WASHINGTON DC (WTAQ-WLUK) — The state of Wisconsin will receive more than $1 billion to connect unserved homes and businesses to the internet.
The federal investment comes from the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, or BEAD, which is included in the infrastructure bill signed in 2021 by President Joe Biden.
“No matter where you live in the state, you deserve access to reliable high-speed broadband, and these resources will help us do that. This investment will help close the digital divide so Wisconsinites can fully participate in the economy, kids can get the education they deserve, and families can connect with people across the world. This is an investment in our Wisconsin families. This is an investment in our Made in Wisconsin economy. And this is an investment in our future – and I am proud to help deliver it,” said U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, more than 7% of the country falls under the underserved category. In Wisconsin, 10.7% or 246,113 total locations are considered underserved.
States will have until the end of the year to submit initial proposals outlining how they plan to use the money, which won’t be distributed until those plans are approved.
Under the rules of the program, states must prioritize connecting predominantly unserved areas before bolstering service in underserved areas, or those without access to internet speeds of 100 Mbps/20 Mbps, and community anchor institutions, such as schools and libraries.
