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This year, the Michigan High Speed Internet Office (MIHI) made major progress toward connecting every household and business in our state to high-speed internet. Through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD), the Michigan Inclusive Training, Technology, and Equity Network (MITTEN) and Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) programs, Michigan secured historic funding, expanded fiber service and invested in digital skills so residents can fully take part in the online world.
Here’s a look at some of the key milestones MIHI achieved this year:
BEAD
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Michigan secured $920 million in federal BEAD funding and $550 million in private investment for a total of $1.47 billion. This funding will support new high-speed internet infrastructure construction for nearly 200,000 homes, businesses and community institutions and more than 31,000 miles of new fiber in unserved and underserved areas. |
MITTEN
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The MITTEN program is the state’s Digital Navigator Resource Network. Over the course of the program, MIHI awarded $10.6 million to 13 regional organizations to establish regional hubs that would place digital navigators in communities across the state. These hubs were designed to help residents gain digital skills, access devices, receive support with online tools and obtain affordable high-speed internet service. |
ROBIN
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Through the ROBIN program more than 33,000 homes and businesses had been connected to new fiber optic high-speed internet service as of Sept. 30, 2025, and we look forward to sharing updates in early 2026 about the construction that has taken place in the fourth quarter of 2025. All ROBIN projects are due to be completed by the end of 2026, and we expect more than 82,000 homes and businesses will have gained service through this program when it is complete. |
As we move into 2026, MIHI is committed to continuing the work started in 2025. We are grateful to our community partners who have helped us make so much progress. We look forward to working together in the year ahead to bring high-speed internet to all corners of the state and ensuring that everyone has the tools to thrive in the digital age.
For more information on MIHI’s work, visit the MIHI website.
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The holiday season is a time when many people make year-end donations and begin preparing for tax filing, which makes it a prime opportunity for scammers. Some criminals create or imitate charities to take advantage of generous donors, using familiar sounding names or emotional appeals to collect money from people who believe they are supporting a real cause.
At the same time, identity thieves increase their efforts to steal personal information. They may pose as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or as a charity and try to get people to click links or share sensitive details. Once they obtain this information, they can file false tax returns and claim refunds before the real taxpayer has a chance to act. The IRS reports that scammers often use fake emails, text messages, phone calls, social media messages or fake websites to carry out these schemes.
The IRS offers the following recommendations to protect yourself, your money and your tax information:
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Verify the charity - Use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to confirm the group is legitimate.
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Take your time - Real charities do not push for immediate donations.
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Guard personal information - Do not share sensitive details through email, text or social media.
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Be careful with links - Avoid clicking unexpected links or scanning codes. Visit the charity website directly.
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Use safe payment methods - Avoid gift cards and wire transfers. Use a credit card or check after verifying the group.
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Add protection - Consider using an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS to help prevent false tax returns.
For more information on how to identify and report tax scams, visit the IRS website.
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