In the largest single round of broadband investment in Wisconsin’s history, Gov. Tony Evers has announced a $100 million investment for broadband access applications from the first round of federal funding, according to a release from the Evers administration. The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin will launch a round of broadband expansion funding on June 1 from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. This is the initial batch of federal funds to be dedicated to expanding high-speed broadband internet across the state. Funding will be awarded by the PSC based on a model similar to the state’s Broadband Expansion Grant Program. Eligible broadband projects are expected to:
- Serve unserved or underserved households and businesses;
- Be designed to deliver upon project completion internet service that reliably meets or exceeds upload and download speeds of 100 Mbps or at least 100 Mbps download and at least 20 Mbps upload if it not practicable to deliver the higher upload speeds due to geography, topography, or excessive costs;
- Prioritize projects that deliver a physical broadband connection that achieve the last mile connection;
- Prioritize affordability options;
- Prioritize investments in fiber optic infrastructure where feasible; and
- Avoid investments in locations that have existing agreements to build reliable service of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload by Dec. 31, 2024.
