Out of the Box Thinking in Livingston County

The county government in Livingston, Michigan, was very clear—it was not going to become an ISP.  Long committed to principles of lean government, elected officials were certain that although 56 percent of households in this region do not have access to fixed broadband, the ideal solution should not be government-owned infrastructure. County Chief Information Officer Kris Tobbe set out to develop an approach that could balance minimal government intervention with effective access to critical infrastructure for residents. The solution: the county directed $12.5 million in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds to a middle-mile solution that brings fiber to within three miles of all residents. The county is now waiting to see whether last-mile providers will deliver the final piece of the puzzle: They're building it; will ISPs build off it?

[Dr. Pierrette Renee Dagg, Ph.D is a Benton Institute Digital Opportunity Fund Fellow, the Director of Technology Impact Research at Merit Network.]