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Benton Harbor staff say BEAD award bypassed city; AT&T permit status remains unclear
Summary
City staff reported Benton Harbor did not benefit from the BEAD broadband rollout and is in contact with a third party (PFA) about other efforts; staff said AT&T submitted a permit two years ago but no work has been observed.
A city staff member identified in the meeting as Mr. Little told the Public Relations Committee that Benton Harbor did not receive federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program funds in the initial round, in part because federal applicants treated existing cable plant as evidence of service.
Mr. Little said the city communicated that the presence of cable lines does not equate to affordable, usable high‑speed Internet for residents who cannot afford service. Despite that argument, he said the city was not a beneficiary of the BEAD allocations. He added the city is continuing discussions with an entity identified in the meeting as PFA to coordinate future broadband work, noting that the PFA effort is separate from the city’s bond broadband project but could present opportunities in the future.
Mr. Little also said AT&T submitted a permit request to install broadband infrastructure covering a large portion of Benton Harbor about two years ago; he said staff had not seen evidence that the work described in the permit has been completed and that the city is asking AT&T for a status update.
A commissioner urged staff to press AT&T to act on the earlier permit and to explore ways the city could accelerate broadband access beyond the downtown and Fourth Ward areas. No formal vote was taken; staff said they would continue communications with federal, state and private partners and report back to the committee.
