Allegan County selects vendor to bring high-speed internet to 10K homes

ALLEGAN COUNTY — An effort to bring high-speed internet to more than 10,000 unserved addresses in Allegan County took a step forward last week. 

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The Allegan County Board of Commissioners awarded a contract for the installation of broadband infrastructure during a meeting Thursday, Nov. 10.

Commissioners awarded a $17.7 million contract to 123.net, a company based in Southfield. The county is paying for the initiative with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

“123.net is a foundational provider of Michigan broadband infrastructure,” Allegan County Broadband Project Manager Jill Dunham wrote in a statement. “From their reasonable monthly rates to the open access network proposed, they offer a great solution for Allegan County.”  

Nearly 12,000 addresses across Allegan County don't have access to high-speed internet service. Expanding access has been a focus area for the board. 

“Voting to invest in internet access for all (of) Allegan County is the most important act for the future this board of commissioners made this term,” wrote Board Chair Jim Storey. “It signals Allegan County will be a player in the world economy by giving individual residents access through high-speed internet to opportunity and prosperity."

Allegan County’s broadband action workgroup recommended 123.net for the project after receiving 11 proposals. The proposals were evaluated by a team of three county employees and three members of the workgroup.

Six of the companies were brought in for interviews, Dunham told commissioners Thursday. Of those, three stood out — Comcast, Mercury Broadband and 123.net. 

Dunham said Comcast's monthly charges were the highest among the bids received, so it was removed from consideration. 

Meanwhile, 123.net had a lower monthly charge with higher speeds, plus no installation fees for customers. The monthly charge proposed was $59 per month for 250 megabits per second in download speeds. Mercury’s proposal was $65 per month for 100 megabits per second in download speeds, plus a $99 installation fee.

Dunham highlighted 123.net’s plan to build an open access network, meaning other service providers can pay to use their fiber, rather than building their own infrastructure. 

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Through the agreement, 123.net will match the county’s $17.7 million investment. It will apply for a state grant through Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks, which could add $35 million to the project. Construction is expected to take 18-24 months.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.