Connect Michigan Report Reveals Expanded Broadband Availability and Higher Speeds in Many Michigan Counties
Updated Planning Report Presented at the Second Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee Meeting
Lansing, MI. (September 29, 2011) — Connect Michigan today released an updated assessment of the broadband market in Michigan. Data collected and reflected in this update indicate much higher broadband availability in many Michigan counties, both at higher speed tiers and by certain platforms, than the data collected in the fall of 2010. The report is made public online at Connect Michigan's website.
“These new data lead us to estimate that the number of households in Michigan that can’t get broadband is over 27 percentage points lower than our previous estimates,” said Eric Frederick, Connect Michigan program manager. “This is significant progress toward our goal of ensuring all Michiganders are able to work, learn, and connect online. I want to thank the provider community and members of the Collaborative Broadband Committee for their commitment to broadening our economic opportunities through broadband expansion.”
Key findings from this report:
(Note: The data in this report are subject to data validation.)
• From October 2010 to April 2011, the data indicate a change from 121,701 to 87,786 unserved households (or 2.32% of total households), a drop of over 27 percentage points.
• Increases were estimated across all speed tiers, including a jump from 11.4% to 37.25% in households that can subscribe to 25 Mbps download or greater. The 50 Mbps speed tier availability grew from 4.32% to 21.74% of households.
• The report indicates increases in the number of providers offering cable, fiber, fixed wireless, and mobile wireless platforms.
“This report highlights both the gains and the challenges in developing a vibrant broadband infrastructure and in promoting a broadband adoption mindset,” said Brian Mefford, CEO of Connect Michigan’s parent organization Connected Nation. “Overcoming adoption aversion is a key component for effectively implementing broadband technology to foster social and economic inclusion.”
The report was conducted in partnership with the Michigan Public Service Commission and the Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee as part of the Michigan State Broadband Initiative (SBI) grant program.
These continued assessments of the state’s broadband landscape are designed to be a catalyst for stimulating stakeholder discussions on key policy goals and strategies to expand and enhance broadband opportunities for all Michigan residents.
The report was released today at the second meeting of the recently formed Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee (CBC). The CBC is a group of representatives from K-12 education, higher education, broadband service providers, non-profits, tourism, business, agriculture, government, and other organizations that have an interest in improving Michigan’s broadband availability and encouraging meaningful adoption.
In May of 2010, Connect Michigan produced an initial map of broadband availability to identify served and unserved areas across the state. Since the initial map’s release, Connect Michigan has collected and released new data every six months, with updates in October 2010 and April 2011.
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