Gov. Evers, U.S. Sen. Baldwin Announces New Investments to Help Expand Access, Affordability, and Adoption of High-Speed Internet
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC), today announced that the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) approved the state’s plans to utilize $140 million of federal funds from the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The funding will be used to support two new grant programs, the Flexible Facilities Program and the Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program, to support high-quality multi-purpose community facilities and help address high-speed internet access, affordability, and adoption in the state.
“High-speed internet is a necessity for Wisconsinites across the state to run their businesses, attend school, manage their farms, and connect with friends and family,” said Sen. Baldwin. “I am proud to bring home this investment to connect families and businesses with reliable broadband—ensuring more Wisconsinites can fully participate in the economy, kids get the education they deserve, and families can connect with loved ones across the world.”
Since 2019, Gov. Evers has allocated more than $345 million in state and federal funds to expand high-speed internet, including the largest state investment in state history, ensuring that more than 395,000 homes and businesses will have new or improved service. In his most recent budget, the governor recommended allocating $750 million in state funding to supplement the federal funding being allocated to the state in coming years. Republicans in the Wisconsin State Legislature removed this provision from the final budget that was sent to the governor’s desk. More work remains as, according to the most recent estimates from the Federal Communications Commission, there are more than 224,000 unserved locations and more than 198,000 underserved locations in the state.
Under the Flexible Facilities Program, DOA will award up to $107 million for local and Tribal governments to construct or improve buildings and purchase digital connectivity equipment. Eligible facilities include public libraries, community centers, and other anchor institutions designed to jointly and directly enable work, education, and health monitoring located in communities with critical need for capital projects.
“When local communities have safe, dependable spaces to work, learn, and gather, our state grows stronger,” said DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “The Flexible Facilities Program invests in the development and improvement of these types of spaces, supporting our state’s pandemic recovery efforts.”
The allocation of these funds further demonstrates the commitment to pandemic-recovery community building. In addition to CPF, Gov. Evers has directed more than $460 million in ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, which includes the Neighborhood Investment Fund, which is investing $234 million in 46 competitively awarded capital projects to help communities deliver innovative public services.
Under the Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program, the PSC will award up to $33 million to non-profit organizations and other eligible entities to deploy computing devices, install Wi-Fi equipment in targeted apartment buildings, and provide digital navigation services to make use of the devices and Wi-Fi for work, education, and health monitoring.
“Access to infrastructure alone is not enough to bridge the digital divide. Connecting people with crucial tools and skills through these programs will allow us to make sure all can participate in the benefits of a more connected state and economy,” said PSC Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq. “I am grateful for the continued state and federal resources that are helping us overcome the challenges brought on by the pandemic.”
In July 2023, Gov. Evers and the PSC announced the Broadband Infrastructure Program, the first of the three projects eligible for CPF grant funding. Last month, Gov. Evers and the PSC announced the Wisconsin Broadband Office received 124 applications requesting $221.6 million for the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program, with only $42 million available to be awarded. The ratio of requested funding to available funding is the highest for any grant round since the first in 2014, demonstrating high demand for continued investments in the state’s broadband infrastructure.
More information and applications for funding will be available in Spring 2024. Additional background on Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund can be found here.
An online version of this release is available here.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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