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Merit announces Fiber-optic Infrastructure Dedication for REACH-3MC Broadband Project in Mackinaw City and St. Ignace

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April 29, 2013

MEDIA ADVISORY

Who:

Senator Carl Levin

Donald Welch, President and CEO, Merit Network

Roger Mendall, Director, Northland Library Cooperative

Jolene Michaels, Library Director, Mackinaw Area Public Library

Debra Ely, Library Director, St. Ignace Public Library

Jason Kronemeyer, Technology Director, Eastern Upper Penninsula ISD

Jamie Huber, General Education Supervisor, Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle ESD

Gene Reck, Township Supervisor, Cross Village Township

Dan Blough, Special Assistant to Congressman Dan Benishek

Robert Sweeney, Executive Secretary, Mackinac Bridge Authority

Karie Slavik, Associate Director, University of Michigan Biological Station

Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Northern Michigan University

What:

Fiber-optic Infrastructure Dedication for the Northern Michigan Community to commemorate the completion of significant segments of Merit’s REACH-3MC Broadband Stimulus Project. Mackinaw Area Public Library and St. Ignace Public Library will host key stakeholders who will reflect upon this momentous occasion. The event will be streamed live simultaneously between both locations. Merit Network will announce a significant milestone for the project and answer questions on how the community can take advantage of this high-speed network.

In 2010, Merit Network, Inc. received two federal stimulus awards for REACH-3MC. The Rural, Education, Anchor, Community and Health care – Michigan Middle Mile Collaborative (REACH-3MC) will create 2,287 miles of fiber-optic infrastructure in rural and underserved areas throughout Michigan and provide backhaul to key interconnection points in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Through REACH-3MC, Merit enables state and local government, colleges, schools, libraries, health care facilities and other community anchor institutions to connect to Merit’s private, high-performance network, enabling them to lower costs, consolidate services and provide more to Michigan’s citizens. Merit engages sub-recipients from the private sector to improve service to homes and businesses along the REACH-3MC route. Merit’s existing fiber infrastructure combined with the new REACH-3MC network infrastructure creates a robust footprint in the state, providing Michigan with a strategic asset to leverage in the future.

Where:

The event will be streamed live simultaneously between two locations:

Mackinaw Area Public Library
528 W Central Ave
Mackinaw City, MI 49701

St. Ignace Public Library
110 W. Spruce Street
St. Ignace, Michigan 49781

When:

April 30, 2013 at 11:00 AM

How:

The event is open to the public. Anyone may attend in person at either location. Please arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.

For more information: www.merit.edu

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