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U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow at Northern Michigan University

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U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow was in Marquette Wednesday morning to tour Northern Michigan University’s new Cybersecurity Institute.

She’s been working with NMU to expand access to high-speed broadband internet in rural areas through the school’s Educational Access Network.

Stabenow said investments in high-speed internet were part of the infrastructure bill just passed in the Senate.

“First of all, when we talk about infrastructure today, it’s not just roads and bridges and water systems—it’s high-speed internet. It is, and it needs to be viewed as a basic part of infrastructure in the United States in the 21st century.”

The senator said expanding access to broadband internet allows just about anyone to work from anywhere in the U.P and allows kids to be educated even if their school building is closed.

Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.