ESCANABA–Highline, a fiber-to-the-home internet and telephone service provider, announced it had been awarded a $22 million Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) grant.
Highline will provide a $3.8 million match that will create new fiber broadband connections to 3,074 unserved homes in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
“We applaud the State of Michigan’s High-Speed Internet Office for recognizing the Upper Peninsula’s significant internet access problem and entrusting Highline to serve the homes impacted by the ROBIN grant,” said Highline President and General Manager Bruce Moore. “t is our privilege to extend Highline’s fiber network to these households that currently cannot work from home, participate in on-line learning, or enjoy the streaming services available today.”
Starting in 2021, Highline began construction of a 5,800-mile fiber optic network that will connect over 65,000 Upper Peninsula and Thumb area unserved, underserved or unhappily served homes with up to 10-gigabit-per-second. “It is very rewarding for the Highline team to help so many families and individuals who had little hope for the best internet service prior to building our network,” said Moore.
“Federal and state broadband grants enable life changing connections for consumers,” said Rural Broadband Association Executive Vice President Mike Romano. “We are so pleased to see innovators like Highline gain access to resources they can pair with their substantial private investment to build a fiber internet network. Now, we need to keep programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the Universal Service Fund (USF) intact so Highline and other community-focused internet service providers around the country can maintain these connections and keep them affordable for decades to come.”
Highline will start construction of the ROBIN locations in June 32024.
Highline has built, owned, and operated fiber networks for more than 27 years. Highline currently serves the communication and internet needs of residents and businesses in Michigan, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas. More at www.highlinefast.com