BEAD is a $42.5 billion program started during the Biden administration and meant to expand Internet access across rural America. The State of Michigan received just over $1.5 billion from this program.
The Michigan High Speed Internet (MIHI) Office opened applications for the BEAD program on Jan. 9. Those applications will close April 9.
During this time, Internet Service Providers are able to apply or bid on areas where they want to build broadband infrastructure.
As part of the grant application, ISPs are encouraged to include letters of support from local jurisdictions, such as county boards of commissioners, in the areas where they want to build.
On Tuesday, the Gladwin County Board of Commissioners was presented with letters of support from Charter Spectrum, Peninsula Fiber Network and IBT Group USA. The board approved the request to have Chairwoman Karen Moore sign those letters.
"These letters of support are not mutually exclusive," Moore said. "You do not have to pick a provider. If they're asking, it means they are at least looking into Gladwin County and are going to be applying for some funds. We don't want to say no to anybody; we want to be partners in this."
Moore signed another letter of support for an ISP during a special budget meeting last week, meaning at least four ISPs have expressed interest in Gladwin County.
"There are no funds (on our end) associated with this," Moore said. "It is just us saying to them that we support them applying and trying to bring Internet through the BEAD program into Gladwin County ... I am excited that people are seeing Gladwin County."
In the BEAD program, the state will cover up to 75% of the costs to install broadband along with at least a 25% match from an ISP.
According to the Michigan Broadband Map, Gladwin County has about 5,571 residences that are unserved or underserved with broadband — equating to about 30% of residences.
The next step in the process after April 9 is for the MIHI Office to start a scoring, deduplication and negotiations process before announcing grant awards.
OTHER BUSINESS
- The board approved a grant application for the installation of eight fire wells across the county.
- The board heard a presentation from Michigan Association of Counties Executive Director Steve Currie.
- The board approved adding Jake McBride from Saint Gobain to join the Heartland Materials Management Plan Committee.
- A resident expressed concerns about Pratt Lake and its decreasing water level during public comment.
