Earlier this year, Gov. Evers announced,?as part of his 2023-25 biennial budget proposal, a historic investment of $750 million for the state Broadband Expansion Grant Program?to build upon his administration?s previous record-setting investments in expanding broadband across the state. Unfortunately, Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee not only voted against adopting the governor?s historic proposal but voted to provide $0 state dollars for broadband expansion, citing forthcoming federal investments in broadband expansion allocated for Wisconsin. While federal funding through the CPF and other sources will help bolster the state?s efforts to connect more Wisconsin homes and businesses to new or improved high-speed internet, state investment in broadband expansion is necessary to close the digital divide, and with a historic state surplus available to make such investments, it should be made a priority.?

The CPF is designed to address pre-existing barriers to internet access that were exacerbated by the pandemic. Broadband Infrastructure Program grant funds will be used to make necessary investments in broadband infrastructure designed to provide consistent, reliable, and high-performance broadband service to areas in Wisconsin most impacted by the pandemic.

?Almost overnight, the pandemic demonstrated to us all the crucial need for connectivity in so many parts of our state,? said PSC Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq. ?This funding will allow us to focus on bringing affordable and reliable broadband to the places that the pandemic hit the hardest.?

Eligible entities for the competitive grant program include internet service providers, telecommunications utilities, cooperatives, local governments, and for-profit and non-profit organizations. The funding is available to construct broadband infrastructure projects to deploy reliable internet service that will meet or exceed 100/100 megabits per second (Mbps) symmetrical speed internet service and include at least one low-cost option for work, education, and health monitoring.

More information about the upcoming grant application period beginning August 14 will be made available by the PSC?s Wisconsin Broadband Office soon. The deadline to apply will be in November 2023.

After this initial grant period, more than $140 million in additional funding for Wisconsin under the CPF is expected to be authorized by the U.S. Department of Treasury and announced at a later date. This additional round of funding will be available to carry out device deployment and digital navigator projects and to improve community access to essential equipment.

More information on the CPF can be found here.