The state of Michigan has made recommendations in the second round of the state’s ROBIN broadband grant program (for Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks).
The proposed awards, which are not final but are still subject to a challenge process, total $147 million. Award amounts could be reduced to avoid exceeding the available budget.
Would-be awardees have offered to cover some project costs through matching funds. Eligible locations are those lacking 100/20 Mbps service. Grant winners must deploy service at 100 Mbps symmetrical speeds.
If its awards are all approved, Charter will be the biggest winner in the second round. The Michigan High Speed Internet (MIHI) Office recommended the company for funding totaling over $49.3 million for projects in 11 counties.
The next biggest potential Michigan broadband winner is Aspire Networks, which does business as Highline. That company is on tap to win almost $30 million for deployments in Michigan’s largely rural Upper Peninsula.
The third biggest potential winner is 123NET, which could take home over $16.5 million.
Frontier could be the fourth biggest winner, as the state has recommended the company for almost $16.4 million. Not far behind is Astrea Connect, which could win almost $16 million.
The sixth and seventh biggest winners could be DMCI Broadband and Thumb Electric Cooperative, which are in line for nearly $11.5 million and nearly $6.6 million, respectively.
At number eight, Brightspeed is recommended to receive three grants totaling nearly $1.5 million.
A complete list of tentative awardees indicating the areas they propose to serve can be found at this link.
Those wishing to challenge the awards have until December 21, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. ET to do so.
The first round of Michigan broadband awards made in the ROBIN program totaled $203 million, with matching funds of $202 million.
Funding for the program comes through the federal Capital Projects Fund program.
Additional information about Michigan broadband, including links to state resources and Telecompetitor coverage, can be found on the Broadband Nation web page for the state.
