Rural Manchester-area residents hooked up to broadband!
by Sara Swanson In September 2021, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners voted to become one of the first counties in the state to create a path for every household to access high-speed broadband internet. In June of 2022, the first household, a household in Lima Township, was connected to broadband as a result of […]
Manchester Township discusses broadband progress and more
by Sybil Kolon All board members were present at the October 10 board meeting except Kim Thompson. Also present were fire chief Bill Scully, Village President Pat Vailliencourt, Alissa Starling, and a few other members of the public. Fire Chief Scully provided the monthly report for September. There were 30 calls for service, including 18 […]
Broadband internet information for rural residents of Manchester Township
submitted by Kim Thompson, Manchester Township Treasurer If you haven’t heard, residents of rural Manchester Township will have access to high-speed internet by the end of this year. This was made possible through our Township’s membership on the Broadband Task Force and Washtenaw County’s commitment to use a portion of their American Rescue Act funding in […]
Broadband work begun in Manchester and Bridgewater Townships. Pleasant Lake’s broadband about to come online!
submitted by Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners The Washtenaw County Broadband Project is making great strides in 2023. Last September, the Board of Commissioners allocated $14.6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to broadband expansion in an effort to get all areas of Washtenaw County connected to high-speed, reliable internet. “The global pandemic put […]
Michigan’s rural school districts plead for more bus and broadband funding
by Tracie Mauriello & Koby Levin, Chalkbeat (Bridge Michigan) Tom McKee was an 11th grader in rural Michigan when a “grow your own” teacher training program sold him on a career in education. Even so, McKee might have not imagined that he would one day go on to work as a superintendent, athletic director, and bus driver […]
Letter to the editor: County's broadband infrastructure spending is a bad investment
June 28, 2022 In response to last week's article First Washtenaw County household connected as a result of county’s broadband infrastructure investment I really do not understand the intelligence of the people that control the purse strings in Washtenaw County. The county is spending $15 Million to install internet in 3,000 homes that currently have […]
First Washtenaw County household connected as a result of county’s broadband infrastructure investment
In September 2021, the Board of Commissioners approved a historic investment for Washtenaw County using County general funds and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to become one of the first counties in the state to create a path for every household to access high-speed broadband internet. Last week, the first Washtenaw County household was […]
Washtenaw hires project manager for broadband to every home project
In September 2021, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners approved an investment of $15 million in County general funds and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to address issues of broadband connectivity in Washtenaw County with the goal to connect every household in Washtenaw to highspeed broadband internet. The already-present need for access was exacerbated […]
Manchester Township board discusses fire sirens, broadband, and surveying residents
Submitted by Sybil Kolon, Community Reporter Corps All board members were present at the October 12 township board meeting. Also present were fire chief Bill Scully and two other members of the public. Scully provided the monthly report for September. There were 37 calls for service, including four fires and 22 EMS responses. Personnel issues […]
Washtenaw Board of Commissioners vote to use ARP funds to achieve broadband access county-wide
Two weeks ago, we reported that the County had passed a funding proposal through its Ways and Means Committee that would pledge $14.6 million of American Rescue Plan funds toward building broadband infrastructure to every residence, regardless of address. At their meeting last Wednesday, September 15, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners approved the proposal […]
