The infrastructure for michigan's peninsulas and critical crossings (IMPACC) includes two routes crossing michigan's lakes, and unserved counties and towns to bring middle mile infrastructure into…

The Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded a $87,509,579.61 Project Grant under the Middle Mile (Broadband) Grant Program (CFDA 11.033) to Peninsula Fiber Network LLC, a for-profit limited liability company. The grant will fund the placement of 535 route miles of new middle mile fiber optic infrastructure across Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. This will create redundant, high-capacity broadband connectivity to over 35,000 unserved or underserved homes and businesses. Key outcomes include improving broadband access, reducing service costs, and enabling advanced services like telemedicine and remote learning in rural areas. The project will leverage a sub-recipient, 123.NET, Inc., to provide design, engineering, and installation services for portions of the middle mile network.

Activities

The project will place 535 route miles of new middle mile fiber that will integrate into existing networks to provide middle mile access and ultimately serve end users throughout the state of michigan. The project will use fiber to build new middle mile network through unserved and underserved communities with a commitment to open access and carrier neutral non-discriminatory interconnect. The period of performance is expected to be 5 years.

Expected outcomes

Peninsula fiber networks middle mile project will provide low latency, high-capacity middle mile connectivity in unserved and underserved areas in michigan. Create competitive middle mile routes that potentially lower costs to end users and provide opportunities in educational, health and workforce development. The impacc project will advance the broadband priorities of the michigan broadband roadmap by expanding middle mile infrastructure to reduce the cost of connecting unserved and underserved areas, and promote broadband connection resiliency through alternate network connections designed to prevent single points of failure.

Intended beneficiaries

Peninsula fiber network identified terrestrial and wireless last mile providers interested in interconnecting with the proposed middle mile infrastructure. The providers have expertise in broadband deployment and operate in rural, suburban, and metro regions in michigan and will leverage the new infrastructure to offer enhanced broadband services to 35,000+ end-users. A recent broadband study in berrien county by merit, INC, showed 64% of townships in southwest michigan do not have access to 25/3 mbps broadband. Along the southwest michigan route, last mile providers have committed to utilizing this middle mile infrastructure to provide end user service throughout the region, nearly 5,000 unserved and underserved locations will have access to 1 gbps speeds. Beaver island in charlevoix county is the largest island in lake michigan with 600 year-round residents. Once deployed, middle mile infrastructure will be available to enable telemedicine, remote learning and general connectivity to this remote location. In lapeer, macomb, ST. Clair, and genesee counties that have urban centers where sufficient broadband coverage exists, the additional middle mile capacity will provide opportunities for a competitive middle mile networking, aimed at lessening ISP costs and lowering subscription rates for end users. Sub-recipients: 123.net, INC has been identified as a sub recipient for this grant and will provide design, engineering, installation, and management for some MM routes proposed in PFN's project. 123.net is also a last mile service provider bringing ftth in eight southwest MI counties.