Point Broadband’s initiative to bring high-speed internet to “unserved” and “underserved” homes in Leelanau County may not be completed until the end of this year, according to the latest projections by the Opelika, Alabama-based internet service provider. However, the county’s project consultant feels that the network could still be finished in June depending on some external factors.
This would be the second time the completion date for the project was pushed back. When the county signed the contract with Point Broadband in early 2022, it awarded the service provider $5 million – including $3.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act Funds – and stipulated the network would be completed by Dec. 31, 2023. This has since been pushed back to June 1.
Chris Scherrer, the county’s consultant on this project, said that Point Broadband is pushing the end date even further back because they anticipate difficulties in getting materials and manpower. But despite acknowledging that Point Broadband is conservatively estimating an end-of-year completion, Scherrer told the county board of commissioners in December that he “feel(s) we can get it done by June.”
