According to Wisconsin Public Radio, Republican lawmakers voted Thursday to eliminate Gov. Tony Evers’ $750 million broadband investment in favor of waiting for future federal funding instead.
The governor’s plan would spend state broadband funds over multiple years; the Public Service Commission (PSC) would be required to spend at least $75 million in each of the next two years.
This marks the first time in 10 years that the Legislature has not allocated broadband expansion funding.
Data from the Federal Communications Commission showed that, as of last year, around 460,000 state locations were underserved or lacked access to at least two broadband providers, and 59,000 locations were unserved or lacked access to a single provider.
The federal government is expected to set aside between $700 million–$1.1 billion in funds for broadband expansion in the state as part of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden.
The PSC argues that state funding could more immediately meet demand; federal funding is being disbursed more slowly.
