1. REACH-3MC Awarded! Broadband ARRA Funding
MCCVLC Update
Eric Grandstaff Merit Member Relations
Upper Peninsula & Northern Lower Michigan
Merit Network Thursday, March 25, 2010

2. Agenda About Merit Preparing a Successful Application
Round I REACH-3MC Details
Community Opportunities & Updates
Timeline
Next Steps
Round II REACH-3MC Application Plans
Discussion/Questions

3. About Merit
The Michigan Education Research Information Triad (MERIT) formed in because, “significant benefits might be gained from sharing computing resources via an electronic linkage…”
Merit is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Merit operates the longest running Regional Optical Network (RON) in the country.
Established Affiliate Member program in 1990 to connect Higher Education, K-12 Schools, Libraries, Government, Health Care, Research Organizations, and other Non-profit Organizations.
1969 NSF grant for computer networking with only comparable work at BBN (ARPANET)
Merit Embarks on a Fiber and Wireless Backbone Strategy in 2003
2010 ARRA grant to construct a middle-mile fiber optic infrastructure in rural areas of Michigan (REACH-3MC)

4. Preparing a Successful App.
A Clear Vision for what you are trying to accomplish – A well defined problem and how you are going to solve it.
Prepare a Consistent and Clear Application
Create Partnerships – a lot of them!
Get Letters of support
We had more than anyone else
Prepare a detailed technical plan, including implementation
Explain your technical plan and why it will solve the problem defined
Prepare a detailed budget, with realistic sales forecast
Prepare a detail project plan, including sub-tasks and sub- projects with realistic completion dates
Be sure your application demonstrates that your organization has the experience and credibility to deliver.

5. REACH-3MC Details Merit’s ARRA application was approved on 1/20/10.
Middle-mile network covering 955 miles.
72 strands of fiber reaching from Monroe to Berrien Springs to Traverse City to Mackinaw City, Mt. Pleasant to Gaylord to Hillman, and Midland to Oscoda.
Provide Gig waves, and can be upgraded to Gig waves

6. REACH-3MC Details Fiber construction will begin
where Merit currently has connectivity.
Approx. 15 concurrent fiber construction crews
4 For-profit partners.
ACD.net – last-mile provider
TC3Net – last-mile provider
iServ – last-mile provider
Lynx – middle-mile provider
Merit will connect anchor institutions (education, social service, public safety, government).

7. REACH-3MC Details
Partners will provide services to businesses and households
Merit will provide affordable transport services to Providers (Open Access).
Local Providers will be better positioned to invest in the local community to extend broadband service further into un- and under-served areas.

8. Community Opportunities

9. Community Opportunities

10. Timeline Currently engineering specific route
Permitting should begin by mid-March 2010
Fiber construction is planned to begin by June 2010 in several strategic locations
Economies of scale can be achieved if fiber laterals are constructed prior to – or during – long-haul fiber construction through a given community

11. Next Steps
Stay informed via Merit’s ARRA project website, broken down by community
Work with Member Relations to identify fiber lateral connectivity possibilities
Contact Merit for additional information at any time at
Subscribe to

12. Round II REACH-3MC

13. Discussion/Questions