Broadband Changes the U.P. : How That Impacts Escanaba Delta County

Broadband expansion could transform UP through its Educational Access Network. This was made possible a $1.5 trillion federal omnibus spending package that allocates $1.2 million specifically to NMU to expand reach. It is expected that such a service will create $3.2 million per year after implementation economic impact. You can get a strong over view in the Iron Mountain Daily News article 'Northern Michigan University will expand LTE broadband service'. 

Delta County is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and hosts the small city of Escanaba. It hasn't always had the best broadband service outside of city limits. There have been some limitations of access within the city as well. Expanding the service means that more people will have access to the Internet and engage in the economy fully.

We are moving into a new economy that will require much more digital information and infrastructure. If you are not connected to the Net and engaging in school, work, and other activities you are likely to be limited in some way economically and socially. There is a high probability that such changes and disparities will grow as more and more aspects of our economy move to virtual/remote platforms. That includes everything from education to small business.