Berrien County is in line for expanded broadband internet under a plan released by the state this week. Midwest Energy and Communications this spring applied for a$27.6 million grant from Michigan’s Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks, or ROBIN, program. Midwest’s Amy Pales tells us the state has recommended its application be approved. Assuming final approval is granted, Midwest Communications will roll out fiber high speed internet in townships across the county, making broadband available to 5,000 homes where it’s currently unavailable. Pales says they’ll also add new broadband options in communities they pass through, expanding their reach by 10,000.
“Once we get all of the final information on the funding, we can map out that plan,” Pales said. “So, we expect in the fall we should have a sense of who’s going to be built when.”
MEC submitted a $56.4 million plan for the ROBIN program for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties. It includes $15.5 from the company, $27.6 million from the state, $4.5 million from Berrien County, and $2.7 million from the affected townships. We’ll know in August if the grant gets final approval, and if it is, work to build out broadband could start in the fall.
Under Midwest’s plan, broadband will be rolled out in parts of the following townships:
Baroda
Berrien
Bertrand
Buchanan
Chikaming
Galien
Hagar
Lake
Lincoln
New Buffalo
Pipestone
Sodus
Three Oaks
Weesaw
The villages of Eau Claire and Galien will also participate.
