Van Buren County says broadband build is about 85% complete; Geneva and Lawrence townships remain uncertain

Van Buren County officials and the county’s broadband vendor told the Board of Commissioners that the countywide broadband build is nearing completion but that two township areas remain unclear pending carrier and federal-program decisions.

Jennifer Gilliam of MEC said the network build for Van Buren is “about 85% complete,” and that roughly 8% of zones are waiting on construction while another ~7% depend on permitting or other final steps. “So everything should be completed, and homes will have access to the main line by the end of the year,” Gilliam told the board.

Why it matters: county leaders said completing the broadband network is a priority because many residents lack wired options; the status update laid out where private providers are building, where county- or state-funded programs cover service, and which pockets still require decisions from outside contractors or federal awardees.

Details from the update

- Coverage and contractors: Gilliam and county staff described multiple providers active in the…