Surf Internet Expands to Northern Michigan with $11.4 Million Fiber Investment

Surf Internet Expands to Northern Michigan with $11.4 Million Fiber Investment

Project to bring greater access and choice to nearly 9,000 homes and businesses across Charlevoix, Petoskey, Boyne City, East Jordan, and Harbor Springs

EMMET AND CHARLEVOIX COUNTIES, Mich., October 21, 2025 – Surf Internet® announced today its expansion into northern Michigan, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth across the Great Lakes region. With an $11.4 million private investment, Surf is expanding fiber connectivity to 8,965 homes and businesses—bringing greater access and choice to the communities of Charlevoix, Petoskey, Boyne City, East Jordan, and Harbor Springs.

The project marks Surf’s move into what the company calls its “new northern frontier.” Construction is planned to begin this winter, extending high-speed connectivity across the region to support education, innovation, and everyday life.

“We’re proud to be part of what’s happening in northern Michigan,” said Surf Internet CEO Gene Crusie. “Fiber connectivity has already started to make a difference here, and we’re excited to keep building on that progress to bring even more opportunity to the region.”

City leaders across the region say the expansion reinforces broadband as essential infrastructure for northern Michigan’s future.

“Our residents have asked the City Council for more options for high-speed internet, so we’re glad to add Surf to the list of choices for them to consider,” said Mark Heydlauff, Charlevoix City Manager. “Reliable internet access plays a key role in everyday life, and having more providers helps ensure Charlevoix stays connected and competitive.”

“We’re excited to see private investment expanding broadband access in Petoskey,” added Petoskey City Manager Shane Horn. “It’s a major step toward ensuring our community remains connected and competitive in an increasingly digital world.”

Surf’s move north builds on its momentum across Michigan’s lower peninsula, following recent expansions in communities such as Sparta, Mason, and Fowlerville. The company continues to invest heavily in Michigan’s digital future, extending fiber networks to areas that have historically lacked consistent, high-performance service. Surf has participated in Michigan’s Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) grant program and is among the top preliminary recipients in the Federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, positioning the company to extend high-speed connectivity to even more unserved and underserved areas across the state.

Surf Internet will share construction updates directly with residents as work progresses, including information on neighborhood timelines and when service becomes available. To learn more and sign up for project updates, visit https://surfinternet.com/construction/michigan/.

About Surf Internet
Surf Internet is an innovative fiber-optic internet company that serves as the essential gateway to connectivity across the Great Lakes region of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The company is building a bridge to the wide-open future by delivering high-speed, reliable internet to homes and businesses in underserved, rural communities. Surf’s 300-plus-person team is local, giving them an edge when it comes to customer care and advocacy for the region. Headquartered in Elkhart, Ind., Surf also maintains local Michigan offices in Byron Center, Howell, and Fowlerville, with additional regional offices in La Porte, Ind., and Coal City, Rock Falls, and Naperville, Ill. Learn more at https://surfinternet.com.