Berrien County’s broadband committee, BC Bit, is planning a meeting for next week to help support the next round of high-speed internet projects planned for the area.

Speaking to colleagues Thursday, Berrien County Commissioner Teri Freehling said applications for $1.4 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program grants will soon be accepted by the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office. The grants are open to internet service providers, and Freehling says there’s still a need for more work in the county.

“Outside of the efforts that we have already done as a county to connect our communities, we still have about 2,000 parcels that do not have an option,” Freehling said. “They are unserved by definition.”

Freehling said township officials are being invited to next week’s meeting to learn how they could support an ISP’s grant application. Berrien County Administrator Brian Dissette said it would come at no cost to the county or the townships.

“This is solely about the internet service providers coming, talking with the local units about what they’re planning to seek funding for, and they will then need letters of support from the local units,” Dissette said.

Freehling said BC Bit has invited municipalities throughout Berrien County to come and discuss the matter. The meeting to learn more will be next Monday, March 1 at 10 a.m. at the Berrien County Administration Building.

The BEAD funding in question was included in the federal infrastructure bill approved during the Biden administration.