NMU Agrees to Sell EAN Broadband Network to Michigan Broadband Services

MARQUETTE, Mich. - With NMU Board of Trustee approval today (Tuesday, Aug. 25), Northern Michigan University entered an agreement to sell its Educational Access Network (EAN) broadband service and infrastructure to Michigan Broadband Services (MBS). The transaction will be final pending approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Gavin Leach, NMU executive vice president for Finance and Administration, who led the development of the EAN and oversees the university's technology services, said the sale represents an important opportunity for both the university and the communities served by the network.

"This transaction strengthens NMU's long-term financial position while allowing us to invest in strategic priorities, including enrollment growth, academic programming, and student success," Leach said.

Leach noted that current EAN customers also stand to benefit under MBS's ownership.

"MBS plans to build on EAN's success by upgrading the network from 4G to 5G technology and expanding service into additional rural communities," he said. "MBS has access to federal funding opportunities and private capital that they will use to invest in and expand broadband infrastructure throughout rural areas of the Upper Peninsula."

According to Leach, over the past few years, NMU received a number of unsolicited inquiries from commercial providers interested in acquiring the EAN. In 2025, the university decided to begin formally exploring that option through a licensed brokerage and advisory firm.

"MBS's proposal offered the strongest path for the network's long-term sustainability while remaining true to EAN's original mission," Leach said. "A key factor in the university's decision was MBS's commitment to continuing to serve the rural communities throughout the Upper Peninsula and investing in the network's future through modernization and expansion, including upgrading the existing network from 4G to 5G. This proposal was also attractive to us because it committed to providing free, high-quality broadband to NMU students, faculty, and staff, which the university felt was a critical piece in the final agreement."

The final ownership transition is expected to be completed later this fall. NMU and MBS will work together to ensure a seamless transition for existing EAN customers, including NMU students and employees. University officials emphasized that NMU students and employees will continue to receive one free internet connection through the EAN network following the ownership transition.

"When Northern began building an off-campus wireless broadband network nearly two decades ago, commercial providers were simply not serving much of the Upper Peninsula," said NMU President Chris Olsen. "As a rural-serving institution, expanding access to high-speed internet aligned directly with our mission to support education and strengthen communities across the region. To our knowledge, Northern became the only university in the nation to own and operate a regional broadband wireless network."

"Today, the broadband landscape has changed dramatically," Olsen added. "This change represents the right opportunity at the right time with a company that shares our commitment to expanding reliable internet service throughout rural Michigan while building on the foundation NMU created."

Under the agreement, MBS will pay NMU $21 million for the network and its infrastructure.

The proceeds from the sale will provide additional resources for NMU to address existing financial obligations while supporting long-term university priorities focused on student success, faculty excellence, enrollment growth, and campus infrastructure. Final allocations will be determined during the upcoming academic year, but anticipated uses include:

• Retiring the approximately $6.5 million Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) loan that supported the EAN's launch in 2017, along with approximately $1 million in legal and brokerage expenses.
• Offsetting the cost of NMU's recent $4.7 million voluntary employee separation program.
• Supporting a portion of the university's required $9 million capital match for the new College of Business building, as well as campus technology and infrastructure needs.
• Investing at least $3 million in strategic academic initiatives and student recruitment efforts.
• Establishing annual scholarships for students from communities that partnered with NMU to host EAN infrastructure, continuing the university's investment in the communities the network has served. These scholarships will exceed $1.5 million over the next 10 years.

"These investments ensure that the value created through the EAN continues to benefit NMU students and the Upper Peninsula for years to come," Leach said.

Dan Miller, chair of Michigan Broadband Services, said the EAN ownership transaction will preserve and expand upon "NMU's extraordinary contribution to educational access and rural connectivity over the past decade, while positioning the network for its next generation. We're honored to become the next steward of what NMU has built for the community. We intend to preserve the network's educational purpose while investing the capital and technical resources required to make it faster, stronger, and more capable."

NMU began developing its off-campus broadband network in 2009, initially serving targeted areas of Marquette County where many students and employees lived. Over time and at the request of neighboring communities and educational institutions, the network expanded geographically and evolved from WiMAX to LTE technology.

In 2017, the university launched the Educational Access Network by leveraging its network to extend broadband service beyond the campus community, providing affordable internet access to K-12 students and families, community members, local governments, first responders, tribal communities, and other public organizations throughout the Upper Peninsula.

Leach said the network's importance became especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it provided reliable internet access for thousands of students, educators, families, and public agencies throughout the Upper Peninsula.

"NMU was there for Upper Peninsula communities when they needed us most, providing affordable broadband access at a time when private providers were not willing to serve many of our rural communities," Leach said. "We're proud of the role the EAN has played in expanding affordable broadband access across the Upper Peninsula. As the broadband landscape continues to evolve, we're pleased to have found a company that shares our commitment and vision to expanding reliable internet access in rural Michigan. We believe MBS will build on the success of the EAN by investing in the network, expanding its reach, and continuing to strengthen the communities it serves across the Upper Peninsula with critical access to broadband."