In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, community growth relies on two kinds of networks: the human connections that fuel collaboration, and the structured knowledge that drives informed decision-making and policy. At the EUPConnect Collaborative, we’ve embraced both to foster growth across our region. Working collectively, instead of independently, we’re serving as a facilitator to ensure that all households in the EUP have access to broadband infrastructure supporting 1Gbps connectivity to the internet.

The Human Network: Our Knowledge Web of Collaboration

At the heart of the EUPConnect Collaborative is the knowledge network. This isn’t just about data or infrastructure—it’s about people and the qualitative understanding they bring. Our communities, teams, and partners come together to share expertise, lived experiences, and pool resources. This collaboration is what allows us to tackle big challenges, like ensuring broadband access across the Eastern Upper Peninsula. It is common for people to hear me say that the EUPConnect Collaborative has built the largest network without putting a shovel in the ground.

Our strategic approach focuses on:

  • Pooling resources from existing and emerging funding sources
  • Developing public-private partnerships for infrastructure deployment
  • Providing technical assistance for local and regional master plans
  • Removing barriers to residential broadband adoption
  • Continuously collecting and sharing data to measure progress
  • Working with philanthropic and community service organizations
  • Establishing educational programs to ensure high quality services

We’re working collectively versus independently, residents, educators, healthcare providers, community service organizations, businesses, and local governments, to remove barriers and open up opportunities for everyone. This human network is the engine of change, constantly buzzing with new ideas and solutions. More importantly, it provides the qualitative context that ensures our work remains grounded in real-world needs and respects the diverse perspectives of all community members.

The Knowledge Graph: Our Data Blueprint for Growth

But collaboration alone isn’t enough. For long-term success, we also need structure and insight. That’s where a knowledge graph comes in. A knowledge graph is a data model: an interconnected web of information that maps out how key elements like policy, capacity, opportunities, aspiration, and growth connect with one another.

This structured data will help us identify patterns, measure progress, and make smarter decisions. It’s like a blueprint that shows us not only where we are, but also where we can go and how to get there. We’re building this graph continuously, learning from our knowledge network and refining our understanding as new data emerges from our collaborative work.

The Critical Role of Qualitative Inquiry: Before we can build an effective knowledge graph, we must first understand the problem space through qualitative inquiry. This means listening to community members, understanding context, and identifying what truly matters to the people we serve. This qualitative foundation ensures that our quantitative models are:

  • Context-aware: Grounded in real-world complexities, not just abstract metrics
  • Ethical: Representative of all affected parties, including marginalized groups
  • Relevant: Focused on variables that genuinely impact community well-being
  • Respectful: Built with community consent and an understanding of local values

By starting with qualitative understanding from our knowledge network, we ensure that the data we collect, the features we select, and the patterns we identify truly reflect the needs and aspirations of the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

Connecting Policy, Opportunity, Capacity, Aspiration and Growth

What’s exciting is how these two elements come together: our human knowledge network providing qualitative insights and the data-driven knowledge graph we’re building from it. The policies we develop and the capacities we build fuel new opportunities. These opportunities then align with our aspirations for growth, creating a cycle of continuous improvement and innovation.

Our approach follows a structured flow:

  1. Define objectives through qualitative conversations with community members
  2. Plan data requirements based on what we learn matters most
  3. Gather and analyze data that reflects these real-world priorities
  4. Refine our understanding as new insights emerge from the community

For example, by learning from the knowledge network which factors are related to capacity, aspiration and growth, we can focus our policy efforts there. As we gather more data from our collaborative work across 19 K-12 schools, 22 townships and municipalities, 3 healthcare systems, 2 tribal nations, 2 higher education institutions, the Eastern Upper Peninsula MiSTEM Region, and dozens of community partners, we continuously refine our knowledge graph.

This work builds on decades of foundational network knowledge dating back to the early 1990s when our first collaborative network, the Eastern Upper Peninsula Telecommunications Consortium (EUPTC), was formed. By ensuring availability of quality infrastructure with capacity for growth, we open new doors for education, business, telehealth, and community services like remote mental health counseling and social good programs. By tracking growth over time, we ensure that our efforts remain focused and effective.

A Story of Collective Progress

Ultimately, the story of the EUPConnect Collaborative is a story of connection, both human and digital. By combining the strength of our human knowledge network with the knowledge graph we’re building from it, we’re not just bridging gaps, we’re building foundations for future growth. This dual approach ensures that every policy we set and every opportunity we create is informed by real-world community input and backed by evolving data insights. As we move forward, the synergy between our collaborative human network and our emerging knowledge graph will continue to drive us toward a more connected, equitable, and prosperous Eastern Upper Peninsula, where everyone has access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and essential community services. Together, we’re not just imagining a better future, we’re building it, one connection and one data point at a time.

EUPConnect Collaborative: A regional inititive for Safe, Secure, Connnected Communities.