BERRIEN COUNTY COMMISSION UPDATE

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – New broadband service should be coming to rural parts of Berrien County in the next few years after news last month. Berrien County officials reported last month that internet service provider Midwest Energy & Communications has been preliminary approved for funding under a state broadband grant program.
Berrien County Vice-Chairperson and BC Bit Taskforce Chairperson Teri Freehling, R-Baroda, said the news last month left her “with a big smile on my face”. “The MEC grant will cover almost 80 percent of what we saw as unserved areas of the county,” she said. “It’s really something to pause and celebrate.”
“We’re close to taking care of all unserved areas of the county,” she added. “We will continue to have conversations with current internet service providers and apply for other available grants. Our goal with BC Bit has been to provide connectivity to all those who want it.”
She said she doesn’t expect to see much changes from the 45 day comment period. She noted that the only objections she anticipates are those related to whether specific parcels are currently served, unserved or underserved by internet service.
“The challenge part is address by address,” she said in a phone interview with the Berrien County Record. “If another provider says they are already planning to serve or do serve an address, that address would be taken off the list.”
Freehling also reported on a meeting held with area township supervisors. “Many were pleased to see the coordination between the county, the townships and the internet service providers recognized by the state,” she said.
The broadband grant is exciting news for Galien and surrounding areas, Galien Township Supervisor Jerry Mast said last week. “It will be a huge step forward for the residents and will help close the digital divide that has existed in our area for some time,” he said.
“Having fiber broadband will improve the daily lives of residents – everything from students doing their homework to seniors accessing medical care via televisits to remote workers performing their duties and so on,” he added. “A great deal of our daily lives now revolves around having fast, reliable and affordable connectivity.”
“We look forward to working with Midwest Energy and Communications (MEC), who was selected as the provider for our area, as they engineer, construct and roll out the fiber services,” he said. “We hope to have more definitive timing and plan details from them later this summer when the award is finalized.”
Buchanan Township Supervisor Malinda Cole-Crocker expressed similar sentiments. “If awarded, this will mean bringing broadband to our unserved residents,” she said.
Freehling said she’s heard words of thanks not only from township officials but residents she meets and talks to. “It’s great to hear those stories of thanks from people,” she said.
She noted that expanding broadband service into rural parts of the county is something not only beneficial to residents but also to farmers. She said technology has become a big part of what she calls “precision ag” as it gives farmers real time data for everything from planting crops to caring for animals. “It will be incredibly helpful,” she said.
“We’ve been working on improving connectivity in Berrien County for a number of years and are pleased with the announcement,” she added. “High-speed broadband access is more than just a utility – it’s a life-changing essential we need to be successful in our daily activities. We’re delighted to partner with MEC to bring this critical infrastructure to residents.”
She noted that the BC Bit taskforce isn’t done with its work yet. They not only want to make sure everyone who wants to have high speed internet can get it, they want to then address other issues such as affordability and educating people on how to use the internet.
Midwest Energy was one of four area internet service providers applying for ROBIN (Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks) grants to expand broadband service in the county. The state received a total of $238 million in federal pandemic funds to provide to internet service providers.
The Michigan High Speed Internet Office announced their grant recommendations last week with the final awards announced later this summer after a 45 day objection comment period.
Midwest Energy applied for a total of $56.4 million including a $27.6 million from the ROBIN program. The company plans to make a $15.5 million investment and also receive over $13 million from governmental partners including Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties and numerous townships and villages.
MEC is a rural electric cooperative, propane supplier, and internet service provider headquartered in Cassopolis. It serves customers in Michigan and northern Indiana and Ohio. MEC already received RDOF (Rural Digital Opportunity Fund) funding to bring broadband to rural parts of eastern Berrien County including parts of Berrien and Pipestone Townships.
In Berrien County, the county has committed nearly $4.5 million of their American Rescue Plan Act funds and 16 townships and villages will commit another $2.7 million of their own ARPA funds. MEC is expected to begin construction this fall and be done by the end of 2026.
Once completed, the project will ensure more than 80% of Berrien County residents have broadband connectivity. This program will potentially bring reliable, high-speed broadband service to 10,081 residents and businesses in Berrien County, 5,256 of which currently lack access to broadband.
In addition to south county townships like Buchanan and Galien Townships, the following townships have pledged to participate in the grant: Baroda, Bertrand, Chikaming, Hagar, Lake, Lincoln, New Buffalo, Sodus, Three Oaks and Weesaw. The villages of Eau Claire and Galien will also participate.