County board to consider internet connectivity resolution. 

County board to consider internet connectivity resolution. 

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The Mason County Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution when it meets Tuesday, July 13, that will put the county on a path to provide high speed internet to all residents and businesses. 

The cost of such an endeavor are estimated to be about $46.5 million. 

If the commission passed the resolution, development of a broadband project by the county would be authorized. The county board could then issue a request for proposals followed by public hearing. 

A local group known as Connect Mason County, recently conducted a survey of connectivity in the county. The survey had 1,171 responses representing over 9% of Mason County households, and representation from all Mason County townships. From the survey, 87.6% of households in the county have access to the internet and 12.4% do not. The biggest barrier to access was the lack of a local provider followed by cost. 

The commission meets at 9 a.m. in the conference room of the Mason County Airport. 

Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals who support our service. Click on the PayPal donation button located on the top right of our website. 

This story is copyrighted © 2021, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.