Thanks to the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) grant and Berrien County Broadband Internet Task Force, Pipestone Township residents now have access to high quality fiber optic broadband internet service. Midwest Energy and Communications (MEC) has a grant to provide affordable internet service to most areas within our Pipestone Township.
Here’s the exciting news. Supervisor Davis has been working with MEC and received a second grant called the Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) grant that covers about 299 additional properties within Pipestone Township. If you are part of the 299, you need to contact MEC and sign up for internet service so MEC can add you to the installation list. (See the link at the bottom of this article to see if you are part of the 299 that are included in this grant)
Unfortunately, there were 44 properties that were removed from MEC’s list due to previous funding or other reasons. However, there is a third grant that is being worked on to get fiber internet access to these final properties. If you are on this list, reach out to MEC for details on why you were removed. If you currently do not have internet service, make sure you mention to the customer service representative that you are currently “unserved”. (See the link at the bottom of this article to see if you are part of the 44 that were removed from this grant)
The Bottom Line.
- Contact MEC at www.teammidwest.com or call 800-492-5989, to see if you have service available.
- Let them know if you are on either of these lists. If you are on the removed list, be kind, ask if they can provide details on why you were removed and how you can possibly be added back to the grant or added to the next one.
The Township Board’s goal is to make sure everyone in the community has access to affordable fiber internet. Supervisor Davis is working hard on obtaining additional grant money to connect unserved areas within the township. If you see him out in the community, try to thank him for his service.
