Part of $6 million grant will improve wideband access in Benton Harbor

Benton Harbor will be one of eight communities to benefit from a $6 million federal grant Michigan State University is using to expand public access to broadband in Michigan’s cities.

The funds will go toward adding 2,232 computers in 207 locations across the state. Computers will be placed in libraries, public housing centers, tribal community centers, other community centers and community colleges.

Making computer access available is intended to help retrain the state’s workforce, provide additional resources for job hunting, assist young people and those in and adult education classes, and provide online health care access.

Grant monies will cover the cost of buying the computers and training students to install them.

MSU already has installed computers in primarily rural areas. They placed computers in 88 existing library computer centers and establishing new centers to provide broadband access for people in 15 underserved counties of Michigan, adding 500 workstations and serving an additional 13,000 users.

“Through this project, Michigan will have technology infrastructure statewide, which is vital for our state and residents to flourish and prosper,” says Kurt DeMaagd, MSU assistant professor of telecommunication and director of the $6 million project.

The grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration. It is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

Benton Harbor is included as one of a group of eight economically challenged urban centers that have been named Michigan’s Cities of Promise. The other seven communities included in the project are: Detroit, Flint, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Muskegon Heights, Pontiac and Saginaw.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Kurt DeMaagd, MSU assistant professor of telecommunication