Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Broadband topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Calhoun County subcommittee reviews BEAD map delay, readies letters of support and local digital equity work
Summary
County broadband committee heard a BEAD program update, was told pre-application steps are open while final maps remain under NTIA review, and discussed local digital equity activities and how townships can help ISPs with permitting and storage. The panel approved its meeting calendar and a routine tax-report item.
Lynn, a Calhoun County staff member, told the county digital equity subcommittee on the meeting that the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program remains stalled for the county while National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) reviews map-challenge results and RDOF defaults.
The review of address-level maps is delaying BEAD application windows, Lynn said, but pre-registration is open and ISPs and local governments should complete pre-application steps so they are ready when the application window opens. She described the BEAD timetable described to the group: after NTIA approves maps, stakeholders will have about 30 days to review eligibility maps, then a 90-day application window, followed by a roughly two-month negotiation period for successful applicants.
Why it matters: BEAD funding is intended to fill gaps left by previous federal and state broadband programs. Lynn said Calhoun County has about 15,000 unserved or underserved locations, roughly 9,500 of which are fixed-wireless-only — figures the group said would be used to prioritize outreach and letters of support for ISP applicants.
The committee discussed actions local governments and anchor institutions can take to support BEAD applicants. Lynn said letters of community support are factored into BEAD applications (she said they make up about 6% of application points) and that many ISPs will also request support letters from townships and counties. She advised the subcommittee to prepare template letters in advance and to be ready to provide permitting assistance, temporary storage sites for equipment or fiber deliveries, and worker housing support when needed.
Angela, a digital equity committee member, summarized local efforts to expand digital navigation and training. She said the subcommittee has been talking with Merit about its Digital Opportunities Compass framework and with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission about regional digital navigation funding. Local libraries — including Albion District Library and Marshall District Library — and lifelong-learning programs at KCC were cited as potential hubs for expanded “drop-in” tech help and senior training classes. Angela said the group is focused on scaling programs that already work locally, such as Albion’s Tech Savvy Seniors and KCC’s outreach, rather than inventing new systems.
Mike, a consultant who works with broadband clients, gave a federal-policy update and cautioned the committee that national program rules and eligibility (for example the treatment of fixed wireless and satellite) could change with a new administration. He characterized some federal changes as uncertain and urged the committee to continue focusing on Michigan-level opportunities.
Committee members asked about known ISP interest in Calhoun. Lynn listed ISPs that have expressed interest in county coverage, including 123net, MEC, ACD, as well as smaller providers; attendees also discussed local deployments by Springcoms and Frontier in parts of the county. The group emphasized that addresses already served at speeds that meet program thresholds (discussed in the meeting as at-or-above 100/20 or 250/25, depending on the ISP reporting) would not be eligible for BEAD funding; gaps — for example, a house across the street from new fiber — could still qualify.
The subcommittee agreed to wait for final, NTIA-approved maps before scheduling detailed ISP meetings to avoid endorsing partial plans. Lynn said county staff and committee co-leads (Kelly and Lynn) will meet with interested ISPs and circulate draft letters of support and templates to members for quick turnaround once applications open.
Votes at a glance: The subcommittee approved a routine motion to adopt the new tax report (July 9) and later approved its 2025 quarterly meeting schedule (March, June, September, December at 3:00 p.m., Garden Level Conference Room). Both motions passed on voice votes recorded as "aye" in the transcript; no formal roll-call tallies with member names were recorded during those items.
The committee closed with member updates and an expectation that the BEAD application and planning activity will be the focus of 2025 work, with potential construction earliest in 2026 if projects are selected.
