Washtenaw County’s Broadband Task Force has released a pre-engineering report that includes cost estimates for expanding broadband service in Washtenaw County.
Barbara Fuller is the chair of the task force and says it will cost between $41.7 million and $61.3 million to expand the service to 14 townships in the county that have poor or no service. The improvement will impact over 8,000 premises, which include residential homes and commercial structures. Fuller explains the construction options the county is considering for the project.
Barbara Fuller: Aerial construction would be springing fiber on utility poles. To go underground, you can either trench, dig a little trench and bury the fiber that way. Or you can actually do a boring which puts the fiber in a conduit so it’s more protected.
The county is in the process of applying for state, federal, and private aid to help pay for the project. They hope to expand broadband service in rural areas of the county, like Lima and Freedom Townships, by the year 2022.
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— Jorge Avellan is a reporter for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him javellan@emich.edu
