Calhoun County, MI

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Calhoun County Broadband Task Force joins organizations nationwide in promoting the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The goal is to increase enrollment in the federal program, which reduces internet bills by $30/month and provides a $100 credit for devices for eligible households.

In a Calhoun County broadband report released earlier this year, it was identified that 34 percent of households, approximately 18,000, are eligible for the benefit but only 27 percent of those are enrolled, just over 5,000. Since then as of June 2023, ACP enrollment in Calhoun has reached 11,285 households enrolled! Help us spread the word to increase enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program! Click here for a press release sent June 14 with information about applying, especially for those without access to a computer.

How to apply:
If you don't know where to get started, getacp.org/Michigan can take you step by step through the process. GetACP.org is a virtual mobile assistant that simplifies the ACP enrollment process and provides access to real-time support. It helps households:

Check their eligibility.
Determine the easiest way to qualify.
Identify the documents needed when applying.
Find “free with ACP” broadband plans available at their address.

Or apply directly at on the federal website.

Community Organization Resources:
If you are an organization, especially one that works with eligible populations, and want to participate in promoting ACP, there are many resources available. State resources for GetACP.org/Michigan can be found here, Website graphic | Postcard | Social Graphic. The federal program website has promotional materials here.

With your help, we can meet our goal of connecting more Calhoun residents with reliable, high-speed internet.

Sign up for Calhoun County Broadband Task Force Updates here

The Calhoun County Broadband Task Force will pursue the provision of internet services to all residents and businesses at a reasonable cost, recognizing that high speed internet promotes economic development, quality of life, housing development, village/city infrastructure and access to healthcare and education. The Task Force is made up of various sectors and stakeholders and will first collect data about access before tackling feasibility and then implementation.

Task Force Membership:

Michael "Mac" MacCullough, Willard Library
County Commissioner Tommy Miller
County Commissioner Monique French
Angela Myers, Battle Creek Community Foundation
Kathy Szenda-Wilson, BC Pulse
Lee Adams, Southcentral Michigan Planning Commission
Marc Newman, Albion College
Sonja Elder, Grace Health
Dr. Paul Watson, Kellogg Community College
Lorie Upright, Calhoun County Intermediate School District
Paulette Porter, CareWell Services
Barry Skutt Jr., Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribe
Art Kale, Village of Homer
Jeff Albaugh, Marshall Township
Mike Nofs, City of Battle Creek
Derek Perry, City of Marshall
Haley Snyder, City of Albion
Robert Stahelin, Calhoun Count Consolidated Dispatch Authority
Jim Haadsma, State Representative, 44th District
Paul Egnatuk, Staff of State Representative Jim Haadsma
Angela Semifero, Marshall District Library

Staff Support
Kelli Scott, Calhoun County Administrator/Controller
Lucy Blair, Calhoun County Communications Director
Lynn Meikle, Calhoun County Communications Coordinator

Four strategic areas for the Calhoun County Broadband Task Force:
Access
Adoption
Affordability
Literacy

Questions about this initiative can also be sent to information@calhouncountymi.gov.

Broadband Task Force Meeting Schedule & Agendas

Task Force Updates

FCC Internet Map Challenge Information

Internet Map Challenge
The Calhoun County Broadband Task Force encourages county residents to participate in the process to review national internet maps and challenge information about your individual coverage.

By making sure the data is accurate on these national internet maps, we can ensure that Calhoun County is positioned to get the maximum federal and state funding for improving internet services in our community.

Here’s how:
First, visit the FCC map at broadbandmap.fcc.gov and search for your address. When you search for your address, you will see a list of internet providers that can serve it and the types of service and speeds offered.

If there is an Internet Service Provider (ISP) listed that says it provides internet to your home that you believe does not, follow these steps for submitting an availability challenge.

FFC Map Challenge Tool Kit
Broadband Display Screen
Social Media Posts Samples
FB Broadband 1
FB Broadband 2
FB Broadband 3
FB Broadband 4
Map Challenge flyer for print
Map Challenge color flyer

If one of the services listed is not available at that location, Click the Availability Challenge link.
That will bring up a form where you can choose which ISP you would like to challenge.
Scroll down to input your personal information and complete the form.
Select your reason for challenge from the drop-down list.
We recommend submitting “evidence” to support your challenge as a part of your availability challenge, which can be an email or screenshot from the ISP website that proves service is not available. You can also write a description of your experience with that ISP. *For evidence from the provider, go to the ISP’s website and enter your address on the website where it allows you to search whether that address is served. You can use a screenshot of the results of that search as evidence that you do not have service.
Check the certification box at the bottom of the form and then click “Submit.”

Congrats! You’ve submitted a challenge to the national broadband maps to ensure that this data is accurate. Once you have submitted your challenge, you will receive an email from broadbandmapnotifications@fcc.gov. the ISP has 60 days to respond to this request and either provide more information or confirm that you do not have availability.

If you want to submit more than one document as your evidence, we recommend putting those documents into a single file for submission, because the FCC website will only accept one file as evidence.

Calhoun County Government will also “bulk” challenge these maps. First, we will challenge the “fabric” of the maps by submitting address level data. Second, we will challenge the availability based on data we have from ISPs and from crowd-sourced data we’ve collected as a part of this effort.

But we need your help! When individual households also challenge this data, we can get even closer to having accurate data represented with the FCC.

Calhoun County Broadband Reports

Broadband Articles