MADISON, Wis. — On Friday, The Kenosha News highlighted how thousands of residents in Racine and Kenosha counties would soon be receiving high-speed internet thanks to Gov. Tony Evers and Democrats’ broadband expansion efforts.

Gov. Evers was able to direct $100 million towards broadband expansion efforts across the state, continuing to use American Rescue Plan funds to support Wisconsin’s economic growth. These funds are currently providing over 29,000 homes with internet access — including 2,000 residences in Yorkville, Rochester, and Union Grove and almost 1,000 residences in Paris, Brighton, and Bristol.

Gov. Evers knows that connecting our communities with high-speed broadband is vital for creating opportunities across Wisconsin. That’s why Gov. Evers declared 2021 the “Year of Broadband Access,” and he’s made historic investments in broadband — much like what was done with electricity over a hundred years ago. In 2019, Wisconsin expanded broadband access to 9,300 businesses and 150,000 homes, most of which previously did not have access to high-speed internet. The latest budget also invests an additional $130 million towards expanding broadband access.

“Thanks to Governor Evers and Democrats, families across Wisconsin are finally receiving high-speed and affordable internet,” said Tony for Wisconsin Communications Director Sam Roecker. “During his first term, Governor Evers has led a historic broadband expansion effort and he will continue working to connect Wisconsin communities and small businesses with the high-speed internet they deserve.”

Kenosha News: Thousands of western Racine County residents to finally receive high-speed fiber internet

Thousands of homes and businesses in rural areas of Racine and Kenosha counties will soon be receiving high-speed internet, thanks to state grants funded by the federal government.

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission committed $100 million in federal pandemic relief money via the American Rescue Plan Act to fund broadband expansion projects expected to bring high-speed internet access to more than 29,000 homes and businesses across the state.

The PSC announced its latest round of Broadband Expansion Grants on Oct. 15.

In Racine County, about 2,000 customers in Yorkville, Rochester and Union Grove will receive high-speed fiber internet. In Kenosha County, 918 residences in Paris, Brighton and Bristol will also receive the same high-speed fiber internet. The total cost of investment is more than $9 million, and Spectrum is contributing about two-thirds of the funding.

More than 1,000 households in underserved parts of the villages of Raymond, Yorkville and Rochester, and the towns of Norway and Dover, do not have access to high-speed internet, meaning their service does not reliably meet or exceed 100 megabits per second for downloading, between at least 20 Mbps and 100 Mbps for uploading, and be scalable to a minimum of 100 Mbps symmetrical.

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