[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6540510,"mediaKeyId","3407093-20f6448c04b8d0a68719c4267d980fd7","parentId",3407093,"title","Committee adopts minutes of May 13 without objection","audioSeconds",26,"startMs",439000,"endMs",465000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3407093-20f6448c04b8d0a68719c4267d980fd7&start=439&end=465","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3407093-20f6448c04b8d0a68719c4267d980fd7/thumbnail_439000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6540510/Michigan/Committee-adopts-minutes-of-May-13-without-objection","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540510-d0187bd36c43952096994500374879d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506975&Signature=gdgaI-DQYr5Y4tiLp0T7~1UIoOnihxWRt5MnL6hwRNb65LmmL8hoqyVCFI3YndZ9-OyAAe4YDygCOgO80EP3kjbEImAmznFBQnBtmuJfvUVy9kdcsYw12YNiTru6Htd-JeMQ6NW6ZMkcmcGzOk6yXlueeW~u0S6XQa9VqMkv3R0-CjgHjkq6Ljdlt0OtRL1Uc~L2s1T69eaRg2lv3BAnapDEW8zSVo~wDgMRe9VDuAu4g2pZFulJOrqAXmD5EVh1aGi3mZNOwx04cDf7cJcCAlVM-bPv43vKTwu8tp5MGgkxjhkx0FJwJfQFHph0LBafRJhRq~h6fQ8b~r7i8rKBAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan Legislature","date","2025-05-19T18:15:57Z","article","Representative Schmaltz moved to adopt the minutes of the committee’s May 13 meeting; there were no objections and the motion carried. Chair Green then opened the hearing presentations on broadband, FirstNet and digital assets.

Ending

The committee proceeded to scheduled presentations after adopting the minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Communications and Technology - 5/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Communications & Technology Committee adopted the minutes of its May 13 meeting by voice vote without objection.","taxTitle","2025 House Legislature MI, Michigan","taxId",77683,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6540514,"Committee hears overview of state crypto policy and local entrepreneur pitches esports token project",502,3063000,3565000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3407093-20f6448c04b8d0a68719c4267d980fd7&start=3063&end=3565","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3407093-20f6448c04b8d0a68719c4267d980fd7/thumbnail_3063000.jpg","/articles/6540514/Michigan/Committee-hears-overview-of-state-crypto-policy-and-local-entrepreneur-pitches-esports-token-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540514-074dc3704867d2f561602b1c9e9e45b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506975&Signature=MjBnySaLIbqFg~6SQZk-pdTFYNe0sjUYtZQGwvliUMnt5d~dhJZlUczfOUcZ7LF0Irh010fIKdXyOq4DTJZjzPwrD8NkGt9eJ-6HRqRX0xNjiCxBkGnGXoISqaK9sBx7Hf4~xrw3w4WqhB8fYrISFrJUbyaQHgXiO8J-qL1ysYl6BHnTJMoz-2vatTCY1umCzU9zH7ouY1oeERx36hB7LPW5~RLKSOQLpEXuj1Exl33WD6jLqyYDoQIQmFFWDONm4FEEaNvo-2sLUkfhuMTvdcpkcYgR8D-WTk9P5uWhSXuBkDq4WlHEGpseoRvHSYPSntrGRqxZU1t94rTksZ5fnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Eric Peterson, policy director at the nonprofit Satoshi Action Fund, told the committee Michigan could expand digital asset policy to provide regulatory clarity for stablecoins, state investment guardrails and unclaimed digital property regimes.

Peterson said yesterday the U.S. Senate advanced the GENIUS Act addressing stablecoins and that states can create pathways to register stablecoin businesses locally. He recommended a \"belt and suspenders\" approach for state pension or treasury investments — proposals typically limit allocations to a small percentage of a fund and restrict holdings to large‑market‑cap digital assets — and described recent state activity on that approach in other states. Peterson also said states are revising unclaimed‑property rules so lost digital assets can be preserved in native form for a period before liquidation.

On consumer protection, Peterson said kiosks and cash‑to‑crypto transactions have been used in social‑engineering scams and that states can adopt protections targeted at vulnerable populations without banning the asset class. He also said custodial exchanges are already regulated in Michigan with money‑transmission requirements, and that allowing individuals to self‑custody is itself a consumer‑protection policy.

Public comment: esports token and local initiatives

During public comment, Dee Jones described work on esports labs, a connected‑learning initiative with Baxter Community Center and a Play Fuel Token (\"PFT\") project that he said is intended to advance digital‑finance access and educational opportunities. Jones identified himself as an esports entrepreneur and said he connected AT&T to Baxter Community Center; committee staff suggested he contact legislative offices to arrange follow‑up meetings.

Ending

Peterson invited follow‑up meetings with the committee to discuss model legislation and consumer protections; lawmakers asked about consumer safeguards and scams and heard that exchanges and kiosks are already subject to regulatory regimes in many states.","A policy director from Satoshi Action Fund urged Michigan to create clearer state rules for digital assets, stablecoins and pension allocations; a local entrepreneur described an esports and token project during public comment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6540519,"AT&T and FirstNet officials brief committee on coverage, deployables and recent investments in Michigan",788,594000,1382000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3407093-20f6448c04b8d0a68719c4267d980fd7&start=594&end=1382","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3407093-20f6448c04b8d0a68719c4267d980fd7/thumbnail_594000.jpg","/articles/6540519/Michigan/ATT-and-FirstNet-officials-brief-committee-on-coverage-deployables-and-recent-investments-in-Michigan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540519-9e0ed1f33a1b84309c4330eaf4b343b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506975&Signature=fH29N9ecpXS9bHg7JQHOrvKsRdzcYrvZyx-4Xom-7NiolVt3e6dGJBEFRemlaqVQ70s6jXmxriHVwXJeVtxdl4k-8bkfPzr63mlB9WvZS-k4WOz51UbiON2un41XzYrBzSmf-32v4Rna2nRKS9-1f7ZlaCaolkp6sGu5ptvG-ZkN0iS~Z9JrLXVAhQbpJqk34tt48LCwKw9Dg37WBXGE~ZwW-Ia2qL4hTCHm5WAVKZ8BUqKCacVHNeY3AxZcimEeXwJEhzi1fenz1eQpFJK~lCx6n6XjhQHFwNMi-Wv3vvuqFSQb9QEdujWaFUyasaAyRnsnX1HoeoR1pijdjQyEtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","David Lewis, state president for AT&T Michigan, and Brent Schroeder, FirstNet territory manager for Michigan and Wisconsin, briefed the House Communications & Technology Committee on AT&T’s Michigan investments and FirstNet operations for public safety.

Lewis said AT&T invested nearly $2.4 billion in Michigan network infrastructure from 2020 to 2024 and described the company’s fiber and 5G buildout goals. He said AT&T has deployed fiber to more than 760,000 customer locations (described in testimony as \"AT&T Fiber is now available to more than 760,000 customer locations in more than a 15 communities\") and stated the company aims to reach more than 50 million locations nationwide with fiber by 2029.

FirstNet overview and emergency response

Schroeder described FirstNet’s origin, operation and recent activity. He said Congress acted in 2012 to set aside band 14 spectrum for public safety and that AT&T was awarded a 25‑year contract to build and maintain FirstNet in 2017. He told the committee that, as of April 2025, FirstNet supports more than 7 million connections and more than 30,000 agencies nationally, and AT&T has added roughly 2.99 million square miles of coverage area and 240 additional sites in Michigan since 2017 (including 23 state‑selected rural expansion sites).

Schroeder described deployable assets and the network’s role during recent northern Michigan ice storms: two deployable assets were already housed in Michigan, additional assets were brought in from neighboring states, about 300 generators were staged and deployed, and AT&T personnel worked in state emergency operations centers and local emergency operations centers during the multi‑day event.

Technology and future plans

Schroeder said FirstNet deployed nationwide S1U encryption across the entire network and is building a standalone 5G core targeted for early 2026. He also said AT&T plans to integrate AST Mobile satellite direct‑to‑handset capability on FirstNet beginning in late 2025 and to pursue an open RAN modernization at sites in Michigan with a national target completion of 2027.

Quotes and committee response

Schroeder said, \"FirstNet is the only nationwide network that has encryption along the entire route.\" Chair Green thanked the presenters and encouraged committee members to learn more about FirstNet as a resource for first responders; the committee had no questions following the presentations.

Ending

Lewis and Schroeder offered to take follow‑up questions from members and provided contact information for staff follow up.","AT&T representatives described recent network investments in Michigan, FirstNet coverage and deployable assets used during recent ice storms, and plans for satellite integration and open RAN modernization.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6540524,"MiHi outlines BEAD round‑1 results, defends scoring change and reports termination of digital equity grant",745,1461000,2206000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3407093-20f6448c04b8d0a68719c4267d980fd7&start=1461&end=2206","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3407093-20f6448c04b8d0a68719c4267d980fd7/thumbnail_1461000.jpg","/articles/6540524/Michigan/MiHi-outlines-BEAD-round1-results-defends-scoring-change-and-reports-termination-of-digital-equity-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540524-d9da94bd6ab33f9a2f9e9a67ecfc655b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506975&Signature=XfU0XT98sv4KWPMOanDK2kE9aOHQG6Y8rnrTY83E2Z~u7FnL7~rGuY8aVYTwFQHFipdvQ1zbQMtalh7jQEzayzjV5tJnpIvtI6C~ZMbmSkBfU37wFXYhZd5oq7Ub7iZUadC6FjAQlwO17~iayDP8-Ixpl4-tN7ewrIlN7nESqsF0tGSZXbFQ75QPMYvok8o68VNcINg5JQoeOEPzV8irsDUVhIeqo1iZkf1BB0gFBBrn95ONswAWo3Jk9ofD1C-D-g3FhXtbjd1dZT5UYZosSCn-pFufN2FkpF4Yqztysy8SQf8yGwYxxpEOcsYoOVARf2YfdWL4-mSO5wICgz8uag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Eric Frederick, chief connectivity officer at the Michigan High Speed Internet Office (MiHi), told the Michigan House Communications & Technology Committee that MiHi completed its first round of project applications for the federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) program and is performing deconfliction of overlapping proposals.

MiHi is implementing BEAD to bring high‑speed fiber to unserved locations across the state. Frederick said the office received 394 project applications from 34 applicants that together included more than 194,000 unique BEAD‑eligible locations; before deconfliction, the projects covered about 476,000 BEAD‑eligible locations. He said the applications requested roughly $2.4 billion in subsidy and $1.15 billion in private matching funds against $3.557 billion in total project costs reported by applicants.

Why it matters: BEAD is the largest federal broadband infrastructure program to date; Michigan's allocation and how the state manages scoring, deconfliction and later rounds will determine which rural and underserved households get funded connections and when.

MiHi context and actions

Frederick described MiHi's other programs, including a $238 million “Robin” program intended to bring fiber to about 72,000 homes and businesses (MiHi reported it has passed about 20,000 locations, or 27 percent of the target). He said MiHi analyzed the FCC's broadband serviceable location (BSL) fabric and removed approximately 16,000 erroneously identified locations from BEAD eligibility in Michigan after review and provider evidence.

On the first‑round results, Frederick said applicants proposed projects ranging from three locations up to more than 40,000 locations and project costs ranging from about $1,400 to $300 million. Using the submitted subsidy requests, Frederick calculated a rough per‑location subsidy request of about $5,053 and said that, after deconfliction, MiHi estimates roughly $600 million will remain available for a planned second application round.

Scoring change, outreach and timeline

Several lawmakers raised concerns about a MiHi decision to lower a minimum scoring threshold for applicants during the first application window. Chair Green and Representative Shriver asked why the change was not more clearly communicated and whether public hearings were held. Frederick said MiHi received the suggestion from Internet service providers during public office hours held weekly during the application window and that the office submitted the change to NTIA, which treated it as a nonmaterial change and approved it after about a month. Frederick told the committee, “we wanted to make sure that we had participation in the program because we have to get to all of those places,” adding the change was intended to avoid excluding providers from applying in very expensive, hard‑to‑build areas.

Frederick acknowledged the communication gap and said he would “work to better communicate that” in the future.

Digital equity grant termination

Frederick told the committee MiHi had received an award of $20.5 million under the NTIA's digital equity capacity grant program (referred to in testimony as the “Mitten program”), but last Friday the office received a termination of award and is working to close out that grant. Frederick said the terminated grant had been expected to support regional digital navigators and serve an estimated 200,000 veterans, rural residents, aging individuals and low‑income households via training, device distribution and other services.

Next steps and timeline

Frederick said MiHi is completing reviews and scoring for round 1 and expects to open a second round of BEAD project applications in mid‑summer; states were allowed a 90‑day extension from NTIA for their final proposals, pushing final proposal submission later into the fall. MiHi will wait for any additional NTIA policy guidance before launching round 2, Frederick said, because federal policy changes—rumored for mid‑June—could alter requirements for the program.

Ending

Committee members offered to assist MiHi in communicating with federal partners; Frederick agreed to return with updates. Frederick repeatedly urged that the second application round will create another opportunity for providers who did not apply in round 1 to participate.

","Michigan High Speed Internet Office reported results from BEAD round 1, defended a last‑minute scoring change after industry feedback, said deconfliction left an estimated $600 million for round 2 and announced NTIA terminated the state's $20.5 million digital equity capacity grant.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts minutes of May 13 without objection

Committee hears overview of state crypto policy and local entrepreneur pitches esports token project

AT&T and FirstNet officials brief committee on coverage, deployables and recent investments in Michigan

MiHi outlines BEAD round‑1 results, defends scoring change and reports termination of digital equity grant