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Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) Grant Program
ROBIN is a high-speed internet last mile and middle mile infrastructure competitive grant program with $238M in project funds from the US Treasury as part of the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. ROBIN provides funds to internet service providers and public-private partnerships for the expansion of broadband infrastructure to unserved areas.
After reviewing and scoring each application, 24 projects from 11 applicants have moved forward as ROBIN Initial Grant Recommendations (IGRs). The IGRs include:
Collectively, IGR’s proposed a minimum of 100/100 Mbps service to:
IGRs will be subject to a 45-day comment and objection period where objections can be made to ensure grant funds do not overlap existing or planned service areas or areas funded by other state or federal programs. Final grant awards are anticipated to be made in August 2023.
*IGRs include more funding than is available in the program in the event that projects, in whole or in part, are removed from the IGRs based on validated objections.
The application window for the ROBIN program has closed.
The primary ROBIN contact is Jason Guthaus, Infrastructure Program Manager with the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office. Jason can be contacted at guthausj@michigan.gov.
ROBIN Initial Grant Award Recommendations
As a requirement of Public Act 53 of 2022 – Section 359, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) shall make initial grant award recommendations. Within 10 days after the award recommendations have been made, LEO shall publish on its website the freedom of information act redacted grant applications, the proposed geographic broadband service area, and the proposed broadband service speeds for each application that receives an award recommendation. Before granting a final award to any applicant, LEO shall establish a period of at least 45 days from the date the award recommendations are published on the department’s website, during which time the department will accept comments or objections concerning each application. LEO shall consider all comments or objections received in deciding whether an applicant is eligible for a grant. LEO will be accepting comments and objections to the initial grant award recommendations through August 4, 2023. View the project application by clicking on the project name.
APPLICANT | PROJECT NAME | COUNTY(IES) | TOTAL LOCATIONS | SPEED MINIMUM | SPEED MAXIMUM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
123Net | Allegan Countywide | Allegan | 11,692 | 100/100 Mbps | 6/6 Gbps |
AT&T Michigan | Metro Detroit | Macomb, Oakland, Wayne | 3,304 | 100/100 Mbps | 5/5 Gbps |
Brightspeed | Brightspeed_Tuscola | Tuscola | 281 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Cherry Capital Connection, LLC | Benzie County | Benzie | 4,241 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Frontier North Inc. | Branch County | Branch | 4,701 | 100/100 Mbps | 5/5 Gbps |
Great Lakes Energy | Kalkaska District | Antrim, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Otsego | 3,663 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Great Lakes Energy | Scottville District | Lake, Manistee, Mason, Oceana | 3,465 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Great Lakes Energy | Waters District | Crawford, Montmorency, Otsego | 2,656 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
LakeNet LLC | Midland-Saginaw | Bay, Gratiot, Midland, Saginaw | 1,458 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Midwest Energy & Communications | MEC-VBCS | Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Van Buren | 17,419 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Point Broadband Fiber Holding, LLC | Quad County | Alcona, Arenac, Bay, Gladwin, Iosco, Ogemaw, Oscoda | 6,656 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Point Broadband Fiber Holding, LLC | Kent-Ionia | Barry, Ionia, Kent | 2,658 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Point Broadband Fiber Holding, LLC | Clare-Gladwin | Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland | 9,179 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Point Broadband Fiber Holding, LLC | Leelanau County | Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Manistee, Wexford | 2,541 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Spectrum | Charter_CheboyganCo | Cheboygan | 3,008 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Spectrum | Charter_MontcalmCo | Montcalm | 5,869 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Spectrum | Charter_LakeCo | Lake | 5,795 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Spectrum | Charter_Kent1Co | Kent | 1,373 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Spectrum | Charter_NewaygoCo | Newaygo | 5,445 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Spectrum | Charter_MissaukeeCo | Missaukee | 1,263 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Spectrum | Charter_ManisteeCo | Manistee | 4,309 | 100/100 Mbps | /1 Gbps |
Spectrum | Charter_KalamazooCo | Kalamazoo | 1,105 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
Surf Internet | Surf - Livingston | Ingham, Livingston | 3,963 | 100/100 Mbps | 1/1 Gbps |
TOTAL | 106,044 |
Geographic Service Area Map of Proposed Projects
Areas shown on the map identify the locations to be connected by the projects included in the initial grant recommendations.
List of Addresses for Proposed Projects
Comment And Objection to the Initial ROBIN Grant Award Recommendations
LEO will be accepting comments and objections to the initial ROBIN grant recommendations through August 4, 2023. Please read the Comment and Objection Instructions prior to submitting the Comment and Objection Form to file a comment or objection regarding the initial grant recommendations.
All comments and objection forms must be submitted via email to guthausj@michigan.gov and must be received by LEO no later than 4:00PM EST on Friday, August 4, 2023. Any materials submitted to LEO as part of a comment or objection are subject to public disclosure via Freedom of Information Act requests.
ROBIN Objection and Comment Instructions
ROBIN Objection and Comment Form (rev. 7/27)
Capital Projects Fund - Performance Report
Application Resources and Guidance
Access the Online Application System
- ROBIN Program Fact Sheet
- ROBIN Program Guidance - Updated 2/23/23
- ROBIN FAQ - Updated 3/10/23
- U.S. Treasury - 2 CFR Part 200 Update 5/17/23
- 2023 FCC Broadband Benchmark Rate Calculator
- WEBINAR: ROBIN Application Redaction
- WEBINAR: ROBIN Map Overview
- ROBIN Last Mile Application Instructions
- ROBIN Middle Mile Application Instructions
- EGrAMS Application Template
- EGrAMS Application Overview
- EGrAMS Overview
- Community Anchor Institution Shapefile
- ROBIN Likely Eligible Location Map
- Capital Projects Fund Project and Expenditure Report User Guide
- Capital Projects Fund Compliance and Reporting Guidance
- Capital Projects Fund Guidance for States
Questions can be sent via email to: LEO-MIHighSpeedInternet@michigan.gov.