ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Allegan County Board of Commissioners has awarded a $17.7 million dollar contract to 123.net out of Southfield, MI, to provide wired broadband infrastructure and service to around 12,000 unserved addresses.
The company’s proposal was chosen recently out of eleven pitches brought to the Broadband Action Working Group that was specifically established by the board itself.
The addresses to be served currently lack the ability to download speeds of over 100mb per second.
“123.net is a foundational provider of Michigan Broadband infrastructure,” said the county’s Broadband Project Manager, Jill Dunham. “From their reasonable monthly rates to the open access network proposed, they offer a great solution for Allegan County.”
123.Net plans to match the county’s investment with a like amount.
The 123.net proposal will use the $17.7 million in county American Rescue Plan Act funds, combined with provider capital and state and federal funding for a total project cost approximately $70 million dollars.
The project is expected to be completed in about 18-24 months once funding is received.
In addition to the funding for broadband, Allegan County is also set to put ARPA money towards a project to proactively protect water quality and availability.
This past Friday, Allegan County Board Chairman Jim Storey (R-Holland) discussed the funding with Gary Stevens on “WHTC Talk of the Town:”
