Countywide Survey is First Step on New Initiative’s ‘Path to Better Internet’  

Genesee County, MI – NextGenesee, a partnership between Genesee County and Merit Network, is set to take the first step on the path toward better Internet for Genesee County’s more than 400,000 residents. Merit Network, a Michigan-based nonprofit, is conducting the service as part of its Michigan Moonshot initiative.

“High-speed internet is no longer a luxury,” said Mike Dawisha, Chief Information Officer for Genesee County and one of the leaders of NextGenesee. “Access to high-quality, affordable Internet is now a necessity, a hard lesson many of us learned in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

NextGenesee, the brainchild of the Genesee County Broadband Task Force, began with an ambitious goal: to ensure every home and business in the county has access to reliable, high-speed internet. 

“We are committed to bridging the digital divide that exists in our community,” said Dr. Beverly Brown, Genesee County Commissioner and member of NextGenesee. “We want to empower our residents with the tools they need to succeed at home and at work. Moving forward, we want to ensure we are laying the foundation for future economic growth in our communities.”  

To accomplish this goal, NextGenesee is launching a countywide survey to better understand the challenges faced by residents in accessing quality, high-speed internet and participating in the online economy.  The voices of the community will help NextGenesee determine its priorities and to seek out areas of greatest need. All residents are encouraged to participate in the survey to ensure the findings represent the full scope of access in Genesee County. 

To complete the brief survey, visit merit.edu/nextgenesee.  Paper surveys are available upon request by calling 810-257-FAST / (810-257-3278) or email at: broadband@geneseecountymi.gov.

ABOUT THE MICHIGAN MOONSHOT: 

The Michigan Moonshot is a collective call to action which aims to bridge the digital divide in Michigan. Stakeholders include Merit Network, the nation’s longest-running research and education network, and UChicago Data Science, measuring and analyzing Internet performance and reliability to address inequity within U.S. communities. Click here to learn more about the Michigan Moonshot.

Media Contact:

Jared Field, Director of Communications – Genesee County

jfield@geneseecountymi.gov