Internet

Three years ago, Presque Isle Electric & Gas began developing a new division of the company to bring high-speed internet to the region.

Mid-Michigan residents expressed how a lack of access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet has impacted their lives. The visit was part of the High-Speed Internet Office's statewide listening tour.

The US Treasury Department is sending Michigan more than 250 million dollars to fund high-speed internet infrastructure projects. Officials say the pandemic underlined the vital need for reliable access to the internet.The grant affects almost 68,000 households in Michigan. States competed for the funding from the American Rescue Plan to create projects that could help people cope during the pandemic.

Federal officials said on Thursday that the newly approved funds from the American Rescue Plan will bring affordable, high-speed internet to nearly 68,000 homes in Michigan.

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.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist supports a plan to bring high-speed internet service to residents in the rural Upper Peninsula and thumb areas of the state.

According to a new study by Connecting Mason County, more than half of Mason County residents are unsatisfied with their internet connection, and 12…