A new interactive mapping application enables site selectors, economic development professionals, corporations, entrepreneurs, and local government officials to quickly identify Michigan communities with the fastest Internet connections.
“Ultra-high-speed infrastructure is critical for securing Michigan’s place in the digital economy,” says Steve Arwood, CEO of Michigan Economic Development Corp., which partnered with Connect Michigan and Connected Nation Exchange to release the online resource. “The carriers on this map clearly recognize this mission and are ready to serve our communities, residents, businesses, and institutions with the fastest Internet connections available.”
The app, dubbed Michigan Connects, provides users with a list of broadband providers that fall into three categories: carriers with fiber optic networks within ¼ mile of the user’s click or address; carriers offering broadband service at speeds of 100 megabits per second or faster by any technology platform; and carriers with fiber optic networks in the municipality where the user clicked or the address is located.
Finding locations with fiber connections is critical as Michigan and its city-regions compete nationally and internationally for jobs, talent, and workforce investment, says Brian R. Mefford, founder and CEO of Connected Nation Exchange in Bowling Green, Ky.
“Fiber optic broadband availability is more critical than ever as employers decide where to locate and broadband companies decide when and where to extend services,” Mefford says. “Michigan has established a leadership role in making this valuable information easily accessible, and we are already witnessing the tangible impact on job creation and broadband expansion. These examples will continue to grow as the Michigan fiber app becomes more popular over time.”
To access Michigan Connect, visit michiganbusiness.org/broadband.​
