Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $6.3 Million to Michigan in ‘Internet for All’ Planning Grants

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Michigan received its first “Internet for All” grants for deploying high-speed Internet networks and developing digital skills training programs under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative. Michigan is receiving $6,326,649.52 in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed Internet service throughout the state. Michigan will receive $4,998,701.52 to fund various activities including:

• Developing Michigan’s “MI Connected Future” project, including a 5-year action plan to close the broadband availability gap;
• Identifying unserved and underserved locations;
• Building capacity of the state broadband office;
• Mapping assets across Michigan to catalog high-speed Internet service adoption, affordability, equity, access and deployment;
• Surveying communities to better understand barriers to Internet service adoption.

Michigan will also receive $1,327,948 for:

• Development of a statewide digital equity plan to close the digital equity gap;
• Identification of barriers to digital equity and an assessment of needs;
• Development of an implementation strategy and establishment of partnerships.