Broadband expanding to thousands in rural Wisconsin with $4.6 million from FCC

Sarah Hauer | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Broadband connections will expand to nearly 7,800 unserved rural homes and businesses in Wisconsin with new funding from the Federal Communications Commission.

More than $4.6 million will come to Wisconsin over the next decade to expand broadband access in rural communities. Funding will begin to be distributed this month. The Wisconsin funding is part of $89.2 million in Connect America Fund support approved Monday to expand broadband in 21 states.

The Connect America Fund is part of an FCC effort to close the digital divide in the United States. Providers who receive funding must build out broadband access to 40% of the assigned homes and businesses in the designated area within three years. Each subsequent year, buildout must increase by 20%.

Three companies will receive the funding. Viasat in Ashland County will receive the majority of the funding to offer broadband at speeds of at least 25/3 Mbps to 7,565 remote and rural homes and businesses. The service in the area will be at a lower cost to consumers and allow higher usage allowances than in areas that don't receive Connect America Fund support.

JCWIFI.com in Lafayette County and Bruce Telephone in Rusk County will also receive money from the Connect America Fund.

“In Wisconsin and across the nation, we’re continuing to close the digital divide so that all Americans — no matter where they live — have access to affordable broadband connectivity and the digital opportunity it brings,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a news release. “And as this eighth round of funding demonstrates, the Connect America Fund Phase II Auction is doing so in a cost-effective way: Because providers competed for Connect America Fund Auction support, finite universal service dollars reached many more homes and businesses at a much lower cost.”

Sarah Hauer can be reached at shauer@journalsentinel.com or on Instagram @HauerSarah and Twitter @SarahHauer. Subscribe to her weekly newsletter Be MKE at jsonline.com/bemke.