ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Work has begun on a new underwater broadband connection between Chicago and Southwest Michigan, with crews preparing a landing site on property owned by United Federal Credit Union here.
The project, being developed by Peninsula Fiber Network, will include two underwater fiber-optic cables crossing Lake Michigan as part of an effort to improve internet reliability and expand broadband access in the state, according to WSJM.
One of the cables will come ashore near United Federal Credit Union’s headquarters at 150 Hilltop Road in St. Joseph, UFCU Director of Property Management Sorin Mihalache told WSJM.
Mihalache said the credit union and Peninsula Fiber Network, or PFN, began discussing the project about two years ago after Cornerstone Alliance in Benton Harbor connected the organizations.
“It was Cornerstone Alliance out of Benton Harbor that put them in touch with us, letting us know that Peninsula Fiber had an interest in our location for one of their landing sites,” Mihalache said.
Detailed Discussions
Credit union representatives later met with PFN and attended a presentation at Lake Michigan College before beginning more detailed discussions about the project, he said.
Mihalache said the UFCU property met specific geographic requirements needed for bringing the underwater fiber cable ashore, including conditions on the lake bed and land that would allow the cable to be routed at the necessary angles.
When construction is complete, PFN will have an underground vault on the credit union’s property that will be visible only through a manhole, according to WSJM.
UFCU also sold PFN an adjacent landlocked parcel where the broadband company plans to construct an equipment shed.
Reason for CU Support
WJSM reported Mihalache said the credit union supports the project because of its potential to improve internet access and lower costs, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
“They’re looking to expand internet service throughout the state of Michigan to help reduce internet costs, serve underserved communities that are more rural areas that don’t have access to internet or reliable internet service,” Mihalache said.
He said the credit union viewed the project as an opportunity to help its members and the surrounding community.
“So, a company coming in wanting to help our community, residents, neighbors, members, we just felt that it was a win for us to partner with them and do this project,” Mihalache said.
Work at the St. Joseph site is expected to be completed in October, according to WSJM. Once the broadband connection is operational, United Federal Credit Union will receive internet service from PFN.
