LANSING, April 18, 2007: The Michigan Broadband Development Authority (MBDA) has announced it closed a $576,416 loan with Town and Country Cable on March 7, 2007. Town and Country Cable is a broadband service provider located in Mears, MI. This loan will bring high-speed internet service to more residents and businesses throughout the Northwest portion of the State of Michigan including Lake and Oceana counties.

The $576,416 loan will assist Town and Country Cable to construct, acquire, install and deploy digital video cable and VoiP, in addition to cable broadband internet services in Lake and Oceana counties. Loan proceeds may also be used to upgrade assets in other underserved regions of the coverage area where Town and Country Cable has existing infrastructure in place.

"The MBDA is pleased to be able to provide financing for this new project, which is one of the final projects that will receive funding under the Governor's Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) program and advances us towards achieving the goals established for the program when it was created." It will make high-speed internet access available to an increasing number of residential and business customers in Lake and Oceana counties, drawing one step closer to closing the digital divide," said James W. Butler, III, Executive Vice President of the MBDA.

The Governor's Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) was created to ensure the expansion of high-speed internet access to the rural and underserved areas of our state by targeting the funding mechanism of the MBDA to these areas. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said, "We are thrilled to be able to help the folks in Lake and Oceana counties to gain access to affordable internet service. There are so many applications for its use: public safety, healthcare and education to name a few."

Steven Jones, President of Town and Country Cable said, "Receiving the MBDA loan money will allow Town and Country to expand coverage as well as improve quality of service throughout a much larger area of the Northwestern portion of the State of Michigan, specifically focusing on Lake and Oceana counties."

As of April 1, 2007 service was available to residents and businesses provided by Town and Country Cable in the areas of Lake and Oceana counties, which are located in the Northwest portion of the State of Michigan. The MBDA is pleased to have done business with Town and Country Cable, and are proud to see they were able begin to successfully execute their expansion plan in a timely manner. For inquires on how to obtain service please contact Town and Country Cable at (231) 873-7500.

This award is one of the last the Broadband Authority will release as it completes its successful efforts to increase access across the state. As long planned, the Broadband Authority will cease operations on April 21, 2007 and service of all outstanding loans will be taken over by the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority.

Read more Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth press releases.