Advocates Call for Funding for Michigan Broadband Office

A group of rural Michigan advocates are urging state lawmakers to fund and staff the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office. Gov Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) created the office in June 2021 with the aim of expanding broadband internet access to more residents. But the office as yet has no budget and therefore no full-time staff. "We need the Michigan legislature to act and approve the funding and full-time employees as requested by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity for our Michigan High-Speed Internet Office," said Joanne Galloway, executive director of the Center for Change Northern Michigan Advocacy. "I'm advocating for funding and full-time staff for the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office," said Levi Teitel, rural communications coordinator for Progress Michigan. "All 50 states are receiving lots of federal funding for broadband development. Our neighboring states already have staff in place in offices. We're going to be competing with others all across this country for access to all of the supplies to do construction (of internet infrastructure) and all of the labor force," said Galloway. Broadband service has expanded rapidly in recent years in some parts of Michigan, but the state's most rural areas still have limited access. That puts farmers, students and businesses at a disadvantage to their competitors in places with faster access. "The need is dire," said Gary Wellnitz, northern Michigan field representative for the American Federation of Teachers — Michigan.