Spectrum Techs Use Bikes and Hikes to Keep Michigan Island Connected

Across the country, Spectrum vans and bucket trucks signal that technicians are responding to service calls and upgrading the Company’s Fiber Broadband Network. But serving a carless island in Northern Michigan looks very different.

Mackinac Island, a National Historic Landmark, helps preserve its charm by using horse-drawn carriages and bicycles for transportation. Street addresses rarely appear on buildings, which are identified instead by their colorful descriptions or unique landscaping features. This posed a unique challenge for our technicians.

Spectrum arrived on the island after purchasing the network infrastructure from the previous service provider. “Our team is ready to do whatever it takes to keep customers connected,” said Chris Spray, Spectrum’s Area Vice President in Michigan. “They count on our products and services to live their best lives, so we’ll be there whenever they need us – even if it means using the oldest forms of transportation to deliver the most modern technology.”

That commitment was on full display for Mackinac Island’s hundreds of year-round residents as Spectrum crews completed the weeklong service transition. During the project, 50 techs ferried to the island over multiple days, with a few staying the entire week. Some rode bikes and pulled ladders on small wagons, while others carried backpacks as they trekked the nearly four-square-mile island.

Fast, reliable connectivity also supports the more than one million tourists who visit Mackinac Island every year. Whether they’re booking hotel rooms or posting photos on social media, dependable access to the digital world has become a necessity.

“Internet access is a basic infrastructure in our 21^st-century economy,” said Mayor Margaret Doud. “This investment by Spectrum is sure to support our economy and the Mackinac Island community for generations to come.”