service across our state, and working to address the adoption barriers so that more Michigan residents get connected.”
- Colleen McNamara, executive director, Michigan Cable Telecommunications Association

“The Library of Michigan is proud to be a part of the important initiative that Connect Michigan is undertaking to expand technology access and use across the state. The resources that are available online and in this report are going to be helpful as we continue to implement and improve public access computing centers in public libraries. The real-life benefits of broadband are limitless and this collaborative effort helps to inform Michigan residents about e-government resources, employment tools, small business support, online literacy training, and so much more.”
- Sheryl L. Mase, assistant director, Library of Michigan, Department of Education

“We applaud Connect Michigan and the MPSC for their efforts to quantify the factors involved in broadband adoption. As their research shows, broadband services are available to 9.7 of 10 households in Michigan. Telecommunications Association of Michigan (TAM) members are doing their part by investing heavily to bring faster and faster Internet access to rural communities across the state.

“What the Connect Michigan report shows is that broadband availability far exceeds broadband adoption. Only 67 percent of residential households subscribe to high-speed Internet service. The two most common reasons people give for this is they don’t feel they need it or they don’t own a computer. We are eager to work with Connect Michigan to help focus attention on these issues so every person who wants broadband service can get it.”
- Scott Stevenson, president, Telecommunications Association of Michigan

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About Connect Michigan: As a public-private partnership, Connect Michigan partners with technology-minded businesses, government entities and universities to accelerate technology in the state. The work of Connect Michigan is made possible by support from the Michigan Public Service Commission. For more information about what Connect Michigan is doing to accelerate technology in Michigan’s communities, visit www.connectmi.org.

About the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC): The MPSC is a state agency within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. For more information about the MPSC visit http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc.

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Connect Michigan, MPSC Announce New Effort to Expand Broadband Opportunities in Michigan

Connect Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting

Lansing, MI — Today, Connect Michigan and the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) convened the first Collaborative Broadband Committee (CBC) meeting, bringing together stakeholders from across the state.

The CBC was established to maximize Michigan’s efforts to expand vital broadband in its communities. The CBC is a group of representatives from K-12 education, higher education, healthcare, broadband service providers, non-profits, tourism, business, agriculture, government, and other organizations that have an interest in improving Michigan’s broadband availability and adoption. The group will meet quarterly and will work with the MPSC and Connect Michigan to provide guidance and solutions to broadband challenges.

During the inaugural meeting today, MPSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu emphasized the need to bolster Michigan’s broadband capacity in today’s knowledge economy.

“A wide variety of Michigan businesses and organizations depend on broadband services to conduct everyday business,” said Isiogu. “Joining forces with such groups makes sense as Michigan seeks to maximize economic development opportunities for job creators. The addition of these groups to the efforts of the MPSC and Connect Michigan will help expand opportunities for broadband service in Michigan.”

A report by Connect Michigan released in February shows businesses with a broadband connection are likely to generate more revenue and jobs. Michigan businesses with high-speed Internet connections report having median annual revenues $200,000 more than businesses without broadband.

In 2010, the Connect Michigan Residential Technology Assessment revealed that close to 2.5 million residents did not subscribe to broadband service — an essential utility and a modern lifeline to quality jobs, information, and vital education and healthcare services.

“The Connect Michigan research demonstrates the importance of access, adoption, and meaningful use of broadband,” said Mark McElroy, chief strategy officer for Connected Nation, Connect Michigan’s parent organization. “The Connect Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee is to be commended for its commitment to practical solutions for Michigan communities."

Phillip Brown, director of government affairs and advocacy for Connected Nation, updated the CBC on a statewide planning report that will be released on June 30. This milestone report will give an in-depth assessment of Michigan’s broadband landscape.

In 2009, Connect Michigan partnered with the Michigan Public Service Commission to engage in a comprehensive broadband planning and technology initiative. The program began by gathering provider data to form a statewide broadband map, and has progressed to the planning and development phase. Currently the initiative is expanding to spur community engagement in local technology, and is implementing projects designed to address digital literacy, improve education, provide access to global Internet resources, and stimulate economic recovery.

# # #

About the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC): The MPSC is a state agency within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. For more information about the MPSC visit http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc.

About Connect Michigan: As a public-private partnership, Connect Michigan partners with technology-minded businesses, government entities and universities to accelerate technology in the state. The work of Connect Michigan is made possible by support from the Michigan Public Service Commission. For more information about what Connect Michigan is doing to accelerate technology in Michigan’s communities, visit www.connectmi.org.

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Michigan Businesses With Broadband Create Jobs, Connect Michigan Report Shows

Download: Business Technology Adoption Overview

Survey of Michigan businesses establishes link between high-speed Internet use and bottom line

Lansing, MI — A new report by Connect Michigan shows businesses with a broadband connection are likely to generate more revenue and jobs. Michigan businesses with high-speed Internet connections report having median annual revenues $200,000 more than businesses without broadband

“In the digital economy, businesses must embrace broadband, and other transformative technologies like it, in order to remain competitive and viable,” said Brian Mefford, CEO of Connected Nation, Connect Michigan’s parent organization. “The Internet is driving products and services to the marketplace in an environment where creativity and innovation are both reinforced and rewarded.”

Connect Michigan, a statewide public-private partnership working on broadband expansion, has released a new study on technology usage among businesses in Michigan. The new Business Technology Assessment reveals how technology is being used by businesses and where gaps still remain. The assessment is designed to measure technology adoption and the awareness of available broadband service among Michigan businesses, and establish benchmarks for these metrics.

Findings from this survey illustrate a significant correlation between high-speed Internet adoption and a business’s bottom line. Specific examples include:

• Businesses with high-speed Internet connections report having median annual revenues $200,000 more than businesses without broadband.
• About one-half of all Michigan businesses (50%, or approximately 118,000 businesses) have a website. Median annual revenues among businesses that use broadband and have a website are double the state average.
• Broadband can enable job creation and enhance quality of life. 24% of Michigan businesses let employees telework.
• Statewide, more than eight out of ten Michigan businesses (84%, or approximately 197,000 businesses) use computers for their work functions. Among those that do not use a computer, the largest barrier is the belief that they do not need computers for their work, followed by those that report that their business is too small to benefit from a computer, or that computers are too difficult to use.

Other key highlights:

• 10% - Broadband-connected Michigan businesses that need more bandwidth
• $67 - Median monthly cost for broadband for Michigan businesses
• 75% - Broadband adoption in the Michigan manufacturing sector
• Across the state, approximately 164,000 Michigan businesses use broadband for their daily business needs. This includes 63% of small businesses, or approximately 78,000 businesses with fewer than five employees.

Increasing broadband capacity among businesses is just one area that Connect Michigan is focused on. Across the state, Connect Michigan is collaborating with local partners to increase broadband accessibility and use in vulnerable areas.

Connect Michigan has partnered with the Michigan Public Service Commission to create the state’s first broadband inventory maps and engage in a research project to better understand broadband adoption across the state. The project is focused on gathering accurate and reliable data on the broadband market to aid in planning, the creation and facilitation of local technology planning teams, and the establishment of computer ownership and Internet access programs.

The program is funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program (SBDD). Connect Michigan’s broadband mapping efforts are in compliance with NTIA’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the SBDD and will be reflected in the national broadband map set for release on February 17, 2011.

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Related Links:

Nonprofit Helps Fast Internet Reach Rural Leelanau (CBS Detroit)

President Obama Turns to Michigan to Launch National Wireless Initiative

Download: Fact Sheets on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

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About Connect Michigan: As the designated entity for broadband mapping and planning in the state of Michigan, Connect Michigan is a public-private partnership between the Michigan Public Service Commission and Connected Nation to unite local governments, businesses, and citizens in the goal of increasing broadband service in the state’s underserved areas. For more information about what Connect Michigan is doing to accelerate technology in Michigan’s communities, visit www.connectmi.org.

About Connected Nation:Connected Nation is the broadband mapping agent in twelve states and territories under the NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development grant program. This work comprises approximately 42 percent of the country’s landmass and encompasses approximately 39.5 million households. Connected Nation is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that expands access to and use of broadband Internet and the related technologies that are enabled when individuals and communities have the opportunity and desire to connect. Connected Nation effectively raises the awareness of the value of broadband and related technologies by developing coalitions of influencers and enablers for improving technology availability and use. Connected Nation works with consumers, community leaders, states, technology providers and foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered around a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. www.connectednation.org.

Connect Michigan Awarded $3 Million in Recovery Act Funding

Funding will Allow Mapping Efforts Under the SBDD Program to Continue forThree Additional Years — Fulfilling the Five-Year Program

Lansing, MI — The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded Connect Michigan approximately $3 million in additional funding, under the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program (SBDD), to further implement broadband initiatives over the original five-year award period. Connect Michigan is a statewide broadband expansion initiative and public-private partnership between the Michigan Public Service Commission and Connected Nation.

The additional funding will allow broadband mapping efforts under the SBDD program to continue for three additional years. The program also focuses on projects that relate to broadband planning activities, such as the identification of barriers to the adoption of broadband service and information technology services, the creation and facilitation of local technology planning teams, and the establishment of computer ownership and Internet access programs.

"Since the first broadband grant, we know that individuals, using Michigan's new interactive broadband map, have been successful at convincing broadband providers to expand their services," said MPSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu. "The additional funding announced today will implement even more broadband initiatives across the state."

“Jobs and business innovation depend on broadband,” says Brian Mefford, CEO of Connected Nation, Connect Michigan’s parent organization. “We are excited to take this initiative to the next level to ensure Michigan’s communities have the broadband capacity to compete in today’s technological economy.”

Connect Michigan will continue to engage in broadband data collection activities that will capture complete and up-to-date datasets from the state’s broadband providers and will result in regularly-scheduled updates and further enhancements to the state’s interactive broadband map.

The Connect Michigan initiative released its first iteration of the map in May 2010 at www.connectmi.org. The additional funding will allow the state to prioritize and track progress over a longer period of time. This data will also be used to populate the comprehensive, interactive, and searchable national broadband map that NTIA is required by the Recovery Act to create and make publicly available by February 17, 2011.

As the designated entity for broadband mapping in the state of Michigan, Connect Michigan is a public-private partnership between the Michigan Public Service Commission and Connected Nation to unite local governments, businesses, and citizens in the goal of increasing broadband service in the state’s underserved areas.

To learn more about this grant please visit http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/grantee/connected-nation-michigan.

Related Links:

News: Nonprofit Helps Fast Internet Reach Rural Leelanau, WWJ 950

Press Release: Connect Michigan Releases the First Complete Maps for the Statewide Broadband Initiative

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MPSC: Michigan Awarded $1.8 Million Grant to Launch Broadband Mapping and Planning Initiative

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today announced that Michigan has received a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to launch a comprehensive broadband mapping and planning initiative called Connect Michigan. The funding, provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), will enable the state to collect data and develop a detailed map of existing broadband service.

“Extending high-speed Internet access to every corner of the state is part of our effort to diversify Michigan’s economy and create jobs,” noted Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. “The comprehensive coverage map developed with the Recovery Act funds will help us open the door to the economic opportunities afforded by faster, more reliable Internet access to un-served and underserved communities throughout the state.”

“The map that will be created as a result of this grant will be a crucial tool for businesses, customers and policymakers to identify areas that still lack service and close the digital divide,” added MPSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu.

Connect Michigan is a partnership between the Michigan Public Service Commission and Connected Nation, a national leader in broadband mapping. An initial map is scheduled to be complete by the spring of 2010. The state will use the information gathered during the two-year project to plan broadband expansion efforts and spur investment in un-served and underserved areas.

Michigan residents are encouraged to visit the Connect Michigan Web site -- connectmi.org – to test their Internet speed, take a technology assessment and learn more about the initiative.

View entire press release here.