LANSING, Mich. (June 2, 2021) — Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills) issued the following statement today after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the creation of the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office. The office will be housed in the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) and deal with infrastructure issues pertaining to widespread broadband access for all Michigan residents:
“Widespread internet access is not a luxury, it’s a necessity in this 21st-century economy. I’m glad that Gov. Whitmer is stepping up to promote broadband access for all Michiganders, and I know LEO will help connect more people in our state to the internet than ever before. If we want to bring high-quality, high-paying jobs to Michigan, then everyone must have access to stable and reliable internet. These investments into a critical aspect of our infrastructure must be a priority, as they will have long-lasting, positive effects for our children and working adults.
“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the massive difference in equitable access to internet throughout our state. Many people struggled in digital classrooms and with working remotely, with slow or no access to internet often exacerbating these problems. If we want to make Michigan a place for the future, we must step up now and invest into a technology that is never going away.”
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