Company hopes to bring high-speed internet to unserved areas
By Barb Pert Templeton
When an internet service provider asked for the city of Algonac’s support in seeking out grant funding to bring high-speed services to surrounding communities, members of the city council were pleased to show their support.
At a Dec. 17 regular meeting of the council an agenda item included a letter the city received from 123NET, a Southfield based private company that provides internet services. The request was for support of 123Net’s grant application for funding via BEAD (Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment) grants from St. Clair County. The grant dollars would be utilized by 123NET to provide high-speed internet to the remaining unserved and underserved homes within the county.
In a letter to the city council City Manager Denice Gerstenberg said the State-of Michigan has allocated $1.6 billion to fund BEAD in an attempt to expand high-speed internet access throughout the state. St. Clair County and St. Clair RESA have already provided 123NET with letters of support for the project.
Currently, 123NET is the only private company that had requested a letter of support from the City of Algonac for a BEAD grant application.
A private internet service provider based in Southfield is seeking a grant to bring more internet access to communities across St. Clair County.
The letter of support that was unanimously approved by the city council at it’s Dec. 17 meeting had Mayor Rocky Gillis explaining the city’s position on the issues.
Gillis stated that ‘reliable and high-speed internet access is essential for education, healthcare, economic development and overall quality of life. Unfortunately, many areas of our community lack adequate broadband services.”
The mayor’s letter noted the state allocation of $1.6 billion to the BEAD grants and said the federal initiative is aimed at closing the digital divide by providing significant funding to expand broadband infrastructure across underserved areas across the United States.
He said 123NET is a private company that will be applying for a BEAD grant in order to connect more St. Clair County households and businesses to high-speed internet providers.
The letter concluded with Gillis stating that the City of Algonac supports 123Net’s application for grant funding. Their dedication to improving broadband access and their commitment to St. Clair County communities make them an ideal candidate for the funding, he stated.
A flyer from 123NET asking the city to send a letter of support for their BEAD grant application further explained that there’s a digital divide in Michigan that leaves many communities without high-speed internet limiting access for education, healthcare, business opportunities and essential services. Asking institutions like government entities, schools, hospitals and libraries to send in their letters of support for 123NET will demonstrate the local need for improved internet access in the area.
Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey made the motion to approve sending the letter of support for 123NET and it was seconded by Councilwoman Cathy Harris.
Gilliss said the city doesn’t have a problem with internet within their boundaries but he supports anybody that will bring service to those outside the city that struggle with connecting issues.
“You just go outside our borders, on certain roads, and they don’t have it,” Gillis said.
“Well, I can’t talk to you on my cell phone in certain areas,” Davey said. “This is very, very cool.”
“Yeah, definitely,” Gillis said.
