Grants to Mich will expand broadband

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Two grants from the federal recovery act will help bring new broadband technology to Michigan, making it easier for people to get access to the Internet.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Wednesday that Merit Network Inc. will receive a $33.3 million grant and $8.3 million in matching funds to build a 955-mile advanced fiber-optic broadband network through 32 counties in the Lower Peninsula.

The project will serve an area covering 886,000 households and 45,800 businesses.

Michigan State University is getting a $895,000 grant and $235,000 in matching funds to expand 84 existing library computer centers and establish four new computer centers.

The project will add 500 new workstations at public computer centers statewide and serve nearly 13,000 additional users per week.