Gov. Evers Urges Trump Administration to Prevent Delays in Funding for High-Speed Internet Infrastructure Projects Across Wisconsin 

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today released a letter to the Trump Administration urging the administration not to delay or obstruct key funding Wisconsin is expected to receive to help continue expanding access to high-speed internet statewide. At issue in Gov. Evers’ letter is potential changes to the BEAD Program, which was created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by the U.S. Congress in 2021, and through which Wisconsin expects to receive over $1 billion, allocated based on state need and proportion of locations without broadband access, with the goal of providing high-speed internet to all Wisconsinites, including in rural areas and communities.

Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration have spent three years working to design and implement the BEAD Program in Wisconsin to meet federal requirements after first indicating Wisconsin’s plans to participate in the program now almost three years ago on May 17, 2022. Under the Trump Administration, progress on the program has now stalled and experienced further delays as the administration added more red tape and review time to make changes to the program. Recent reporting suggested the delays are designed to shift the program toward satellite internet rather than fiber cable internet, a move which is reportedly expected to benefit Elon Musk’s Starlink.

In his letter, Gov. Evers indicated that failing to receive these federal broadband investments in a timely fashion will slow the Evers Administration’s ongoing work to get Wisconsinites connected to reliable, affordable high-speed internet, including in rural areas across the state. The governor also further underscored the importance of Wisconsin receiving these critical federal investments, especially after the Wisconsin State Legislature during the 2023-25 biennial budget process rejected Gov. Evers’ proposed $750 million investment to help expand high-speed internet and close the digital divide in Wisconsin. Republicans at the time approved $0 in new state investments for broadband expansion in the last state budget, citing an influx of federal investments Wisconsin expected to receive as their justification—investments like those through the BEAD Program that the Trump Administration could now potentially jeopardize through delays and other obstructive efforts. With Republican lawmakers having approved no new state dollars for broadband expansion in the last budget, if Wisconsin’s federal funding for high-speed internet is delayed or obstructed, the state will undoubtedly fall behind in its efforts to expand reliable internet to all Wisconsinites—a situation Gov. Evers is working to prevent.

The governor’s letter urges the Trump Administration and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to support the BEAD Program, which, as designed, was intended to give states flexibility to meet residents’ needs and get homes and businesses online as quickly as possible. Gov. Evers is urging the Trump Administration not to make any changes to the BEAD Program that will slow down Wisconsin’s already-approved program plans or impede the progress the Evers Administration has already made toward implementing those plans. If the Trump Administration does proceed with adding new red tape and making changes to the program, the governor is urging the administration to make any changes optional to prevent further funding and programmatic delays.

Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration have done more to expand access to high-speed internet in Wisconsin than any other administration in state history. 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, and the Evers Administration has helped more than 410,000 homes and businesses access new or improved broadband. Although great progress has been made to connect more Wisconsin homes and businesses to high-speed internet, more work remains. According to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, more than 464,000 locations across the state remain underserved or unserved.

More information on the BEAD Program is available on the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin’s website here. A copy of the governor’s letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is available here, and a transcript of the letter is available below.

Dear Secretary Lutnick and Nominated Administrator Roth:

Access to affordable high-speed internet is no longer a luxury in the 21st Century—it is a necessity. Here in Wisconsin, we have been working diligently to close the digital divide that has long held our workers, families, and communities back. Already, no administration in state history has done more to expand access to highspeed internet than we have. We have helped more than 410,000 homes and businesses access new or improved broadband since 2019. Nevertheless, Wisconsin was already behind when I took office, so our work is far from finished. Thousands of Wisconsinites still need access to reliable, affordable, and efficient high-speed internet.

I write today to underscore the importance of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to Wisconsin. Our state has already spent tremendous time and effort to achieve the shared goals of the BEAD Program. I urge NTIA not to delay our states’ efforts at this final, critical stage, but to use the program review to create efficiencies that will accelerate broadband deployment to unserved Wisconsin residents. Importantly, these investments are critical for Wisconsin, most especially as the Wisconsin State Legislature during the last biennial budget process approved zero new state dollars to expand high-speed internet in our state. The Legislature declined to approve my proposed $750 million state investment, citing federal investments Wisconsin expected to receive, BEAD investments primary among them. Failing to receive these investments in a timely fashion will slow my administration’s efforts toward getting Wisconsinites connected to high-speed internet. We cannot afford to stall our progress.

In Wisconsin, we have worked closely with industry leaders, engaged local governments and economic development organizations in planning and design, and completed the state challenge processes and the first round of BEAD subgranting. Wisconsin had robust participation, with over 95 percent of Wisconsin’s 206,000 BEAD eligible locations receiving at least one application in the first round. NTIA has already approved our initial proposals, project budget, and our challenge results. Wisconsin is not alone: across the country, 40 states and territories are already reviewing and accepting applications for BEAD projects.

NTIA should not make any changes that will slow down our states’ already-approved program plans and the tremendous progress we have made in implementing those plans. In BEAD, Congress created a program that gave states the power to create state-specific programs to suit our needs. NTIA must continue to allow states to make the choices that will best allow Wisconsinite’s homes and businesses to get online quickly. Any changes to the BEAD program should be options, not mandates, and any waivers granted by NTIA should be available to every State. New mandates to drastically alter our state’s BEAD plan will likely slow down our progress, harming the households and businesses that are still awaiting connection.

Wisconsin have already done the work. Internet Service Providers have planned their projects and are ready to put shovels in the ground. NTIA must not require any program changes that will delay Wisconsin’s plans—Wisconsinites in rural and unserved areas have waited long enough. We are ready to award these funds and build the networks and 21st Century infrastructure needed to support a 21st Century economy and workforce.

Wisconsinites are counting on these investments. We are hopeful that our federal partners will help us in keeping the BEAD program flexible and prevent unnecessary delays in getting all Wisconsinites connected to affordable, reliable high-speed internet.

Respectfully,

Tony Evers
Governor

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.