Working collectively, instead of independently, the EUPConnect Collaborative is working as a facilitator to ensure that all households in the EUP have access to broadband infrastructure which will support 1Gbps connectivity to the internet.

Our Vision and Mission:

• 1 Gbps minimum fixed broadband service to the premises of every e911 service address in the tri-county area, including all islands with electrical service by 2025,
• 25/3 Mbps minimum mobile broadband coverage of all geographic square miles in the tri-county area, including all islands, by 2025.

Our Purpose:

To facilitate the creation of a twenty-first century broadband infrastructure throughout the EUP which will provide cyber security protection for all residents, businesses, utility companies, governmental units and institutions at a competitive pricing structure by 2025.

Strategic Initiatives:

• Pool resources from existing and emerging funding sources to facilitate the applications for broadband infrastructure and equity funding opportunities.
• Develop public-private partnerships for infrastructure deployment
• Technical assistance for local and regional master plans with current and future regional infrastructure investment opportunities
• Remove barriers to residential broadband adoption in coordination with infrastructure investments
• Continually collect and share data to measure progress toward objectives and development of master plans
• Work with philanthropic organizations, community service groups etc., to support local funding efforts
• Establish educational programs to ensure high quality services for our communities

Access to reliable and affordable internet is a prerequisite for sustainable economic growth in the Eastern Upper Peninsula (EUP). Delivering healthcare and education services effectively requires high speed internet. Banks, businesses, entrepreneurs, and local units of government require consistent, secure access to high-speed internet to reach customers. Unfortunately, service across the EUP is often unavailable, unreliable, or inadequate. This was made even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of this reality is far-reaching. Equitable access throughout our communities is imperative.

This does not need to be our accepted norm any longer. There are exciting new opportunities in expansion and upgrades of services. Recent investments by our private sector partners in our communities have improved service. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) is injecting $37 million into the EUP. Local communities and schools are receiving an influx of stimulus relief. The list of opportunities goes on.

How do we help? We start by building the community of partnerships that will share the burden to resolve inequitable access to connectivity in our region. Not-for-profit organizations need to take the lead and create the right organizational structure to facilitate everyone, public and private, working together.

Now is the time for action! There is urgent need to leverage the collective investment of all our partners to connect education, healthcare, communities, and industry.

Background

For several years, the EUP Intermediate School District has been working on a cost effective broadband service for the three eastern-most counties of the UP. This goal was an out-growth of the services the EUP had been providing, since the 1990’s of internet services to area educational institutions. The holdup until now has been funding.

Significant investment is being made in broadband infrastructure to ensure we are able to close the digital divide once and for all. Every key sector in our community gets extra points on their applications for funding if broadband infrastructure is part of the planned investment.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service. The Affordable Connectivity Program provides

• Up to $30/month discount for broadband service
• Up to $75/month discount for households on qualifying Tribal lands; and
• A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider if the household contributes more than $10 but less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

Who is Eligible?

A household is eligible if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Has an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines;
• Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
• Participates in one of several Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Head Start (only households meeting the relevant income qualifying standard), Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
• Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income program.

The following ACP participating providers service areas of the EUP: 

• Astrea (fixed wireless and cable)
  • Astrea - Internet, TV and Phone Services (astreaconnect.com)
• Jamadots (fiber to the home and dsl)
  • Home | Jamadots
• Highline (fiber to the home)
  • Homepage | Highline Fast Internet
• Michigan Broadband (dsl)
  • Homepage : Michigan Broadband Services (michbbs.com)
• TDS Telecom (dsl)
  • Affordable Connectivity Program | TDS (tdstelecom.com)
• Spectrum (cable and fiber to the home)
  • Low-Income Internet Service | Spectrum Internet Assist Program
• Brightspeed (dsl)
  • Home Internet, Phone & TV Service Provider | Brightspeed
• T-Mobile (fixed wireless)
  • High-Speed 5G Home Internet Service Plans | T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
• Verizon (fixed wireless)
  • Affordable Connectivity Program - up to $30 off Mobile or Home Internet Access | Verizon
• AT&T (fixed wireless)
  • Fixed Wireless Internet for Rural Households | AT&T Internet (att.com) 
    
    

Two-Steps to Enroll

1. Go to ACPBenefit.org to submit an application or print out a mail-in application; and
   
   
2. Contact your preferred participating provider to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill.

Some providers may have an alternative application that they will ask you to complete.

Eligible households must both apply for the program and contact a participating provider to select a service plan.

Check out www.fcc.gov/ACP for a Consumer FAQ and other program resources.