skip to Main Content

MERIT

NEWS
ARPA Funding Introduces New Possibilities for Broadband Planning

By Francella Ochillo

Michigan is known for its shorelines, world-class manufacturing and picturesque landscapes. For the hundreds of thousands of Michiganders who do not have access to high-speed Internet infrastructure, it is also well-known for its broadband gaps. 

The digital divide has deep roots in places like Sanilac, Montmorency and Lake Counties where less than 10% of households have broadband access. State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) could introduce desperately needed connectivity solutions.

The U.S. Treasury has released final rules detailing eligible uses for ARPA funding. In January 2022, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that Michigan’s Department of Treasury distributed more than $319 million in ARPA dollars to over 1,650 communities statewide, providing new pathways to accelerate broadband deployment in areas that commercial Internet service providers have deemed unprofitable. 

In Park Township, Michigan, where residents frequently leave their homes to search for broadband connections, ARPA funding will provide the initial investment to connect its township hall. That is the first of many steps needed to bring reliable broadband connections within reach for Park Township households. Thirty miles away, Grand Rapids, Michigan, will invest its ARPA funding into Wi-Fi networks that boost reliable broadband access in public parks.

Local governments may also consider ways for ARPA funds to fuel broadband plans that are already underway. In 2020, Washtenaw County Broadband Task Force led a citizen-scientist broadband data collection that allowed local leaders to challenge an inaccurate depiction of broadband access in their community. Similarly, in Amarillo, Texas, local leadership worked for months on broadband plans before ARPA funds were assigned. In these areas, federal funding could expand the impact of community-based broadband plans by supporting implementation costs. 

For Michigan communities that are at the beginning of their broadband planning process, like South Lake Tahoe, California, ARPA funding could also be used to conduct feasibility studies and data collection. Beyond understanding the scope of connectivity needs, its City Council is seeking analysis that provides a structured evaluation of broadband service and financing options that could leverage future investment opportunities.

It has been one year since ARPA became law. The U.S. Treasury recently published success stories, putting a spotlight on how funds are being used by recipient governments nationwide. State agencies, like Michigan’s High-Speed Internet Office, are building awareness about funding opportunities that could power community-based broadband programs. 

Another great resource for municipalities seeking information and guidance is an independent nonprofit like Michigan’s Merit Network. Its Pathfinder program is a starting point for community broadband planning with specialized resources for conducting research and promoting RFPs. Regional councils of governments, such as the Northeast Michigan COG’s and Southeast Michigan COG’s, bolster coalition-building and cross-community broadband initiatives.

Now is the time for local leaders to fine-tune ideas in incubation and develop competitive grant proposals that highlight long-term and sustainable broadband solutions. Otherwise, hundreds of thousands of Michiganders will continue to miss out on the power and promise of high-speed technology.

You need to login to contact with the Listing Owner. Click Here to log in.