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Michigan officials outline BEAD, ROBIN and Mitten plans and timelines for last‑mile broadband
Summary
The Michigan High Speed Internet Office briefed the House Communications and Technology Committee on BEAD, ROBIN and Mitten programs, eligibility and timelines, saying the state identified 248,253 BEAD‑eligible locations and will prioritize fiber while using a mix of technologies for remote sites.
Jaishana Hicks, director of legislative affairs for the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, introduced an update from the Michigan High Speed Internet Office to the House Communications and Technology Committee on March 10. Eric Frederick, chief connectivity officer for the office, outlined program goals, funding and a timeline for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and related efforts.
"Our mission is to create a more digitally equitable Michigan where everyone can leverage technology to improve their quality of life," Frederick said, describing twin goals of universal availability and increased adoption.
Frederick said ROBIN (Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks) is an earlier program funded with $238 million in grants that leveraged about $218 million in matching private funds; 14 subgrantees are building 32 projects that together aim to connect more than 72,000 locations by the end of 2026, with about 17,000 already connected.
On BEAD, Frederick said Michigan—s…
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