MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Gov. Tony Evers is hoping to improve broadband internet access in Wisconsin.
Executive Order #80 creates the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access. Members were announced on Tuesday. Evers says the order was inspired in part by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored that access to high-speed broadband is a necessity, not a luxury, and folks across our state have had to adapt-from kids and educators shifting to virtual classrooms, workers having to work from home, and even folks using telemedicine to visit with their doctor,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m proud the People’s Budget made the largest investment in our broadband infrastructure in Wisconsin history, but we know we have more work to do and we have to connect the dots on how lack of reliable, affordable broadband affects folks across our state. This task force will bring together experts from across the state to research and recommend solutions that state leaders can adopt to connect every person in Wisconsin.”
According to the Federal Communications Commission 2020 Broadband Deployment Report, 7.1% of Wisconsin residents lack access to at least one broadband service with a speed of 25/3 Mbps or better, compared to the national average of 5.6%. This percentage deepens in rural areas of the state where 26.7% of Wisconsin residents lack access to at least one broadband service.
In March, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin awarded $24 million through the Broadband Expansion Grant Program, which was part of a $48 million investment in broadband included in Gov. Evers’ first biennial budget.
The task force’s first meeting will be later this summer.
