84 properties in Lincoln Township that currently lack broadband internet access will soon be served now that Midwest Energy and Communications is expanding the service throughout Berrien County.
Lincoln Township Supervisor Dick Stauffer told trustees this week the work should be complete by next fall. He told us there are some properties, however, that the township just can’t seem to help.
“The lakefront is a very expensive location to serve, and the current providers that the county has talked with haven’t shown any interest in getting across I-94 at this point,” Stauffer said.
Stauffer said when MEC installs the new fiber, there will be a $100 connection fee for each customer looking to sign up. The actual cost per parcel for the high-speed internet to be rolled out is $650 per property, which is partly being paid for by a state grant MEC received for its expansion around southwest Michigan.
The township also chipped in $54,000 for the project. Trustees noted they did allocate $200,000 for broadband, so there is still some left to pursue other projects.
