The Sault City Commission heard a plan by Cherry Capital Communications to expand high-speed internet access throughout the eastern Upper Peninsula on April 15.
The plan would install new internet infrastructure by laying fiber optic lines from Sault Ste. Marie to St. Ignace.
Cherry Capital said the plan would implemented under the "dig once" policy, which reduces costs by overlapping the installations with current and future road construction projects.
"We try to promote dig once policies so that we're not disturbing the soil and we're not disturbing people's lifestyle building infrastructure," said Tim Maylone, Cherry Capital Communications CEO. "Might as well do multiple infrastructures at the same time."
After installation, the line would then be considered an open access network, which means other internet providers can build upon the new infrastructure and expand their services to individual homes and businesses.
Maylone said this will give residents different choices for internet providers, something many residents have not been given.
"One of the things we found when interviewing people is they don't feel they have a choice. And what we encourage everybody to do is demand more, and make sure it's done right. Demand more out of your provider," Maylone said.
Maylone said that members of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians support the expansion plan. According to Maylone, tribal leaders want to see all rural and under-served populations in the eastern Upper Peninsula gain access to high-speed internet.
