WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers in applauding the approval of Wisconsin’s plan to utilize $1 billion she helped deliver from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build out the Badger State’s broadband network. When completed, the plan will connect more than 175,000 homes and businesses to high-speed internet across Wisconsin.
“Broadband is not a luxury, it’s a necessity for Wisconsinites to work, learn, connect with loved ones, and run their businesses and farms. That’s why when I helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I was squarely focused on delivering high-speed internet to Wisconsin communities big and small,” said Senator Baldwin. “I will be the first to say this process has taken too long, only made worse by the Trump administration forcing Wisconsin to redo our entire application, but today’s approval brings us one step closer to putting shovels in the ground and making sure Wisconsinites in every corner of our state get the high-speed internet they need.”
“Access to high-speed internet is a necessity for how we learn, work, and stay connected in the 21st Century, and as a result of this years-long effort to secure this designation, we’ll be able to help more than 175,000 homes and businesses get online across the state. That’s remarkable,” said Governor Evers. “After three years of working to implement the BEAD program and the Trump Administration making changes in the final hour, getting to this point today was a marathon effort. I’m grateful for the folks at PSC and others who helped secure this important federal designation to move forward our state’s efforts to close the digital divide and ensure folks and families have the reliable, affordable high-speed internet they need and deserve.”
Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Wisconsin’s plan to enact $1 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding can move forward. The plan will now be reviewed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for approval. Today’s announcement comes after the Trump Administration required Wisconsin to start their application over, wasting time and state resources. More information about Wisconsin’s plan and application process is available here.
The BEAD program was established by the Baldwin-supported Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand high-speed internet access to areas currently unserved or underserved by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs. Last year, Senator Baldwin announced that Wisconsin received $1.05 billion in federal funds through the BEAD program to connect more Wisconsinites to high-speed internet. The funding came after Senator Baldwin successfully pushed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to release an updated National Broadband Map that provided a more reliable and accurate depiction of broadband availability across Wisconsin.
An online version of this release is available here.
