County Board Hears Results Of Broadband Survey

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The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has received the results of a community broadband survey done by Merit Network out of Ann Arbor. The board sought the survey to determine which areas of the county lack access to high-speed internet so its rollout can be pursued via grants and other methods. Merit’s Pierette Renee Dagg told commissioners during a Thursday meeting the FCC defines broadband as internet with at least 25 megabits per second downloads and three megabits per second upload. She notes the FCC’s current listings for the county are inaccurate.

“52% fewer homes have access to broadband internet speeds within our survey compared to standard FCC measurements,” Renee Dagg said. “21% fewer homes have some connectivity but the speeds are lower than broadband speeds, and 31% more homes have no internet connectivity whatsoever than is suggested by FCC maps.”

Areas well-served by broadband include St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Niles, Bridgman, Watervliet, and New Buffalo. Merit’s data shows areas lacking high availability are Bainbridge Township, Buchanan Township, and Weesaw Township, where a whopping 82% of respondents had no broadband. Commissioner Teri Freehling said the county will hold town halls regarding the data and urged commissions to talk with local officials from their area about the findings. You can find the presentation given to the county board right here.