Internet

Northern Michigan University will receive $27 million to replace telecommunications equipment it purchased from Chinese manufacturers that is now considered a security risk.

It marks steady progress on the way to making 72,000 connections across the state under a current grant program initiated through the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office known as ROBIN (Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks).

The millions of dollars in grant money come from 2021 bi-partisan infrastructure law and will be distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Last year, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op reached their 1,000th fiber internet customer. Now, they have over 4,400 customers and are roughly halfway through their construction roadmap.

The Michigan High-Speed Internet office has begun presenting plans to expand internet access across the state after an influx of federal funding.

Michigan office travels the state to get input on internet needs

Parts of eastern Chippewa County, including Detour and Drummond Island, will likely not gain internet access or working landlines for another 24-36 hours.

A $10.5 million grant from the federal government aims to improve internet access for some of Michigan's rural communities.

A spending bill awaiting Governor Gretchen Whitmer's signature would include $250 million for improving access to broadband internet.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive directive on Monday that instructs state departments and agencies to develop plans to use federal recovery funds to improve broadband internet service in Michigan.