By Madeline Campbell
mcampbell@mihomepaper.com
Genesee Cty. — Work aimed at improving internet for 400,000 Genesee County residents has begun.
NextGenesee, a partnership between the county and Merit Network, has launched a countywide survey which will help the county and organizations better understand the challenges faced by residents in accessing quality, high-speed internet and participating in the online economy. All residents are encouraged to participate in the survey to ensure the findings represent the full scope of access in Genesee County. NextGenesee is also a product of the Genesee County Broadband Task Force.
The broadband task force was launched in 2023 as an effort to bring high-speed, reliable internet access to all of Genesee County. The task force’s goal is to create a public/private underground broadband system that provides 24/7 high-speed internet access in an equitable, accessible and affordable fashion.
Merit Network, a nonprofit organization owned by 12 of Michigan’s four-year public universities, is conducting the survey as part of its Michigan Moonshot initiative, which aims to bridge the digital divide in Michigan.
Merit Network was launched in 1966 in order to create a shared resource to help meet their common needs for networking assistance and operates the country’s longest-running regional research and education network.
Michigan Moonshot is a collective call to action which aims to bridge the digital divide in Michigan. Stakeholders include Merit Network, the nation’s longest-running research and education network, and UChicago Data Science, measuring and analyzing Internet performance and reliability to address inequity within U.S. communities.
To complete the brief survey, visit merit.edu/nextgenesee. Paper surveys are available upon request by calling 810-257-3278 or via email at: broadband@geneseecountymi.gov.