WE GOT THE GRANT!

“We’re working to build the 21st-century infrastructure and workforce Wisconsin needs to meet the demands of the 21st Century, including expanding access to high-speed internet. Every Wisconsinite should have access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet, and these investments will help build upon our work to close the digital divide, especially in our rural areas and communities,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m incredibly proud to be working alongside our dedicated state agencies and federal partners to help bolster our public infrastructure, including supporting our libraries and community centers and expanding access to critical services for folks in every corner of our state.”

“Access to reliable internet is a necessity for Wisconsinites across the state to attend school, make doctor appointments, manage their farms, and run their businesses,” said U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin). “I’m thrilled to work with state and local partners to expand internet access in our communities, level the playing field, and ensure everyone in Wisconsin has the opportunity to thrive.”

“The Biden-Harris Administration is making significant progress nationwide to ensure Americans have access to high-speed internet and close the digital divide,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “With these resources, Wisconsin families and small business owners will gain access to new economic opportunities and vital services like healthcare and education.”

“We’ve seen a lot of interest in these projects to remove barriers and expand vital broadband services for Wisconsinites,” said DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “I’m excited about the variety of projects these grants will help support across the state.”

The state of Wisconsin received a total of $189 million from the CPF for the FFP, the CPF Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program, and for the previously announced Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) to support high-quality multi-purpose community facilities and help address high-speed internet access, affordability, and adoption in the state. DOA was originally awarded $107 million from the CFP to support the FFP, and an additional more than $7 million was made available through savings across CPF programs.

In December, Gov. Evers, U.S. Sen. Baldwin, DOA, and the PSC announced Treasury’s approval of the state’s plans to utilize $140 million of federal funds from the CFP to create the two new grant programs, the FFP and the Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program.

The FFP is designed to fund community facility projects such as public libraries, community centers, and multi-purpose community facilities in order to address critical requirements of digital and broadband access resulting from or exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. The projects are intended to serve disadvantaged populations most disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and who have limited or no remote access to broadband. The funded projects must provide new, renovated, or expanded facilities, broadband/high-speed internet service, and other digital connectivity equipment, and devices that will enable remote access to work, education, and health monitoring activities and resources. Wisconsin has committed to awarding at least $20 million in FFP grants to projects that include the construction, renovation, or expansion of public library facilities, in addition to digital technology and connectivity improvements within said facilities.

The FFP is open to all units of general local government and Tribal governments in Wisconsin. The maximum award is $4.25 million.

The CPF-FFP projects aim to:

• Directly support recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by strengthening and improving the public infrastructure to provide the digital resources necessary for Wisconsinites to be able to access remote work, education, and healthcare monitoring opportunities;
• Enable investments in capital assets designed to address inequities in access to critical services; and
• Provide 21st-century public infrastructure necessary to access critical services, including a high–quality and affordable broadband internet connection.  

Gov. Evers’ administration has done more to expand access to high-speed internet than any other administration in state history. Since 2019, Gov. Evers has allocated more than $345 million in state and federal funds to expand high-speed internet, including the largest state investment in state history. These investments have made it possible for the Commission to award grants to help more than 410,000 homes and businesses access new or improved broadband services. In his most recent budget, the governor recommended allocating $750 million in state funding for broadband expansion to supplement the federal funding being allocated to the state in coming years. Unfortunately, despite that the federal funds Wisconsin expects to receive will not be sufficient to address the broadband needs across the state, Republicans in the Wisconsin State Legislature removed this funding from the final budget and provided $0 in new funding for broadband.

In addition to state and federal investments, in 2020, Gov. Evers created the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access to advise the governor and the Legislature on broadband actions, policies, and strategies to successfully expand high-speed internet in Wisconsin. In 2021, Gov. Evers declared it the Year of Broadband Access, and during that year, Gov. Evers directed $100 million in federal funds to broadband expansion—the largest single round of broadband investment in state history. Further, last year, Gov. Evers, together with the PSC and the Department of Public Instruction, also announced the launch of the Internet Discount Finder website to help Wisconsin households find and access affordable internet.

The Evers Administration is continuing this work as the PSC prepares to implement President Biden’s ‘Internet for All’ Initiative and reach Gov. Evers’ goal of bridging Wisconsin’s digital divide.