Lack of broadband in Manchester holds consequences for students across the county
As schools have shut down due to COVID-19 in Washtenaw County, no schools in the Washtenaw Intermediate School District are currently offering online classes. Districts can’t require coursework unless all of their students can access that coursework, and so when portions of a district lack broadband internet access, internet-based schooling can’t happen. Manchester’s high percentage […]
Have You Received Your Broadband Survey?
submitted by Lisa Moutinho, Washtenaw County Government In early February, the Washtenaw County Broadband Task Force sent Broadband Access surveys to the residents of 15 townships in the county, including Bridgewater, Freedom, Manchester and Sharon. If you’ve received and completed your survey, the Task Force thanks you – the information you provide will help the […]
Manchester area residents asked to take broadband survey to correct inaccurate FCC map
Manchester area residents living in Manchester, Freedom, Sharon and Bridgewater Townships are being asked to help the Washtenaw County Broadband Taskforce better map broadband coverage by completing a short survey. The county studied broadband coverage for more than a year and at the end of 2018 released their findings which concluded that 18% of Manchester […]
Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners commits to countywide broadband equity
submitted by Lisa Moutinho, Washtenaw County At its meeting August 7, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners reaffirmed a commitment to countywide broadband equity by 2022 by allocating $35,000 to pursue broadband grant preparedness. Currently, 16 townships in our county have significant populations that are categorized by the FCC as un/under-served, a digital divide that impedes access to […]
Manchester residents express broadband frustrations to county commissioners
On April, instead of holding their regularly scheduled working session in their usual location in Ann Arbor, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners met in Sylvan Township Hall, south of Chelsea. They had a much larger turnout than usual, as residents from the western half of the county took the opportunity to attend, including some […]
County Board of Commissioners meeting on broadband inequity and teen mental health moved to Chelsea
In an effort to increase citizen participation and representation of constituents in board activities, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners has moved its Thursday, April 4 Working Session meeting to the Sylvan Township Hall, 18027 Old US 12, Chelsea, MI 48118. The Working Session meeting will begin at 6:30 pm and is open to the public. The […]
Manchester Township and Washtenaw County both release broadband reports
At the end of November, Manchester Township released its broadband study report looking at options for bringing broadband to the township. Ten days later, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Broadband Equity Sub-Committee released its final report. In summary, the County’s report states that broadband is important and rural Manchester residents need it. The Township’s report […]
Manchester Township continues to explore broadband options
Amid all the controversies about the topic of broadband internet service to rural Manchester Township, the township board is waiting to learn the results of its commissioned feasibility study by Communications Consulting Goup (CCG). Meanwhile, a small subcommittee, along with other members of the board, continues to supplement the study by exploring a variety of […]
Village and Township Boards disagree about broadband
On Wednesday June 13th, the boards of the Village of Manchester and the Township of Manchester held a joint meeting from 7 to 9 pm in the media center of the Manchester High School. The Village Board requested the joint meeting so that they and the township board could discuss the township’s plans to study a […]
Psarouthakis applauds high voter turnout for broadband vote
Sharon Township supervisor Peter Psarouthakis couldn't be happier with Sharon Township voters last Tuesday. Township residents voted no to a broadband measure that would have borrowed up to $4,900,000 to be paid back over 20 years by 597 "No" to 319 "Yes." Sharon Township's 60.62% voter turnout was the highest in Washtenaw County for this election. He explained how […]
