Vertical Assets Inventory Aims to Attract Broadband Wireless Providers

The Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG), in conjunction with Connected Nation Michigan, has created a vertical asset inventory for the region, which is largely rural. The project identifies and catalogs publicly and privately held assets upon which wireless equipment can be mounted. These structures include silos, water towers and the like. The interactive tool can be accessed at Discover Northeast Michigan. Identifying these assets is vital in rural areas that long have lagged in broadband penetration. According to the Federal Communications Commission, 36% of households in the NEMCOG region did not have access to high-speed Internet as of September, 2017. The project takes direct aim at this digital divide. “Access to broadband infrastructure is critical for Michigan and its rural communities, regions, residents, and businesses as they strive to compete on a global scale,” Tom Stephenson, the Community Technology Advisor for CN Michigan, said in a press release. “Just as water and sewer, electricity, and telephone utilities have their place in community and economic development, access to broadband has become the 21st century’s most critical infrastructure.”