UP Gazette

Baraga Telephone Company has been selected as a finalist for a grant that would help bring broadband service to underserved areas of Keweenaw County.

The project would bring faster internet to areas of Lake Medora, Lac La Belle, Bete Grise and Gay.

“Now more than ever, Upper Peninsula families need access to fast, reliable internet to go about their daily lives,” Rep. Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock) told Michigan House Republicans. “Kids  must be able to go online to complete schoolwork, families and seniors benefit from access to telehealth services, and local businesses owners rely on the internet for basic operations and to better serve their customers.”

The Connecting Michigan Communities Grant Program awards funds from the Department of Technology, Management and Budget to companies that will extend broadband service into underserved communities in Michigan. To qualify, companies have to demonstrate collaboration to achieve community investment and economic development goals. 

Baraga Telephone Company requested $4.25 million to help with its $4.78 million project. BTC is one of seven companies selected as finalists for a combined $20 million in grants across 14 projects. The Department of Technology, Management and Budget will hear comments or objections concerning each company's application through July 27. Final grant awards will be announced in September.

“Without the grant, revenue generated from customers in the area would not support the capital expenditure,” Baraga Telephone Company noted in its grant application, according to Michigan House Republicans. “BTC will leverage its current operations so it will have few incremental operational costs. However, BTC could not afford to serve this area without the grant contribution."

One of Markkanen's priorities is increasing rural broadband access across the Upper Peninsula. 

“I am happy to see investments like these coming into our area,” Markkanen told Michigan House Republicans. “Bringing broadband to these communities will increase opportunities for economic development by making the area more attractive to families, job providers and tourism.”