Bob Hance Speaks at Calix's Build America, Buy America Announcement

Published on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 in Internet

On Friday, MEC CEO Bob Hance traveled to Auburn Hills to support Calix as they announced their investment in U.S. manufacturing via the  Build America, Buy America (BABA) program. The BABA program intends to ensure that infrastructure projects that receive Federal funding use materials made in the United States.  

The announcement, held at Jabil Inc., one of Calix’s suppliers, included United States Assistant Secretary of Commerce Alan Davidson and Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist. 

In support of BABA, Calix has committed up to $6 million in initial investments and up to $15 million in ongoing investments for U.S.-made fiber equipment.  

Calix has partnered with the following manufacturers and will create about 100 jobs as a result of these partnerships: 

• Jabil will produce optical network terminals (ONTs) and optical line terminals (OLTs) in Michigan 
• Gemtek will produce ONTs at its California facility 
• Hisense Broadband will produce optical modules at its New Jersey facility 

Bob spoke about our broadband projects, the SMART Park, and the impact that fiber service has on our local communities 

Gilchrist also noted that Michigan has a goal of becoming the first state in the nation to have high-speed internet available to all residents. 

This is one more example of how MEC has appeared on a national stage to share our goal of eliminating the digital divide in our region.