Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) recently achieved a significant milestone by connecting its 30,000th fiber internet customer and effectively eliminating the digital divide for the rural people it serves in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.
In 2015, the Michigan-based electric cooperative launched a major fiber optics project to smarten its electric grid and bring fiber internet to its electric customers.
“Becoming an internet service provider started because our customers turned to us for help. They had been stuck with unreliable internet for so many years and were being left behind,” said MEC President and CEO Terry Rubenthaler. “Something had to be done about it, and we knew no one would if we didn’t fix it.”
Over the next five years, the company built over 4,000 miles of fiber, but its leaders quickly realized the need didn’t end with their electric lines. Thousands of others also lacked access to high-speed broadband. So, MEC began seeking opportunities to expand its service through partnerships, grants, and advocacy.
The company is now working on a major expansion that will bring service to an additional 50,000 addresses by the end of 2026. The expansion was made possible thanks to the 2020 Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the State of Michigan’s Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) grant, and direct partnerships with communities. As part of the ROBIN grant, the company worked with several counties and dozens of townships in southern Michigan.
“The local officials that we have partnered with worked tirelessly to bring broadband to their constituents because they understand how critical it is,” said Rubenthaler. “Together, we aren’t simply providing a utility; we’re creating vibrant, relevant, and sustainable rural communities.”
MEC celebrated the 30,000-subscriber milestone by hosting a contest. Customers shared their MEC fiber story along with a photo or video, and then employees voted for their top three favorite submissions. Prizes included a robot vacuum for first place, an outdoor projector for second, and a tablet, keyboard, and stylus for third.
First-place winner Ryan from Edwardsburg, Michigan, shared this as part of his story: “This is more than just internet. It’s the thread that weaves our daily joys, learning, and security together. MEC fiber isn’t just a service; it’s a member of our family.”
The second-place winner, Carrie from Three Rivers, Michigan, shared how fiber internet has helped her son in competitive bass fishing, and third-place winner Steve from White Pigeon, Michigan, created a video to visualize all the ways in which his family relies on the service. You can view winning submissions at https://www.teammidwest.com/
You can learn more about MEC at teammidwest.com.
About Midwest Energy & Communications
Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) is a customer-owned electric cooperative founded in 1937. It provides electricity, propane, and fiber internet solutions to 42,000 rural customers across southern and west-central Michigan, northern Indiana, and northeast Ohio. MEC is expanding its internet services to bring fiber-to-the-premises to an additional 50,000 addresses in southern Michigan by the end of 2026. The company also owns the Southwest Michigan Advanced Research and Technology (SMART) Park, a technology and industrial park next to MEC’s headquarters in Cassopolis, MI. To learn more, visit teammidwest.com.
