MADISON, Wis. — last month, the Assistant Secretary of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration referred to unreleased broadband expansion grants as “savings.” These withheld Biden-era funds include over $363 million to help expand internet access in Wisconsin.
Representative Randy Udell (D-47th District) released the following statement:
“Congress allocated Wisconsin $1.2 billion to improve broadband connection across our state. It was our share of the largest telecommunications investment in US history. Internet connection is required to access government forms, healthcare documents, and even homework, and it is the government’s responsibility to connect households that wouldn’t otherwise be served.
“By law, Wisconsin designated almost $364 million to cover ‘non-deployment’ tasks such as pole attachments, workforce development, and cellular infrastructure. However, NTIA has signaled their intention to withhold these Congressionally-allocated funds.
“It is ignorant to treat these non-deployment funds as optional. Even in Dane County, rural households still lack reliable internet coverage, and these cuts will only delay their access further.”
