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That is, the broadband (high-speed)
ISPs serving Benzie County, as well
as many in the Arcadia, Bear Lake,
and Empire areas.

Note that a few of these providers are
local to this area, but several of them
serve well beyond the areas mentioned
above.

Last Updated: March, 2024		 PAGE MENU...

Broadband Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
Related Web sites
       

Frankfort 'Night Light'Broadband (high-speed) Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

What is it? – High-speed Internet service via the cable TV line and possibky fiber-optic cable in some areas.

Download Speed – 100 mbps to 1000 mbps (1 gbps)

Availability – Not available to all residents in a given area. It's usually only available in or nearby a city or town, or areas of high population density.

Comments / More Details – This is the fastest high-speed Internet option. The have several plans available, see below.

Warning: After a one-year promotional period their rates switch over to standard rates. Those are sometines very difficult to find on their Wrb site. And sometimes they have three rates: a promotional for one year, an intermdiate rate for the second year, and a standard rate for year two and beyond. When you sign up, be sure to make them provide you with ALL the prices, especially what the "standard rates" are. You have a right to know.

This Web page helps with some of their Internet plan details.

They say "free modem" but really the rental of their modem is included in their price.

Note that if you get a wireless router from them, you'll pay a rental fee of $5 per month. It's much cheaper to buy your own. But if theirs goes bad, they replace it for free.

As of 5/2022, it appears their current Internet plans and prices are:

  Plan Speed Promotional
rate		 Standard rate
• Spectrum Internet 300 mbps download /
10 mbps upload		 $50/month
(12 months)		 $75/month
• Internet Ultra 500 mbps download /
20 mbps upload		 $70/month
(24 months)		 $95/month
• Internet Gig 1 gbps (1000 mbps) download /
35 mbps upload		 $80/month
(24 months)		 $115/month

  • Promotional rates – applies for a 12-month or 24-month promotional period. (Often these are only available when bundled with other services.)
  • Standard rates – are the long-term rates and apply after the promotional period ends.
  • Mbps is megabits per second. Gbps is gigabits per second.

Also, do not let them force you to get more speed than what you need. Most households will do fine with 300 mbps, and single users can do fine on 100 mbps.

Data Cap — They say now the have no data caps.

Bundles — Spectrum offers cable TV, Internet, and telephone services (both "landline" and cell phone), and there are bundles of combinations of these that can save you money. Be sure to find out the standard rates are that apply AFTER the promotional period and any possible second-year intermediate period.

Mobile phone service – They are now a reseller of Verizon cell service. If you bundle this with other services you can save money. You can also bring your own phone and your current number, if you like.

WARNING – Spectrum "landline" phone service – we recommend against it. Yes, there are a many attractive features, and the price MAY be a little lower than AT&T after the promotional period (but check that closely). But there are many negative aspects to Spectrum phone service:

  • You MUST have electrical power to use this phone service no matter what type of phones you have (even the old-style corded phones that did not use electrical power). Electrical power is required to keep the equipment running that provides phone service. If the power goes out, you have NO phone service, including 911.
  • You can get battery backup device which, during a power outage, gives you up to 5 hours of phone service. But but after that, you have NO phone service, including 911.
  • You'll need to maintain the battery backup device yourself – batteries in these need to be replaced (for $40 or so) every few years. If not properly maintained then during a power outage you'll instantly have NO phone service, including 911.
  • To have phone usage for the few hours that the battery backup provides, you MUST have one corded single-line, touchtone phone connected. (If a cordless phone is connected, it will NOT function without its own separate battery backup, and most cordless phones do NOT have that feature.)
  • As with AT&T U-verse Voice, I'm sure Spectrum claims no liability for the failure of your phone service during a power outage, including failure due to the insufficient (or absence of) battery backup power.

  • By the way, one saving grace during a power outage can be if you have a cell phone. Be sure to keep it fully charged so that during a power outage you'll have plenty of battery time. Also, get an adapter for your cell phone so you can charge it in the car. And get a portable battery pack. Both will be VERY handy during a 4-day power outage!

On the other hand, with standard phone line service from the phone company...

  • The service is virtually maintenance free – there's nothing you need to maintain. None of the issues above apply! And should the power go out (as we all know is common in this area, and it can be out for days), if you have an old-style corded phone (HIGHLY recommended) even if you lose power you'll still have phone service (and 911).

  • DSL (digital subscriber line) via landline (Updated April, 2023)     [Back to Page Menu]

What is it? – High-speed Internet via physical land-line phone line connection.

Download Speed –

  • AcenTek – 768 kbps to 50 mbps
  • AT&T Internet — 768 kbps to 75 mbps
  • BrightSpeed – 100 mbps

Availability – The availability of this service is limited to those that are close (within a few miles, usually) to their phone company's central office. But its availability and speed is very much distance dependent — the distance from the phone company's "central office" in your area to your home or office. So it's not available to all residents in a given area. Most local phone companies offer DSL service. (DSL is sometimes resold by local, regional, and national ISPs. Contact your favorite ISP to see of they offer DSL at your location.)

Note the one can get just DSL Internet service and not get phone service. But you must have a physical land-line phone connection to your home or business.

Data Caps –

  • AcenTek — ???
  • AT&T Internet — 1.5 tB (terabyte = 1000 gB) limit per month. If you go over, they charge $10 for each additional 50 gB of data up to a maximum of $100. That's a pretty good limit. (An hour of full high defintion (1080p) video content is 1.5 gB, giving you 1000 hours/month of content.) You may be able to upgrade to unlimited data under certain conditions for an additional $30/month.
  • BrightSpeed – No data cap!

Comments / More Details –

  • This is very likely the cheapest "high-speed" Internet option.ly ly
  • The speeds are much less than cable Internet, but they can be faster than cellular or satellite Internet and likely have better data caps.
  • AT&T Internet –
    • They offer many plans based on the speed. The name of the plan tells you it's top speed. When you check on their Web site as to the availability of AT&T Internet at your location, they will show you the highest speed available for your location. If only one plan is shown for your address, it’s their best available Internet offer based on your location.
    • The $55/month price for any of the Internet plans is for new residential customers and for the first 12 months only. After that, the prevailing rate applies, currently, $65/month. Expect other fees and taxes, as well.
    • Go to www.att.com/internet to see if you qualify.
    • See www.att.com/internet/internet-services also.
  • Brightspeed – I hear of many complains against thir service and support. I hear none against AcenTek.

AT&T TV — By the way, for about five years, AT&T owned the DirecTV satellie company and that was their way to provide TV to customers in our area. As of the fall of 2020 — they have sold DirecTV. What they offer now is called AT&T TV — or AT&T Live Streaming TV. It's available IF you have a decent high-speed Internet connection and one with high data cap. See: https://www.att.com/tv. They recommend a minimum 24 mbps for optimal viewing (a minimum of 8 mbps per stream), with a limit of three concurrent AT&T streams. It's a streaming device and service and is available for TV, smartphone,, tablet, or computer. In Decmeber of 2020, the price was $60/month for first 12 months for the cheapest package. There may be an extra equipment fee of $120 for AT&T TV streaming device. $19.95 activation fee. Early termination fees apply.

Bundles – Phone companies usually offer telephone, Internet, cell phone service, and some form of TV service. Bundles with these services can be created to save money. But be sure to find out what the standard rates are that apply AFTER the promotional period.

What is it? – High-speed Internet via cellular service direct to your home. It uses a simple device that's a gateway (modem and wirless router in one) to connect to a nearby cell tower and offers wi-fi to your home devices. The internet speeds offered are typically faster and more reliable than DSL and satellite services. It’s oftne the next-best option for residents who don’t have access to faster, wired Internet providers, such as cable or fiber.

Speed – 25 to 225 mbps.(download), 5 to 30 mbps (upload), Speeds will vary due to factors affecting all cellular networks.

  • AT&T Internet Air — Expect download speeds of 40 to 140 mbps and upload speeds of 5 to 25 mbps.
  • T-Mobile 5G Home Internet – Expect 32 to 245 mbps (download) depending on location, time of day, signal strength, and availability.
  • Verizon:
    • 4G LTE Home Internet – Expect download speeds of 25 to 50 mbps and upload speeds around 5 mbps,
    • 5G Home Internet – Expect download speeds of 35 to 140 mbps and upload speeds around 6 to 37 mbps. Faster packages may be available.

Availability – Available to anyone with close proximity to a cell tower for a given provider. If you have a good signal with a particular cellular service provider on your phone, chances are very good you can get home cellular Internet from that provider.

  • AT&T Internet Air uses their 5G network. A "Fixed Wireless" option (with a mounted antenna on a short pole at your location) may still be available for areas that still use their 4G LTE network.
  • T-Mobile 5G Home Internet uses fixed wireless technology along with T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and 5G coverage.
  • Verizon 4G LTE Home Internet is available in certain areas where there are no other Verizon broadband options (such as FIOS, 5G Home, etc.).

Comments / More Details –

  • All services come with their own wi-fi gateway device – a router and modem in one. In some cases, the gateways used are tied to a specific locaiton and therefore may not be able to be used at a new address. Call the provider for full details. (For example, T-Mobile says, "as long as you move to another area with T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet coverage, your T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan can move with you".)
  • AT&T Internet Air –
    • $55/month
    • "Unlimited" data with no data caps. But, they will slow down your speed peak hours and after you hit a pretty low usage threshold. This is typical for any cellular type of connection.
    • No contract
    • No data overage fees
    • Equipment included
    • An optional Wi-Fi Extender is available for better signal strength in hard-to-reach places
  • T-Mobile 5G Home Internet –
    • $60/month (Internet only)
    • "Unlimited" data with no data caps. But, during congestion, customers may notice lower speeds and further speed reduction if using greater that1.2TB/monoth.
    • No contract
    • No data overage charges
    • Equipment included
  • Verizon Home Internet –
    • 5G – $60/month
    • "Unlimited" data with no data caps. But, like AT&T, I expect, they will slow down your speed after you hit a usage threshold. This is typical for any cellular type of connection.
    • No contract
    • Equipment included
    • An optional Wi-Fi Extender is available for better signal strength in hard-to-reach places
  • Note that the speed will be slowed down anytime the network is busy, especially during times of peak activity, which is usually when you want/need the Internet the most. Expect it to also be slowed down once you go past a certain limit of data usage.
  • At certain times of extreme weather, the signal can become weak or drop-out all together. This can be a big issue if your signal is already weak under normal conditions.

Bundles – Cellular service providers usually offer cell phone service, Internet, and sometimes TV. Bundles with these services can be created to save money. But be sure to find out what the standard rates are that apply AFTER any promotional period.

What is it? – High-speed Internet service to you other devices via the cellular Internet plan on your smartphone. You turn on the (personal) hotspot feature of your phone which essentailly makes it a wireless router, then connect your other devices (computers, tablets, smart TVs, etc.) to that.

Speed – typically 512 kbps to 25 mbps.(download)

Availability – Available with most cellular Internet plans and when you have a strong signal on your phone to your provider's cell tower.

Comments / More Details –

  • There's usually a much smaller data cap for how much data can be used per month via a hotspot than for just the phone itelf. Check with your provider ahead of time.
  • This is the only system that's truly portable – when used with a laptop or tablet, you can access the Internet anywhere you have you have a strong signal to your cellular service provider.
  • At certain times of extreme weather, the signal can become weak or drop-out all together — a big issue if your signal is already weak under normal conditions.
  • Note that the speed can go way down during times of peak capacity.
  • A general note about "unlimited" Internet data plans on cell phones (and satellite dishes) – there are no truly unlimited plans out there. All cellular phone (and satellite) Internet plans have data caps — limits on the amount of data that are allowed to be transferred per month. Once that cap has been reached, there can fees if you go over the limit, or your speed will go way down. And for streaming, the video quality may go down quite a bit.
    • Note that when streaming a movie from Netflix, an hour uses 0.75 gB at standard definition (480p) and 1.5 gB at full high defintion (1080p). So if you do NOTHING else on the Internet, with a 45 gB data cap, you can watch at most 30 hours of video per month, and that's it. (Now think about all of the Internet users and/or devices in your household and how much they could potentially use!)
    • So a small data cap severly limits your ability stream video, such as Netflix and YouTube, and somewhat limits your ability to stream music, as well.

What is it? – High-speed Internet service via specialized satellite dish.

Download Speed – Hughes up to 50 or100 mbps, Starlink: 25 to 220 mbps, Viasat: 12 to 150 mbps

Availability – Available to virtually everyone.

Comments / More Details–

  • You need ot have a clear view of the sky from somewhere on your property nearby your hime.
  • Speeds quoted by the companies are maximum and not guaranteed, actual speeds will vary and likley be less.
  • At certain times of inclement weather, the signal can become quite weak or drop-out all together.
  • You have to buy or lease a special satellite dish.
    • Hughesnet: you lease their equipment for $15/month or can buy it for $300
    • Starlink's standard equipment: you must buy it for $599 plus shipping and tax
    • Viasat: you lease their equipment for $10/month or can buy it for $300
  • You may have to pay an installation or activation fee. Ask them if that can be waived to encourage you to sign up.
  • With some providers you may be required to sign a two-year contract.
  • At times, satellite Internet can be much slower compared to all of the other types of Internet services.
  • Startlink says it has no data caps and there are no contracts. They claim they have very low latency because they use low-orbit satellites.
  • Beware when they say "unlimted" data.. Plans from Hughes and Viasat have data caps – limits on the amount of data that are allowed to be transferred per month.
    • If you go over the monthly limit, your Internet speed will slow way down, greatly limiting what you can do. (Hughes says to 1 to 3 mbps. Viasat says just lower priority compared to those that have not hit their limit.)
    • Note that when streaming a movie from Netflix, an hour uses 0.75 gB at standard definition (480p) and 1.5 gB at full high defintion (1080p). So if you do NOTHING esle on the Internet, with a 45 gB data cap you can at most watch 30 hours per month, and that's it. (Now think about all of the Internet users and devices in your household and how much they could potentially use!)
    • A small data cap truly prevents you keep you from streaming video, like Netflix and YouTube, and can limit your ability to stream music, as well.
  • Not recommneded for streaming if there are any real data caps.
  • Hughes plans (2/2024)
    • $50/month, up to 50 mbps, 100 gB of data
    • $65/month, up to 100 mbps, 200 gB of data
  • Starlink plan (2/2024)
    • Standard: $120/month, between 25 and 220 mbps, no data cap
  • Viasat plans (2/2024)
    • $70/month, up to 25 mbps, 60 gB of data
    • $100/month, up to 50 mbps, 100 gB of data
    • $150/month, up to 75 mbps, 150 gB of data
    • $200/month, up to 100 mbps, 300 gB of data
    • $300/month, up to 150 mbps, 150 gB of data

Bundles – Some satellite companies offer both satellite TV and Internet, and bundles with these services can be created to save money. Some even have phone service available. But be sure to find out what the standard rates are that apply AFTER any promotional period.

What is it? – High-speed Internet service via a specialized long-range wireless system. Equipment for these systems are added to existing cell phone towers or put on their own towers. Except for the Downtown Frankfort system, special antennas are provided to your home or business to receive these Internet providers.

Speed –

  • Downtown Frankfort — You can expect speeds up to 30 mbps download and 6 mbps upload. But like all Internet connections, especially wireless ones, speeds can vary from minute to minute according to many factors, such as how many users are on at that moment and the type of activity being performed. (If a lot of people are in town all downloading updates to their iOS, for example, the connection speed WILL be slower.)

  • Eclipse Communications – Their speed ranges from 10 mbps download / 10 mbps upload to 50 mbps download / 25 mbps upload with NO data caps!

  • SyncWave — 2 to 10 mbps download

Availability – Available to those within within the range of a provider's equipment and/or towers.

  • Downtown Frankfort — Intended primarily for short-term use by visitors to the downtown area, the city offers free, insecure (no password), wireless Internet service in the downtown area, from the boat launch (10th Street) to Lake Michigan beach, and from the north side of Main Street to Betsie Bay. The connection lasts for a limited time, perhaps 2 hours, then you must reconnect. (This should not be confused with a separate, password-protected, wireless network that is for use by customers of the marina.)

  • Eclipse Communications –
    • November, 2018 – Benzonia Township and Honor area and more areas coming soon. They will be adding equipment on the Frankfort Airport's navigational beacon on Graves Road so that will add a lot of coverage in the Frankfort area. The company is based in Benzie County so it's best to just call for a free site survey to see if your site is within their range.
    • December, 2019 – Eclipse acquired the M-22 Internet Project business so now their coverege includes: in Manistee County: Arcadia, Onekama (including Pierport) and Pleasanton townships. In Benzie County: Upper and Lower Herring Lake areas (as far east as US-31), Joyfield and Blaine Townships, portions of Benzonia and Weldon Townships, the city of Frankfort and village of Elberta, and up the Betsie River valley a few miles from Betsie Bay, and the village of Beulah.
    • Expect continued expansion of areas of coverage.

  • SyncWave – The (one, at present) SyncWave tower in the county is on Pioneer Road just south of Homestead Road (south of Honor). The coverage range is about a mile from that tower. Coverage from that tower may someday expand and more towers may come to this area. To determine if you are in the coverage area of their current tower, they ask that you call them.

Comments / More Details –

  • Downtown Frankfort —
    • intended primarily for short-term use by visitors to the downtown area.
    • Not intended for continuous residential or commercial use (I assume).
    • A quite fast connection is possible, similar to that of cable Internet.

  • Eclipse Communications –
    • Locally owned and operated and based in Benzonia, Michigan.
    • Their four plans range from $55/month for 10 mbps download / 10 mbps upload speed to $120/month for 50 mbps download / 25 mbps upload speed.
    • There are NO data limits!!! It is true unlimited – "you will never pay a fee for usage of the connection, nor will you incur any other form of penalty".
    • Even the slowest plan is fast enough to stream movies.
    • There are no contracts involved.
    • Standard installation is a one-time fee of $195.
    • They also have many custom installation choices as well to accommodate your particular situation.
    • Free site surveys – "All proposed installations are surveyed and tested beforehand. We do not make assumptions or guesses as to how the equipment should be installed or how the connection will perform."

  • SyncWave –
    • Speeds are similar to standard DSL and satellite Internet.
    • See their current plans and pricing here.
    • Unlimited data transfer – there are no data transfer caps (as is typical with cellular and satellite Internet).
    • There are no long-term contracts (as is typical with cellular and satellite Internet).
    • Compared to other Internet services:
      • Costs are similar to cellular and satellite Internet.
      • If availablle, it's better choice over cellular and satellite Internet.
      • The connection should be more reliable and not variable like cellular and satellite Internet.
    • They are a Michigan company based in Scottville.

Bundles – There are no known bundles from these companies.


Related Web sites:     [Back to Page Menu]
  • Broadband Internet Coverage Maps for Benzie County 

    • Connected Nation Michigan — scroll down to Connected Michigan County Maps section and select Benzie County, then choose the level of broadband to see a coverage map of the county for that level of service.

      Notes: Looking at the 10x1 (10 mbps download/1 mbps upload) map, it would appear the entire county has 10 mbps broadband service or better. Yet, in spite of the advertised claims of the providers, there are still many areas (maybe 10% of the county by land area) lacking even 10 mbps service. Most of the areas in the county that can receive 25 mbps or better are those served by Spectrum, as well as some isolated areas using cellular Internet — but those are areas that very close to the cell towers. Some satellite providers can now offer such speeds.

  • Find Broadband Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

    • BroadbandNow.com — Find broadband Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in your area based on the availability at your address. This is "an easy place to research, compare, and shop for Internet service in your neighborhood." And the site includes many broadband resources.

    • HighSpeedInternet.com — Search all broadband Internet Service Providers (ISPs) by zip code to find the ISPs avaialble in your neck of the woods.