Gov. Vetoes Broadband Bill, Citing the Terms Were “Too Costly for Slow Service”

 According to a 2018 study, Michigan state found that 368,000 rural residents lacked broadband access and faced higher costs for service, reported The Iosco County News-Herald. However, last Wednesday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed House Bill 4210, which would have given telecoms tax breaks to provide access to rural, underserved areas. 

If passed, the bill would have allowed companies to exempt personal property taxes (by an unknown amount) on eligible broadband equipment if they received funding from certain government agencies. The News-Herald reported that the bill proposed cost coverage via the School Aid Fund, a taxpayer-backed initiative. Continue Reading