CHEBOYGAN COUNTY, Mich. (WPBN/WGTU) — A broadband expansion project was announced Thursday in Cheboygan County.
A ribbon cutting ceremony at the Burt Township Hall celebrated the start of the expansion that will help connect more than 1,500 homes and small business in rural communities.
Through the FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Program and the Michigan ROBIN Broadband Grant Program, homes and small businesses will have access to a faster connection.
“Spectrum’s expansion in Cheboygan County positively impacts over 1500 previously un-served homes and small businesses in nine communities. So that’s 1500 addresses that can telecommute, take part in telehealth which these days is so important, distance learning, also very important,” said Joan Movich, Manager, State Government Affairs for Spectrum.
Spectrum leaders says the goal of the grants is to improve the quality of life for those living in rural areas.
“I remember the phone calls I get when we finally build out of somebody’s house who doesn’t have to drive to McDonald’s to do the kids homework anymore. That’s a very real thing, it happens more than anybody knows,” said said Christopher Spray, Area Vice President of Field Operations for Spectrum.
Spray added that the coverage upgrades includes mobile devices for rural customers.
“When they get spectrum mobile they’ll actually be able to use their mobile phone at home too and not have to depend on the landline so much which is a really neat opportunity for people who live in a more rural area and everybody who comes over their phones will tie to that spot too.”
“Broadband service can no longer be considered a luxury, especially in incredibly remote areas like northern Michigan and the Eastern U.P.,” said State Senator John Damoose. “Spectrum’s latest expansion is delivering high-speed connectivity and internet services to Cheboygan County and this type of infrastructure investment in rural Michigan is a boon for our small, rural communities like Aloha, Koehler, Mullett, Tuscarora and Waverly Townships.”
Cheboygan County Administrator Jeffery Lawson said upgrading internet service is key to the local economy.
“I think all of us went through the storm here this spring. And when we lost electricity, we lost a lot of things right behind that, really close. When we lost internet service, we really see that impact. So economic development wise, we heard today, people operate from their homes, goods and services. We can access anything in the world that we want to by broadband. You can work from home now. Telehealth is moving forward. Mental health advisement that you can just do from your living room.”
The Cheboygan County locations included in the expansion project include:
Aloha TownshipForest TownshipGrant Township Inverness TownshipKoehler TownshipMentor TownshipMullett TownshipTuscarora TownshipWalker TownshipWaverly Township