Fact Sheet

  • It is a fact that no provider has successfully developed ubiquitous and robust Broadband services in rural Northern Lower Michigan.

     

  • It is a fact that the economic viability of Northern Lower Michigan requires these services.

     

  • The NMBC was formed because there still exists this lack of Broadband services in rural Northern Lower Michigan.

     

  • The NMBC's only interest is solving the rural Broadband availability problem.

     

  • The NMBC's mission is to seek the development of robust services (i.e. Fiber) for Northern Lower Michigan equal to or better than major metropolitan areas.

     

  • The NMBC does not believe that there are currently any other initiatives that are specifically designed to achieve these long-term goals in Northern Lower Michigan.

     

  • The NMBC welcomes any transitional development, such as wireless services, but is specifically focused on the long-term goals.

     

  • The NMBC believes the only way to achieve the long-term goal is by a comprehensive layering of opportunities, both public and private.

     

  • The NMBC believes that a special type of organization is required to aggregate these layered opportunities.

     

  • The NMBC is a not for profit Michigan corporation organized as a cooperative.

     

  • The NMBC is not a public-sector project, it is a corporation operating as a cooperative as inspired by our successful regional power cooperatives.

     

  • NMBC membership is open to anyone and any organization with a bona fide interest in solving this problem.

     

  • There is nothing exclusionary about the NMBC. Membership is open to any and all who wish to join, including users, advocates, and vendors.

     

  • Vendors who wish to sell to or buy from the NMBC are encouraged to contact the Director with their interest and are encouraged to become members.

     

  • The NMBC has applied for assistance under the Recovery Act but does not see this funding alone as sufficient to solve the long-term goals.

     

  • The NMBC needs your support because there are no other current initiatives focusing on long-term goals for robust Broadband services for all of Northern Lower Michigan.