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Northeast Michigan Council of Governments rolls out new tool

Northern Lakes Economic Alliance • www.northernlakes.net

Jessica Lovay, Community Development & Grants

It is no secret that a hurdle for all of Northern Michigan is access to high-speed internet. To combat the issue, the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG) has rolled out a new interactive tool—a regional vertical asset inventory. In partnership with Connected Nation Michigan, an organization working to better serve Michigan so that all can receive the benefits of broadband, they have created an interactive map to help identify and catalog public and private areas that are available for expansion of broadband internet infrastructure.

The map provides information and photos related to each location, as well as broadband availability. In a press release published by Jessica Denson at Connected Nation Michigan (click here for full press release), Diane Rekowski, Executive Director of NEMCOG shares that “A major obstacle in the region to not only our local economy but also our quality of life is the inaccessibility of high-speed internet in many areas of the region…This Vertical Asset Inventory assists internet service providers (ISPs) in locating towers for possible internet service deployment. Our thanks to CN Michigan for completing the inventory, fieldwork, and web portal. All of us within the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments are extremely grateful that this important tool is completed and now available to those who can help expand access to local residents and businesses.”

To view the map and learn more about the NEMCOG broadband efforts click here, http://www.discovernortheastmichigan.org/broadband.asp. To learn more about the NLEA’s broadband efforts please contact us at 231-582-6482 to be connected to Eric Grandstaff, our Broadband Consortium Staff Specialist & Consultant.

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