BATTLE CREEK, MI (WNWN/WTVB) – To obtain needed internet coverage data, Calhoun County is contracting with Merit Network, Inc. to seek input from all county residents, in the form of a survey.
The Calhoun County Board of Commissioners established the Broadband Task Force in May which is an 11-member advisory committee.
County Administration and its Communications division are staffing the Task Force.
Accurate and detailed data demonstrating the gaps in internet coverage is necessary in order to satisfy state laws outlining the process for local governments to work with the private sector to provide internet services. This information will also be used to request state and federal funding for building out the Broadband infrastructure.
The survey developed by Merit Network is being conducted through a partnership with the Michigan Moonshot initiative, which aims to bridge the digital divide in Michigan.
The survey has been paid for entirely by community organizations.
Information gathered will ensure individual privacy and will only be used to support broadband Internet expansion efforts in Calhoun County.
Residents are being asked to visit MichiganMoonshot.org/Calhoun to complete the brief survey, whether they pay for Internet access at their property or not.
The goal is full connectivity provisioning for all of Calhoun County by the year 2024.
