Gov Rick Snyder (R-MI) unveils plan to expand broadband access

Gov Rick Snyder (R-MI) announced a plan to expand access to high-speed internet to every Michigan resident.  According to data from Connect Michigan, a partnership working to expand broadband access, there are 381,000 households in the state that lack access to fixed broadband internet, defined as a connection with download speeds of 25 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 3 megabits per second by the Federal Communications Commission. Another two million households have access to only a single non-satellite internet provider. These regions, mostly rural, could see $2.5 billion in potential economic opportunity if the gap is closed. The broadband road map identifies three main areas for improvement: access to under-served areas, increased broadband adoption and advancing Michigan's broadband ecosystem. It recommends things like facilitating partnerships to promote broadband expansion, improving broadband coverage data collection, promoting low-cost broadband subscription programs and investing in broadband to improve community and economic development.