Senator Baldwin Calls on Biden Administration to Approve Wisconsin’s Broadband Expansion Plan and Make Additional Federal Investments Available for Families and Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is calling on the Biden administration to quickly approve Wisconsin’s plan to use federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to expand access to high-speed internet. In June of 2023, Senator Baldwin announced that Wisconsin was awarded more than $1 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funds, a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created program, and the Badger State recently submitted its Initial Proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to unlock the resources. Following the State of Wisconsin’s proposal, Senator Baldwin is calling on NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson to quickly review the State’s Initial Proposal so that its $1.05 billion allocation can be put to work to close Wisconsin’s digital divide.

“High-speed internet is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity for Wisconsin families, businesses, and farmers. I’m proud to have voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand access to good broadband – and now I’m fighting to make sure that Wisconsin’s plan gets approved so we can get more Wisconsinites online as soon as possible,” said Senator Baldwin.

The BEAD program aims to expand high-speed internet access to areas currently unserved or underserved by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs. Senator Baldwin secured $1.05 billion for Wisconsin, after successfully pushing the Federal Communications Commission to release an updated National Broadband Map that provided a more reliable and accurate depiction of the broadband availability across Wisconsin. Now, Senator Baldwin is fighting for the NTIA’s prompt attention to Wisconsin’s BEAD Initial Proposal to provide internet access to 421,000 unserved and underserved locations and address the affordability gap that stands in the way of 650,000 Wisconsinites who need high-speed broadband service.

The full letter is available here and below.

Dear Administrator Davidson:

I write to urge prompt review of the State of Wisconsin’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Initial Proposal. Volumes I and II of Wisconsin’s Initial Proposal grow out of the state’s comprehensive Five-Year Action Plan, which was written following stakeholder input, local coordination, and data analysis to determine the State’s best path to achieving Internet for all of Wisconsin with a significant federal investment. I ask the Administration to quickly review the State’s Initial Proposal so that its $1.056 billion BEAD allocation can be put to work to close our digital divide.

Wisconsin’s Initial Proposal outlines four necessary goals for statewide broadband adoption: achieving the highest possible level of broadband deployment and adoption; delivering sustained, long-term impact on broadband access and digital opportunity for all Wisconsinites; increasing the affordability and reliability of broadband service in the state; and ensuring a sufficient and trained workforce to construct, operate, and maintain current and new broadband infrastructure. Through these goals and associated objectives, the State can use federal BEAD funding to drive Internet access to 421,000 unserved and underserved locations and address the affordability gap that stands in the way of 650,000 Wisconsinites who need high-speed broadband service.

I am proud to have voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that created BEAD and the Affordable Connectivity Program, and I am committed to these programs’ successful continuation and implementation. With these once-in-a-generation federal investments, we can close Wisconsin’s digital divide and bring affordable, high-speed Internet access to every corner of the Badger state. Thank you for your prompt attention to Wisconsin’s BEAD Initial Proposal.

Sincerely,

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. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.