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Broadband bill sent back to legislature

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer this week vetoed a bill that would have given tax exemptions for some broadband equipment.

Whitmer says the bill falls short in spurring high-speed broadband development while costing schools millions.

Bill sponsor Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan says the veto hurts rural Michigan and she’s puzzled by the decision.

“Twenty-five-three speeds is the benchmark,” she says.  “It is actually the federal benchmark as set forth by the Obama administration and now the Biden Administration, so I’m little puzzled when the governor said the speeds weren’t high enough.”

Michigan House Ag Committee Chair Julie Alexander is also questioning the move, saying the cost of installation is one of the greatest barriers to increasing internet access across the state, and the tax exemption would have helped ease some of that burden.