On September 6, 2006 the Northeast Michigan Fiber Consortium was formed to bring high speed communications network and connectivity to the Alpena region. The mission of the consortium through a collaborative agreement is to facilitate a communication network to promote the development of the community and its goals through improved relationships and infrastructures. By the sharing of resources of agencies which include government, non-profit, medical, and research, the consortium will establish this foundation to support its goals for inter-organizational communications for the community of Alpena and partners nationwide.