Southfield – October 29, 2026 -- 123NET, a Michigan-based fiber, colocation and voice provider, has been awarded approximately $86 million through the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to build fiber across underserved Michigan communities.
BEAD money covers 17,000 addresses within a 49,300-address buildout
The funding will deliver fiber connectivity to 17,000 BEAD-funded addresses. These form part of a total network expansion reaching 49,300 addresses. 123NET worked with municipalities and community partners to apply and is coordinating with the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI). The National Telecommunications and Information Administration and MIHI administer the program.
Projects span 1,700 miles of fiber across 12 counties
The company will build 1,700 miles of fiber in Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Eaton, Jackson, Kent, Kalamazoo, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Ottawa and Washtenaw counties. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2027.
Michigan's $1.5 billion program pairs $920 million federal with $550 million private funds
Michigan's private sector is contributing $550 million in matching funds alongside $920 million in federal money, for a total investment of $1.5 billion. The state has the third-highest number of BEAD-eligible locations in the U.S. and expects to connect nearly 200,000 homes, businesses and institutions.
123NET CEO Ken Fitzpatrick said the program will create "long-term, sustainable infrastructure" for digital services in the state.
123NET cites network ownership as a hedge against deployment costs and workforce gaps
The company names high deployment costs, complex permitting and telecom workforce shortages as the main hurdles to universal broadband in Michigan. It says owning and operating its entire network removes obstacles that third-party providers often face. 123NET describes its footprint as Michigan's largest fiber network.
Allegan County ROBIN build precedes the BEAD projects
Earlier this year, 123NET completed a large fiber expansion in Allegan County funded by a ROBIN (Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks) grant. Thousands of county residents now have access to its service. Residents of the new BEAD areas can register with 123NET for notifications when service becomes available.