Funding pledged to bring Broadband access to every home in Washtenaw County
Last Wednesday evening, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Funding unanimously passed a historic resolution pledging up to $30.5 million dollars for community investments through the Ways and Means Committee. This proposed package leverages $24 million of the $71 million coming to the county through the American Rescue Plan Act. One of the programs it […]
Manchester Township board discusses broadband potential
submitted by Sybil Kolon All board members were present at the August 17 township board meeting. Also present were fire chief Bill Scully and county commissioner Shannon Beeman. Beeman provided an update on Washtenaw County's broadband task force. Several townships have requested that the county dedicate $15 million of the county’s American Rescue Plan funds […]
Broadband equity is within sight — task force asks you to write a letter
On March 11th, the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill was signed into law to speed up the United States' recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession. Of the $1.9 trillion, $130 billion of this is going to local governments including $72 million coming […]
Manchester Township resolves to support wider broadband accessibility
by Sybil Kolon, Community Reporter Corps All board members were present at the June 8 township board meeting. Also present were zoning administrator Carl Macomber, fire chief Bill Scully and one member of the public. Scully provided the Manchester Township Fire Department monthly report for May. There were 47 calls for service, including two fires […]
Update on achieving countywide broadband access by 2022
submitted by Washtenaw County Broadband Task Force At the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Working Session meeting last evening, the Broadband Task Force provided an update on its work to bridge the digital divide across all of Washtenaw County. Vice-Chair of the Task Force and Lyndon Township resident Ben Fineman stated the following as he […]
COVID reveals Michigan’s internet broadband gap. Will take years to close.
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING—When the COVID-19 pandemic closed Michigan school buildings last March and sent students home for remote learning, Amy Zicafoose and her two children scrambled to find internet access wherever they could. Since broadband is not available at their home in rural Jackson County, they did school work from the car in the […]
Federal broadband funding for significant portion of the county's rural areas
submitted by Washtenaw County’s Broadband Task Force At its meeting Friday morning, Washtenaw County’s Broadband Task Force, a group convened by the County Board of Commissioners to achieve countywide broadband equity by 2022, shared the news of major federal broadband funding for rural Washtenaw County. Chair of the Task Force and Sharon Township resident Barb […]
Broadband Task Force offers update on achieving broadband equity by 2022
submitted by Broadband Task Force At the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Working Session meeting last evening, the Broadband Task Force provided an update on their work to bridge the digital divide in our rural townships. Chair of the Task Force and Sharon Township resident Barb Fuller stated the following in her opening remarks, “You […]
Letter to the Editor: Broadband in Manchester Township – What’s Going On?
September 23, 2020 To the Editor: The issue of poor internet connectivity in our rural communities is one that those of us in Manchester Township are all too aware of. Among other things, Covid has exposed the disparities that exist with digital connectivity. What we’ve known for years is now glaringly evident to everyone — […]
Washtenaw County Broadband Task Force releases survey information
The Washtenaw County Broadband Task Force, a group convened by the Board of Commissioners to achieve broadband equity in the entirety of the county by 2022 has released preliminary findings from their 15-township coverage survey. This survey, a 3-way partnership between the Merit Network, Michigan State University’s Quello Center and Washtenaw County, was intended to […]
