Leelanau Peninsula Economic Foundation & Leelanau Internet Futures Team Update and Progress Report
As the LIFT committee continues to develop the overall broadband program in Leelanau County working with our Internet Service Providers--Point Broadband, Agri-Valley Services, and Charter Communications (dba Spectrum, LLC)--we are very pleased to pass along the updates they provide us.
This update focuses on new fixed-wireless high speed internet from Agri-Valley Services available in parts of Centerville, Cleveland, Kasson, Leland and Leelanau Townships. We requested an update on availability from Barb Main, Director, Agri-Valley Services, Inc., to share information on Agri-Valley’s progress in expanding broadband capacity in Leelanau County. What follows is a June 13th press release provided by Ms. Main, and below that a testimonial from an Agri-Valley customer in Centerville Township. Please contact Agri-Valley directly with any questions you may have on the information they provided below.
New Internet Provider Announces Availability in Leelanau County
Agri-Valley Services Now Offering High-Speed Internet to Rural Areas
Agri-Valley Services (AVS), an internet provider serving Michigan’s Thumb and Northern regions, is proud to announce full availability of its high-speed internet service in Leelanau County’s rural areas.
The internet service provider initially began connecting customers located in the central portion of the county in May 2022. Since then, AVS has been working with federal agencies, local government, Leelanau Internet Futures Team (LIFT) and various contractors to expand its service into the northern and southern areas of the county.
“It’s been a longer road than expected and we are ecstatic to finally offer our internet services to the majority of Leelanau County,” said Barb Main, Director, Agri-Valley Services. “We’re thankful for the continued support of the community, especially as we worked through challenges with the region’s unique geography and unexpected materials shortages.”
AVS’ fixed wireless service is now available from three tower sites – Northport, Lake Leelanau and Maple City. Together, the trio of sites provide internet coverage reaching from the tip of the peninsula to the southern reaches of the county. A variety of internet plans are available, starting at $55 per month.
“Our plans are optimized for the increased demands of today’s internet. Whether you’re streaming a live high-definition broadcast or connecting with others on a video conference, our service is up to the task,” said Main. “We pride ourselves on delivering service to our customers that is fast and reliable.”
More information about AVS’ plans and availability are available at agrivalleyservices.com by entering the requested service address into the on-screen form. The company’s offices are also open weekdays and can be reached for service inquiries by calling 888-282-4932.
About Agri-Valley Services
Agri-Valley Services (AVS) is a residential and commercial high-speed internet provider serving Michigan’s Thumb and Northern regions.
The company’s internet offerings are delivered via fiber-optic, fixed wireless and next-gen DSL infrastructure. As Michigan’s first Smart Rural CommunityTM provider, AVS is committed to bringing vital internet connectivity to rural regions of the state.
AVS is a family-owned company founded in 1996. It is a subsidiary of Agri-Valley Communications, Inc. and is headquartered in Pigeon, Michigan. agrivalleyservices.com
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Testimonial
Dave and Mary Ann Borton of Centerville Township signed up for Agri-Valley’s service in April and shared their experience with LIFT:
“We would like to add a personal update regarding the broadband options now available in Leelanau County. Since moving to Centerville Township 10 years ago, we have been using a hotspot based in our home and service has been slow and unreliable. In April we contacted Agri-Valley and confirmed we are located in their service area. Installation was done professionally, and we are finding our fixed-wireless service very much improved over what we had, allowing streaming of programs and video calls without problems. On a recent visit, our daughter-in-law was able to access her professional portal and conduct an online video counseling session with a client without any issues. We also have greater peace of mind that we can consistently monitor our home security and climate system while away because of our improved internet service. Also, we found the set-up fees and monthly costs very reasonable. Thank you to the LIFT committee for all the work in the past number of years to get better broadband to the residents of Leelanau County.”
Look for one more update this month regarding Point Broadband’s progress in providing high-speed internet service to our county.
Sincerely,
Patricia Soutas Little, Chairperson Ty Wessell
Leelanau Internet Futures Team (LIFT) Chair
Leelanau Peninsula Economic Foundation Leelanau County Board of Commissioners