New maps showing broadband availability in Berrien County and how it will improve once a new state grant is implemented are now up on the county’s website. Midwest Energy and Communications was awarded a tentative grant of more than $27 million last month through the state’s ROBIN program. Speaking to colleagues Thursday, Berrien County Commissioner Teri Freehling reported the county staff has updated the broadband maps to show what access will look like once that grant is applied. She tells us anyone can check them out.
“It’s an interactive map for any of the townships or any of the citizens to be able to go and see if their parcel or address is included in that,” Freehling said.
Freehling serves on the county’s broadband committee, BC Bit. Berrien County Administrator Brian Dissette says the broadband project this new grant will fund will make a big difference.
“BC Bit’s focus is on getting broadband connectivity to 100% of the county,” Dissette said. “We, without a doubt, have a lot of work to do, but this ROBIN grant, the rollout of that, ensures that we are getting so much closer to that full county coverage. So, it’s really, really exciting news.”
Dissette told commissioners the “snapshot is pretty amazing.” You can see the maps here. Assuming final approval is granted, Midwest Energy and 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. The project will also give new broadband options to residents in areas that are already served by other providers but are near the areas Midwest is focusing on.
