The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin announced it has awarded funding from the state’s Broadband Expansion Grant Program, according to Utility Products.
The Commission said it awarded $125 million for 71 projects that will expand broadband internet to more than 82,912 residential and 4,566 business locations currently unserved or underserved. The projects receiving awards will impact 45 counties. The grant awards will leverage roughly $185 million of matching funds from recipients.
“Over the last three years, we’ve worked hard to invest state and federal funding in projects that will provide more than 387,000 homes and businesses with reliable, high-quality internet. These grants will go to ensure students, workers, business owners, families, and communities can access the internet in every part of our state,” said Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers.
Wisconsin has disbursed or committed over $289 million towards expanding broadband since 2019, including $105 million in federal funding directed by the governor.
“We’ve made tremendous progress in the past three years towards getting people access to high-quality, affordable internet service,” said PSC Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq. “We will continue to make the investments needed to ensure all in our state have access to affordable broadband.”
Due to the large demand for funding, on June 2, 2022, the Governor and the PSC announced an additional $25 million from the state budget would be made available for the current grant round, Utility Products reported.
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