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 to provide statewide universal broadband access that is equitable in cost and quality in rural and urban settings.
We support:
- Allowing county, township or municipalities to utilize special assessment districts to expand 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 developing cooperative, alternative funding measures to expand broadband in underserved areas.
- 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 underserved 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 expanding broadband offerings.
- A report from the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office on the progress of new broadband technology deployed through state and federal money.
We oppose granting exclusive franchises to broadband providers in municipalities without guaranteed minimum service.