Bill
SB 687
Codifies the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office in LEO to coordinate broadband deployment, data, and funding, with a five-year sunset.
Status / Procedural posture
- Introduced: (per bill info) February 21, 2025.
- Committee action: Reported with Substitute (S‑1); referred to Committee of the Whole with S‑1.
- Sponsor: Senator Sean McCann (primary sponsor in 2024 version).
- Note: The bill codifies and statutorily creates an office that was previously established by Executive Directives 2021‑2 and 2021‑12.
Purpose and intent
- To codify into statute the Michigan High‑Speed Internet Office (the “Office”) within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), formally assign duties and authorities to the Office, and provide a statutory vehicle to coordinate and support deployment, adoption, and data collection for modern broadband across Michigan.
Key provisions
- Creation and placement
- Establishes the Michigan High‑Speed Internet Office within LEO.
- Director of LEO must appoint a Director of the Office; the Director must be qualified by training/experience.
- Director of the Office must establish standard procedures for budgeting, spending, and personnel consistent with the Management and Budget Act.
- Definitions
- “Modern broadband and digital infrastructure” is defined as technology delivering at least 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream (scalable to higher rates and with latency suitable for real‑time, interactive applications).
- “Broadband internet access service” and “broadband provider” are defined for clarity.
- Duties and authorities
- Coordinate with other state departments on broadband matters and mobilize resources (including federally available infrastructure funds).
- Facilitate public‑private collaboration, regional coordination, and streamlined policies to expand broadband infrastructure.
- Identify best practices and external resources; provide capacity building and digital literacy resources.
- Collect and analyze broadband availability and adoption data (including parcel‑level methods).
- Issue reports on market competition, service type/quality, and wholesale/retail pricing; act as a public point of contact with providers.
- Upon appropriation, may award grants or provide financial/technical assistance to carry out its mission.
- Sunset
- The reported substitute (S‑1) includes sunset language repealing the act five years after enactment.
Who is affected
- State agencies: LEO and other departments coordinating broadband programs.
- Local governments and regional partners: beneficiaries and potential grant recipients; may work with the Office on deployment and planning.
- Broadband providers: subject to coordination and potential reporting interactions; may participate in partnerships or receive technical/financial assistance.
- Michigan residents, businesses, schools, health providers: potential beneficiaries of improved broadband availability, quality, and affordability.
Fiscal impact
- Nonpartisan analysis accompanying the bill indicates no immediate fiscal impact from codifying the Office (the Office already exists by executive directive).
- Any grant or assistance authority would require specific appropriations; those expenditures would be subject to future legislative approval.
Potential policy impact
- Formalizes a statewide coordinating body to centralize broadband planning, data collection, and federal fund deployment—intended to accelerate expansion of high‑speed broadband (≥100/20 Mbps), close coverage gaps, improve digital literacy, and support economic development. The sunset requires legislative reauthorization if the function is to continue beyond five years.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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