Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II joined the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) and announced the start of the State Challenge Process, encouraging Michiganders to help identify locations across the state that are eligible for high-speed internet infrastructure expansion through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Challenges will be accepted March 25 through April 23 through an interactive State Challenge Portal.

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II (D-MI) and the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) announced that the Biden Administration has approved Michigan’s proposed State Challenge Process, which will give Michiganders an opportunity to help identify locations across the state that are eligible for high-speed internet infrastructure expansion through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Michigan received a $1.55 billion allocation through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to be used to ensure the universal availability of high-speed internet throughout the state and support digital inclusion efforts. There are many activities that need to happen before the BEAD funds can be put to work. The first step, is the creation of the BEAD Five-Year Action Plan. The Michigan High-Speed Internet (MIHI) Office has engaged with and listened to hundreds of stakeholders from every corner of the state to draft its five-year action plan.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) and the Michigan High Speed Internet Office kicked-off a statewide Michigan Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Act Now initiative to increase awareness of the ACP, a $14.2 billion federal broadband benefit funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), that will connect more Michiganders to the long-term benefit that helps lower-income families pay for high-speed internet. The Michigan ACP Act Now initiative will unite a broad coalition of partner cities, community-based organizations and trusted institutions in partnership with EducationSup