MSU Gets $5.2M Stimulus Grant For Urban Broadband
Michigan State University is receiving a $5.2 million federal stimulus grant to give residents in Michigan's urban areas tools and training for broadband use, crucial to economic progress and quality of life for the state.
The grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration will help increase broadband use by providing training for students, adults and entrepreneurs to help them use emerging technologies for personal and business growth.
This project is an investment in the people of Michigan, said MSU researchers working on the project. Through the grant, MSU researchers will work with community organizers and trainers to help develop computer content related to education and employment, train residents to use the technology and showcase the benefits of using broadband for their lives and communities.
The award will cover the costs of trainers who will teach the classes, provide class subsidies to ensure the courses can be offered at minimal cost to students and cover costs to evaluate the increase in broadband adoption and whether this increase results in economic benefits for the state.
Kurt DeMaagd, assistant professor in MSU's Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media, is leading the project, which is focused on Michigan's Cities of Promise -- Benton Harbor, Detroit, Flint, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Muskegon Heights, Pontiac and Saginaw.
"Broadband adoption has the ability to transform Michigan's urban areas into information economies," DeMaagd said. "This project gives high school and college students an opportunity to make a difference first-hand in their communities with MSU training and support."
The grant will continue MSU work that already is under way in Michigan, DeMaagd said, complementing a $6 million grant announced in August to create more public computer centers in Michigan's urban areas.
In an earlier round of funding -- a $1 million grant announced in January this year -- MSU began installing computers in 88 existing library computer centers and establishing new centers to provide broadband access for people in 15 underserved counties of Michigan, adding 500 workstations and serving an additional 13,000 users. Those centers are located primarily in rural areas.
"Our college is a leader in communication technology research and education, and this new grant is the next step," said Pamela Whitten, dean of the MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences, which houses the grants. "Together, these three grants for broadband deployment and adoption totaling $12.2 million will make a difference throughout the state of Michigan. This research will help transition Michigan to an information economy, which is crucial to economic progress and quality of life in our state."
Working with MSU on these projects are the Michigan Department of Information Technology, Library of Michigan, other state and local government agencies, and regional broadband providers.
The MSU team is working with area high schools, Jackson Community College, Lansing Community College, the Detroit Digital Justice Coalition, the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center, and the Information Technology Empowerment Center.
The grant is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.
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