Expanding Broadband Infrastructure
In September 2021, the Board of Commissioners approved an investment of County General Fund and American Rescue Plan dollars to connect every household in Washtenaw County to high-speed broadband infrastructure.
Washtenaw County is actively working with the vendors awarded through a competitive RFP issued in 2021 to negotiate contractual agreements and begin work. The expected timeline is:
- January 2022 | Contract executed with DCS Technology Design for Project Manager services
- January 2022 | DCS Technology Design will being working with the Broadband Taskforce to familiarize themselves with work completed to date and next steps. Will be a member of the contract negotiations team with the four service providers. DCS reports to County Administration
- January 2022 | Broadband infrastructure contracts issued to the four service providers
- Spring 2022 | Contract negotiations with the Broadband Infrastructure providers began
- June 2022 | First Contract executed with Washtenaw Fiber Properties
- June 2022 | First House Connected to Broadband infrastructure as a result of this investment
- September 2022 | Washtenaw County Broadband Townhall hosted in Sylvan Township to summarize progress and unveil a new project tracking tool
- October 2022 | Washtenaw County Gap Filling Map goes live