Allegan County’s Internet provider, 123NET, has been recommended for a $30 million state grant to fund broadband service to residents without high-speed Internet.
The grant, the county’s use of $17.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and some contributions from the provider will pay $65 million for high-speed Internet for 10,000 homes throughout the county over the next two years.
Austin Marsman of Martin, a member of the special commission dealing with the broadband project, called the program “transformational.”
MLive.com reported that Allegan County Administrator Rob Sarro said he is confident the grant award will be finalized in August, with project construction on 1,100 miles of high-capacity fiber beginning shortly after.
The Southfield-based 123NET and the Allegan County Board of Commissioners established a public-private partnership earlier this year to apply for the grant.
The fiber network will have speeds up to 10 gigabits per second. Other internet providers will be allowed to use the fiber – likely through a lease agreement with 123NET.
Broadband project manager Jill Dunham said residents should check whether their Internet service status listed on the county’s website is accurate and indicate if it isn’t. The site is allegancounty.org/broadband.
