The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded federal funding to Peninsula Fiber Network to construct two middle mile networks: Project 1 extends approximately 239 miles from southern Chicago, Illinois to St. Joseph, Michigan and from northern Chicago, Illinois to Benton Harbor, Michigan, converges near Benton Heights, and then proceeds to Byron Center; and Project 2 extends approximately 141 miles from Gulliver, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula (UP), to an interexchange carrier (IXC) point in Gaylord, crossing Lake Michigan and Beaver Island in the process. The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluates the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. The Proposed Action Alternative and No Action Alternative have been assessed based on the NTIA’s Guidance on NTIA National Environmental Policy Act Compliance. NTIA will accept written comments on the Draft EA during the public comment period, which extends from May 28, 2026 through June 30, 2026.
Please submit comments via e-mail to [email protected] or by regular mail to:
Attention: Amanda Pereira, Environmental Program Officer
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 4878
Washington, DC 20230
Comments must be postmarked or received by June 30th, 2026, to ensure they become part of the official record.
Public comments on this Draft EA are requested pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 United States Code 4321, et seq. All written comments received during the comment period will be incorporated and considered in the Final EA. Providing private address information with your comment is voluntary, and such personal information will be kept confidential unless release is required by law.