County officials plead for Lansing, East Lansing residents to complete Broadband Access Census

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 16 — Ingham County officials are desperately seeking residents in East Lansing and Lansing to respond to the Ingham County Broadband Census. That survey will allow the county to access “the inevitable” money coming down from the feds or the state. County Controller Gregg Todd said responses from both cities have been “terrible.”

The census is designed to determine where in the county there is low access to high speed, broadband internet. That information can then be used to seek funding  to build out the infrastructure to support access in underserved communities. 

The project is funded using a portion of the county's American Rescue Plan Act dollars. 

"Even if you have internet access now, we still need your response," Todd said in a phone interview. 

Todd said in order to get an accurate needs assessment, at least 5% to 7% count population in the county needs to respond to the Census.

The census can be accessed at  www.michiganmoonshot.org/ingham.Those without access to the internet can call Rachel Prettenhofer at (517) 676-7206 for a paper census to be mailed to their address. The census will close at the end of August.