By John Raffel
Correspondent
ALLEGAN – The contract with 123.Net to install fiber optic cable for the sections of the county without high speed internet access is reportedly nearing completion, county commissioner Jim Storey said.
“123.Net was chosen from among eleven respondents to the county’s request for proposal to provide access for the 12,000 estimated households without broadband access,” he said. :”At Thursday’s meeting of the Broadband Action Workgroup, 123.Net representatives briefed the group on the extent of the company’s services. County officials have presented a proposed contract to 123.Net.
“The broadband project is projected to cost $70 million. The county pledged $17.7 million in federal ARPA funds that will be matched by 123.Net’s private capital. The balance is expected from the State of Michigan’s ARPA funding allocations.”
Storey also said Construction of the Heritage Hall addition to Michigan’s historic state capitol building in Lansing was completed earlier this year.
“The $40 million addition provides modern heating and air conditioning utilities as well as interesting exhibits from the building’s past,” he said. “The building has served as the center of state government since 1878. Tours will be available through the holiday recess, except on the official state holidays.
“One of the rooms open to visitors is the former Supreme Court chambers. The hour-long tour may be an interesting side trip during the holiday recess. Information is available at (517) 373-2353.”