State grants to spur rural broadband projects in Oconto Falls, Sheboygan County

HOWARD - A Green Bay-area internet provider expects a pair of new fiber optic projects to help spur economic development in parts of Oconto Falls and Sheboygan County.

Nsight Telservices will install two miles of fiber optic cable through the Oconto Falls business park this year, and about eight miles of cable near Sheboygan Falls in 2019.

Nsight is one of dozens of companies and government bodies across the state chosen to help further build the state's communication infrastructure in rural areas.

The Oconto Falls project, which last week received a $49,230 preliminary grant from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, is expected to replace aging 20th century “copper” communications infrastructure, said Mick O’Malley, Nsight’s senior director of internal controls and operations.

The new connection is expected to serve 33 businesses and a retirement facility.

“These businesses are good-sized businesses, but normally they probably wouldn’t qualify for a fiber build, so in this case it’s going to help them grow, help them be able to hire people, and help them do business nationally and internationally right from their home base,” O’Malley said.

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Nsight partnered with the Oconto County Economic Development Corp. on the project. Total investment between both projects, including investment by Nsight, is expected to be $713,000, O’Malley said.

Efforts to improve rural internet and broadband access have been ongoing in the state for years. Late last week, Gov. Scott Walker announced $7.68 million for 46 preliminary Public Service Commission of Wisconsin grants, which are expected to yield $19 million in private funding.

The projects are expected to extend high-speed internet access to as many as 1,600 business and 18,000 homes, according to the governor’s office.

Other projects receiving preliminary approval for the grants include the construction of three wireless towers and fixed wireless service in the town of Liberty Grove in Door County; construction of a wireless tower and fixed wireless service in Kewaunee County; a 20-mile fiber route in Langlade County along Highway 55 from Hollister to Pickerel by Wittenberg Wireless LLC; and funding for a project by Michigan-based Packerland Broadband to build a TV “white space” system at 10 locations in Marinette County.

Nsight also plans to build almost eight miles of fiber in Sheboygan County along County Highway O between Highway 32 and County Road E. The work passes 23 businesses and municipal buildings, including the Sheboygan Falls Town Hall.

“We’re going to deploy (connection points) along the route so they connect to it if they so desire,” O’Malley said.

The state is providing a $177,895 grant for the project.