Michigan Broadband Development Authority Loan to Fuel Broadband Boost for Macomb County

Michigan Broadband Development Authority Loan to Fuel Broadband Boost for Macomb County

LANSING, Mich., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Michigan Broadband Development Authority ("MBDA" or "the Authority") announced it has closed on a $826,000 loan to Macomb-based Michigan Lightwave, LLC, a provider of "dark" or "unused" fiber to businesses, government and other organizations with large bandwidth needs. Earlier this year, Governor Granholm charged the Authority to expand broadband investment in each area of the state by 2007. While having made several loans already this year, this loan is the first made by the agency in Macomb.

The MBDA loan will help provide the region with vital infrastructure resource. "There are over 500 medium-sized and large businesses in the county that fit our profile," said Thomas Davis, one of the co-owners of Michigan Lightwave. "While there are existing providers that own fiber in the market, none focus specifically on selling point-to-point fiber connections to businesses and other entities," he said.

Richard Witek, the other co-owner of Michigan Lightwave, was just as bullish. "Our niche in the market place will continue to be the selling of dark fiber. What we provide is a good substitute for businesses currently leasing traditional leased circuits," he said. When completed, the 165-mile network will allow customers to connect various office locations throughout the county. This will be the third network built by Michigan Lightwave. Its first was built in Kalamazoo County in conjunction with the Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Area (RESA), and the Kalamazoo and Portage Public School Districts. Its second was built in Gratiot and Isabella Counties.

"The importance of high-speed Internet access cannot be underestimated when it comes to economic development for our state," noted David Hollister, Director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. "This loan helps diversify the broadband choices and options businesses will have, improving their competitiveness and aiding economic growth and more jobs for the region."

James W. Butler, III, Vice President of the MBDA, echoed the Director's remarks in announcing the closing of the loan. "Our role within the Department of Labor and Economic Growth is clear. The MBDA will reach out to all parts of the state to help support broadband investments that improve a regions economic future. We will continue to work with the department to this end."

The MBDA was created to help the state attract more private sector investment in high-speed Internet infrastructure, and to increase demand for and utilization of broadband services. It does so by offering 1) loans to providers willing to make such investments and 2) by offering organizations or "broadband users" financing for the acquisition of hardware/software applications that will improve or increase their use of broadband service. More information about the Authority and its programs can be found at http://www.broadbandauthority.org/ .


Source: Michigan Broadband Development Authority

CONTACT: Brian Sydnor of Michigan Broadband Development Authority,
+1-517-241-2121

Web site: http://www.broadbandauthority.org/


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