Just under 2,000 residents and business customers in Traverse City, MI can now receive gigabit fiber-based broadband service from the newly launched TCLPfiber from Traverse City Light & Power (TCL&P).
The TCL&P Michigan gigabit service is available to many of the company’s customers in the central business district, who represent about one-sixth of the company’s 12,700 customers in the municipality. The company has plans to expand the service to other areas, though it provided no details when that might happen.
“TCL&P has been building the TCL&P fiber network incrementally, methodically, and carefully because quality is extremely important,” said Tim Arends, executive director, TCL&P, in a prepared statement about the Michigan gigabit network. “We view broadband as an essential utility―owned by the people of Traverse City and managed by TCL&P. It’s been a long time in coming, but we’re finally here.”
Residential pricing for TCLPfiber is:
- 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) for $89.99/month
- 500 Mbps for $69.99/month
- 200 Mbps for $59.99/month
Commercial pricing for TCLPfiber is:
- 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) for $149.99/month
- 500 Mbps for $99.99/month
There are no data caps or installation fees.
The idea for the Traverse City gigabit network had its genesis several years ago, growing out of a $1.8 million partnership the TCL&P entered with the Traverse City Area Public Schools to construct a dark fiber network in the community. Subsequently the Downtown Development Authority got involved with TCL&P, which currently offers free Wi-Fi downtown.
A key goal for the gigabit network is to attract industry and entrepreneurs to the area and make Traverse City a tech hub and a smart city. This is a strategy EPB in Chattanooga has followed with great success, in addition the nation’s first gigabit network.
