Infrastructure project could increase internet access for EUP residents
SAULT STE. MARIE — At the Sault City Commission meeting on April 15, Cherry Capital Communications presented their plans for upcoming fiber optic installation that is designed to increase internet access in the Upper Peninsula.
Fiber optic cables are a major part of internet access infrastructure, especially for rural communities where internet access can be rare and ineffective.
In recent years, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians has begun planning to install fiber optic infrastructure in the Sault area. But, being unable to install infrastructure on non-tribal land, decided to partner with Cherry Capital to bring the program to fruition.
While internet access is widely available in the more urban parts of Chippewa County, it is still very hard to come across in rural areas, which can make it difficult for some businesses to modernize.
"We believe if 100 percent of the homes are not connected to fiber then you're just not going to be in a competitive market," said Cherry Capital Communications CEO Tim Maylone. "It's important that your city embrace any company that wants to come in and add fiber to your community. That would put you in a really good position in the economy."
By partnering with the Sault Tribe, Cloverland Electric and other local organizations, Cherry Capital will begin scheduling installation for the infrastructure connecting St. Ignace to Sault Ste. Marie.
The connecting infrastructure will be middle mile, meaning that it is connecting infrastructure that travels long distances and allows smaller connections to be made. The cables will pass through Sault, Kinross, Rudyard and St. Ignace, allowing for internet infrastructure to be built in all of those communities.
Officials said the addition of this middle mile infrastructure means that it will be easier to make smaller connections to individual buildings and homes. The cable will be an open network, meaning that other internet providers can build off of their infrastructure to expand access to individual areas.
"I appreciate that it's a collaborative effort and that it will be kept open," said commissioner Jay Gage. "That middle mile is so expensive and so hard to get done, so keeping it open is fantastic."
By building the middle mile first and keeping it an open network, it will prevent the county from needing several strands of cable to be installed for each competing company.
"We're not here to build a monopoly. We're here to build this once so you don't end up with four or five strands of cables belonging to different companies," said Maylone.
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Officials also said that adding fiber infrastructure will help the county with obtaining funding for road projects because Cherry Capital operates under a dig once policy. The fiber cables are added into the ground during road construction, and having these plans in place will make it cheaper to obtain funding for construction projects.
In this way, the county can accomplish both whatever construction is needed but also add the fiber installation without any extra cost.
"Consider fiber as an excuse to obtain funding for these other projects," said Maylone. "It takes the same dollar and makes it look more attractive."
Installation is still being planned to coincide with other construction projects that are in the works.
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Sault city officials hear plan to add fiber optic infrastructure
