Connected Infrastructure in Midland County, Michigan

Broadband access refers to the infrastructure that enables a high-speed internet connection. There are two primary types of broadband connections: fixed and mobile.

Fixed broadband is delivered to a user via several technology platforms including cable, digital subscriber line (DSL) over a phone line, fiber optics, and fixed wireless. Fixed broadband is designed for stationary use at a fixed location such as a home, business, or institution. Within a location, however, fixed broadband service is often broadcast as a Wi-Fi network to connect nearby devices.

Mobile broadband is a wireless technology used to connect portable devices to the internet. These networks are designed to provide seamless connectivity as the user moves from one location to the next while accessing the web from a portable device.

Fixed and mobile broadband connections are equally important, but offer different types of functionality and operate on very different network technologies. Fixed and mobile broadband are often used in conjunction with one another and, as such, are not functional substitutes. However, many households and businesses in rural areas without access to fixed broadband, rely on mobile broadband to substitute for a fixed network connection. While these connections work for some users, mobile broadband connections are often plagued by data caps, weather, vegetation, latency, and other issues of connection reliability and restriction.

Additionally, satellite internet is often a service of last resort in many rural areas. Satellite broadband users often experience the same restrictions of those using mobile broadband as a substitute for a fixed broadband connection. For these reasons, this plan examines fixed and mobile broadband separately. In discussions of fixed broadband access or adoption, satellite and mobile connections are not included.

Broadband availability is an essential infrastructure for twenty-first-century communities. Broadband empowers a community to access applications ranging from healthcare and education to business and government services. Unfortunately, many communities suffer from inequities of access on several fronts: between income levels; between urban and rural areas; between traditional business areas and nontraditional ones; and differing levels of service due to geography or infrastructure limitations.

The following is a list of the known internet service providers in the community, their website, and maximum advertised download speed. 

The following interactive map provides data on broadband availability in the community. Broadband coverage information comes from several sources including the Federal Communications Commission and directly from local internet service providers. Survey data is from the recent broadband assessment conducted in the community. This map should be used by the community and local internet service providers to identify areas in need of broadband service improvements.