MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – Federal funding has been secured to replace internet technology across Upper Michigan. Northern Michigan University is continuing efforts to remove and replace Wi-Fi internet towers across Upper Michigan.
NMU provides the Educational Access Network (EAN). It’s a personal broadband connection that allows students to connect to their school’s network to meet their educational needs. Now, they’re using $27 million in federal funding to ‘Rip and Replace’ Chinese technology from Huawei Technologies Company and the ZTE Corporation.
“What we’ve seen is Chinese equipment from Huawei, and ZTE, have been in places all across the country,” Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) said. “It’s clear there’s actually a national security risk. They’re able to tap into information, so we passed a law to rip out that equipment from folks around the country, replace it with American technology that is secure.”
NMU Spokesperson Derek Hall says they’ve been working to replace that technology and the funding Senator Peters helped secure will allow them to finish the job.
“It comes from a Chinese company,” Hall said. “We’re replacing it with Nokia equipment and we work a lot with the federal government. It’s been a good relationship. We really appreciate the support. This will really fund finishing out the second half of replacing all this equipment.”
Senator Peters says he’s been pushing for the ‘Rip and Replace’ Program for years.
“We were the ones advocating for this for years,” Peters said. “If you followed me and my committee hearings, you will know I always brought up Northern Michigan University at every single hearing related to this issue. This is a big victory for the U.P.”
With more than 70 towers across upper Michigan, NMU provides internet service for about 16,000 families, even to some of the most rural parts of the U.P.
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