Wisconsin Awards Nearly $58 Million in Broadband Grants: 46 Projects to Reach 18,068 Locations
Wisconsin's Governor's Office announced on November 5 that the Public Service Commission has awarded nearly $58 million in broadband expansion grants - $57,994,872 in total - funding 46 projects that will reach 18,068 homes and businesses. Since 2019, state broadband grants have helped connect more than 428,000 locations.
The round drew 93 applications seeking more than $160 million, roughly $100 million more than available, and fewer than six in ten projects were funded. The money comes from balances and returns from earlier rounds plus the state Universal Service Fund; the state notes the Legislature has added no new state appropriation for the program in the last two budget cycles. PSC Chair Summer Strand said this could be the program's last round if lawmakers do not renew funding.
The grants target gaps the federal BEAD program does not reach: the state defines an unserved location as one lacking 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload service. About 30,000 locations statewide remain unserved, most of them in northern and rural areas.
Awardees must start construction on schedule and pass state speed verification. The Governor's Office said it will keep pressing the Legislature to fund broadband in the next budget and urged providers to close remaining gaps with their own capital.
(Source: Office of the Governor of Wisconsin)
Source: Office of the Governor of Wisconsin
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图片来源：Wikimedia Commons「File:Wisconsin State Capitol, Capitol Square, Madison, WI (52734142484).jpg」（Warren LeMay 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0） Image: Wikimedia Commons "File:Wisconsin State Capitol, Capitol Square, Madison, WI (52734142484).jpg" (by Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0)
