Michigan’s broadband spending program day late, dollar short

Michigan is finally accepting applications for its convoluted plan to spending the state’s $1.5 billion share of federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment funds. The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office opened the application process for projects to build internet infrastructure January 9. The application period will end April 9. After years of delays, the office now appears determined to rush the spending that Congress authorized in the 2011 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Ironically, just as MIHI is demanding that all funding proposals be received within this three-month window, the Trump Administration appears poised to bring it all to a halt. The president’s nominee to head the National Telecommunications and Infrastructure Administration, the federal department that oversees the BEAD funding process, is likely to raise significant objections to the way Michigan proposes to spend its BEAD funds.