Five Michigan counties to get broadband

LANSING, Mich., July 11 (UPI) -- A Michigan company has received a $2 million federal grant to bring wireless broadband access to five rural communities in Muskegon County.

The company, Arialink Broadband, received the grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Community Connect Grant Program. It will provide service to residents of the five communities -- Cedar Creek, Egelston, Holton and Moorland townships and the village of Lakewood Club -- that are considered low- to moderate-income for an initial rate of about $19 per month.

The system, which will be free to users with WiFi-enabled computers, is expected to be in place by the end of this month.