The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) is now accepting public comment on Volume 1 of Michigan’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal. Public comments will be used to help draft MIHI’s proposal for how Michigan will use the historic $1.559 billion funding allocation from the BEAD Act to expand access to high-speed internet service to more homes, businesses and community anchor institutions in the state. 

As of 2023, close to 500,000 Michigan households are unserved or underserved by high-speed internet infrastructure and another 730,000 households face barriers related to a combination of affordability, adoption, device access and digital literacy. This means approximately 30 percent of Michigan households do not have an affordable, reliable high-speed internet connection that meets their needs. The BEAD funding will be used to close the digital divide. 

“Michiganders who lack connectivity miss out on education, healthcare and economic opportunities. We are working to create a more digitally equitable Michigan where everyone can leverage technology to improve their quality of life and ensure Michigan can compete in the global economy,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “We want give to give all Michigan residents the opportunity to have a say in how the state plans to spend this historic funding.” 

The initial proposal complements both the BEAD Five-Year Action Plan and the State Digital Equity Plan. The two plans offer a vision of how MIHI will work to comprehensively address connectivity challenges and create a more digitally equitable state, while Volume 1 of the BEAD Initial Proposal represents the first part of MIHI’s implementation plan. Volume 2 of the Initial Proposal will be released for public comment in the coming weeks. 

“Every Michigander deserves the opportunity to improve their quality of life with access to high-speed internet,” said Eric Frederick, Chief Connectivity Officer. “The MIHI Office has and always will take a listen first approach. We encourage all Michigan residents to have their voice heard and provide feedback on Volume 1 of the BEAD Initial Proposal.” 

Volume 1 of the Initial Proposal outlines the process that MIHI will implement to identify every home, business and institution in the state that is eligible to be connected to the internet through the BEAD Program. To ensure no locations across the state are missed, the process will allow local units of government, non-profit organizations and internet service providers to supply evidence to MIHI if locations are unserved, underserved or served by high-speed internet. 

Public comment on Volume 1 of the BEAD Initial Proposal is open now through 11:59 p.m. on October 31, 2023. Comments may be submitted through a webform or MIHI will also accept comments by postal mail. 

Learn more about the initial proposal and how to submit a comment by visiting MIHI’s website at Michigan.gov/MIHI.