Man Who Built ISP Instead of Paying Comcast $50K Contracted to Cover more Homes

Author: Edeh Kelechi

Because he couldn’t obtain reliable internet service from Comcast or AT&T, the Michigan resident who constructed a fiber internet service is growing with the support of $2.6 million in federal funding.

Jared Mauch made nationwide headlines in 2021 when reports revealed that he offered internet access to approximately thirty rural residences through his ISP (internet service provider), Washtenaw Fiber Properties LLC.

Mauch, on the other hand, currently has roughly seventy clients and aims to expand his service to almost 600 more buildings using funds from the Coronavirus Local and State Recovery Funds.

Let’s discuss more about Jared Mauch’s significant break with the ISP and why his service is superior to Comcast and AT&T.

What led to building the ISP?

The government gave Washtenaw County $71 million for various infrastructure initiatives. However, some funds were designated for broadband because the County had trouble accessing reliable internet service. 

Mauch claims that the County carried out a broadband survey to locate underserved areas before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The nation published a request for proposals (RFP) when the government funds became available to find contractors who could wire up households without access to a broadband connection. 

In an interview with ARS, Mauch said, “the county had space to fill in its request for proposals, and in my idiocy or genius, I decided to take on the entire project in my area and won through the bidding process.”

Mauch’s was one of the four ISPs chosen by Washtenaw County to provide internet service in various locations. His fiber network already includes roughly 14 miles, and he aims to add another 38 miles to finish the project.

What does Mauch’s contract cover?

Based on the contract he signed with the government in May 2022, Mauch must expand his network to more than 500 residences in the townships of Lodi, Lima, Scio, and Freedom. 

Mauch said that his fiber routes would serve more than 550 consumers, even though this contract only calls for service to 417 locations.

Mauch will offer 100Mbps internet service for $55 monthly and 1Gbps internet service for $79 per month, in accordance with the conditions of the contract. 

Both of the internet services would come with unlimited data. While his installation costs generally range from $199 to $299.

Additionally, unlike other ISPs, Mauch offers straightforward internet subscription bills and no additional charges. By the end of 2026, Mauch must complete the project according to the contract.

What was Comcast’s offering?

Mauch’s primary employment is as a network architect for Akamai, not as an ISP operator. About five years ago, he began planning to create his network after discovering that none of the large ISPs would provide him service.

Mauch claims that AT&T only provides DSL (digital subscriber line) with download rates of 1.5 Mbps at his residence. He also added that Comcast wanted to charge him $50,000, but he would have chosen them if they had to $10,000 price for extending their cable network to his home.

Summary

Jared Mauch, a Michigan resident, established an ISP after securing a contract with Washtenaw County. His ISP is one of four that the County has chosen to deliver internet connectivity to underserved areas. Mauch will have to provide cheap and fee-free internet service to the households he serves. However, the cost of providing this service rises yearly due to inflation and other factors. Mauch states that his life has altered slightly since he started providing the service, everything seems to be going well for the internet service provider.