Michigan Island Asks FCC to Require Fiber for Some Carriers
Missing out on BEAD-funded fiber could ‘materially impair’ the Beaver Island’s ability to compete, a local committee argued.

Missing out on BEAD-funded fiber could ‘materially impair’ the Beaver Island’s ability to compete, a local committee argued.
WASHINGTON, September 22, 2023 – A small Michigan island, Beaver Island, is asking the Federal Communications Commission to require broadband carriers receiving legacy federal funds to lay fiber-optic cable, or face competition from other providers.
Fiber deployment emerges as a common thread despite vastly different market conditions.
Permitting delays, transmission backlogs, siting fights, and supply chain gaps top the list.
The agency is investigating the company, along with Comcast and Verizon, over diversity practices.
Outdated permitting systems could stymie nuclear projects needed for tomorrow’s data centers, panelists said.