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MEC reports fiber rollout progressing; completion expected by Q2 2026
Summary
Midwest Energy & Communications told the Berrien County Broadband Internet Task Force that take-rates in completed zones are rising, winter weather could affect schedule, and construction is expected to finish by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) updated the Berrien County Broadband Internet Task Force on Jan. 8, 2026, saying its fiber build within Berrien County is advancing and customer signups (take-rates) are increasing in completed zones. MEC advised the winter schedule could change because of weather, but staff reported an expectation that construction would be complete by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Task force notes identify Terry Rubenthaler, MEC’s chief executive, and Jennifer Gilliam, MEC’s business development manager, as the presenters of the update. The materials distributed to the task force said take-rates “continue to increase in each completed zone,” and that construction timing will be subject to weather-related delays.
The update did not record a formal vote or an exact completion date beyond the end-of-Q2-2026 target. Task force members and MEC staff discussed operational details and the seasonal risks to schedule. The meeting materials and attendees list indicate MEC remains the county’s primary build partner for the publicly funded portions of the network.
The task force plans to monitor take-rates and construction progress at its next meeting on Feb. 5, 2026, and to adjust planning if the BEAD subrecipient agreement or winter conditions affect the timeline.
