At this 2025 MERIT Michigan Broadband Summit, one message rang clear across every session, keynote, and coffee conversation: the broadband revolution isn’t about technology, it’s about people. While cables, satellites, and fiber make the headlines, the real bandwidth that matters is human, trust, culture, and belonging. These are the connections determining whether a community truly benefits from digital transformation.
People First: The Human Side of Broadband
That line set the tone for the summit. Expanding broadband isn’t just an engineering project; it’s a human one. “When a senior successfully fills out an online application, or when a mother no longer has to drive to a fast-food parking lot to connect to Wi-Fi, those are 'dignity points,” as stated by Joshua Edmonds of DigitalC during the keynote address. This is measured progress, which can’t be captured by bandwidth speed alone.
At WIN, we see digital equity as an extension of workforce equity. People can’t learn, work, or access healthcare if they’re not connected, physically and digitally.
Collaboration in a Time of Scarcity
Scarcity is no longer a barrier; it’s a catalyst. As resources tighten, collaboration has become Michigan’s greatest innovation. The summit, or as Edmonds said, the “bandwidth banquet” spirit, reminded us that we don’t need perfect outcomes; we just need outcomes that happen. Progress, not perfection, keeps people connected.
Michigan’s BEAD Program: A Monumental Moment
Eric Fredrick, Chief Connectivity Officer for the State of Michigan’s High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI), gave an encouraging update:
- $919 million in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding will be distributed to 30 companies.
- 87% of the state will be served by fiber.
- Construction begins next year, with a 10-year performance plan in place.
But the mission isn’t finished once the fiber is laid. Michigan will still face challenges around affordability, digital skills, devices, and tech support, areas where workforce professionals, educators, and local organizations play a vital role. This work is not about tech; it’s about people.
Rural Health and the Future of Care
Another major discussion focused on rural health transformation, a five-year effort to sustain small and regional hospitals impacted by Medicare cuts. With $50 billion in federal funding available, Michigan has the opportunity to reimagine healthcare access through broadband.
Telehealth flexibility, remote patient monitoring, and virtual care will only work if connectivity, trust, and workforce skills align. From Wi-Fi on Wheels to digital literacy training through Michigan Works agencies, every innovation needs people who can teach, troubleshoot, and translate technology into care.
Building Ethical, Transparent AI in Communities
The summit also tackled the future of AI in broadband and healthcare. Speakers emphasized transparency, community ownership, and the importance of keeping “a human in the middle.” From chatbots guiding users through Telehealth to community-owned datasets with transparent governance, AI can serve as a bridge, not a barrier, to digital empowerment.
The Workforce Shift: Skills, Not Just Jobs
The data is clear: 73% of employers are shifting to skills-based hiring. Micro-credentials and 6–12 week training programs are redefining how Michigan builds its broadband and digital health workforce. Programs like Connect 313 and regional internship models show how targeted skill-building can land people meaningful careers, not just jobs.
As we prepare for the state’s broadband expansion, the workforce behind it will determine its success. That means investing in digital navigators, fiber techs, healthcare support specialists, and virtual-care facilitators roles that merge technology with trust.
Moving Forward
Michigan stands at a pivotal moment. With nearly a billion dollars in broadband investment, historic healthcare funding, and a workforce ready to reskill and respond, the state is poised to lead a people-first digital revolution. Our job, collectively, is to make sure progress remains grounded in dignity, trust, and belonging. This is more than infrastructure. This is a bandwidth banquet, and everyone’s invited.
Next Steps for Workforce Leaders
- Partner with local Michigan Works agencies, libraries, colleges, schools, and healthcare providers to create digital literacy programs.
- Prepare for BEAD-funded job opportunities in broadband and healthcare.
- Promote AI ethics and data transparency as part of community learning.
- Invest in short-term, skills-based training (6–12 weeks) for digital careers.
- Share success stories and meet your community where they are
By Alysha Albrecht, WIN Communications Manager
About the Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN)
WIN, a division of SEMCA Michigan Works!, has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor as one of the top workforce collaboratives in the nation. The WIN collaborative is a partnership of nine community colleges and seven Michigan Works! agencies, working together to build a comprehensive and cohesive workforce development system across Southeast Michigan. With numerous other stakeholder organizations, WIN helps connect employers with the talent they need to thrive.
Serving a 19-county region, the WIN Board of Directors includes: Capital Area Michigan Works!, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (Detroit at Work), GST Michigan Works!, Henry Ford College, Jackson College, Macomb Community College, Macomb-St. Clair Michigan Works!, Michigan Works! Southeast, Monroe County Community College, Mott Community College, Oakland Community College, Oakland County Michigan Works!, Schoolcraft College, Washtenaw Community College, and Wayne County Community College District.
WIN celebrated 10 years of research, engagement, and solutions in 2021. Learn more at winintelligence.org/about-us.
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