On Monday, June 26th, President Biden announced how the federal government will allocate funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the territories to deploy affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service to everyone in America. Wisconsin is receiving $1,055,823,573.71 in federal funds through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. Wisconsin is one of 19 states receiving over $1 billion in funding.

The Wisconsin BEAD program's goal is to connect every Wisconsinite to high-speed internet. The program will provide funding to connect locations with unreliable or inadequate internet, with a priority on deploying broadband service to unserved locations that lack internet of speeds of 25/3 Mbps. The current estimate is that at least 250,000 locations lack 25/3 speeds, and more lack access to reliable, affordable internet service.

Along with the significant investments already made by the Governor and from other federal programs, Wisconsin will fund the deployment of a mix of technologies to close the gap for unserved locations throughout the state by 2030.

The recently completed Internet for All Wisconsin Listening Tour, combined with local government, stakeholder, community and industry input, will continue to inform PSC as it plans to maximize the impact of funding. As early as 2024, the Commission will begin to award Wisconsin’s allocation of BEAD funding to internet service providers and other eligible entities. 

Press and video announcement

·       President Biden and Vice President Harris Deliver Remarks at an Investing in America Event -YouTube

·       Biden-Harris Administration Announces State Allocations for $42.45 Billion High-Speed Internet Grant Program as part of Investing in America Agenda

·       Senator Baldwin Delivers More than $1 Billion to Wisconsin to Expand Access to High-Speed Internet

·       PSC Chairperson Valcq Reacts to $1 Billion Federal "Internet for All" Investment

Help the Broadband Office Get Wiser about Internet

The Wisconsin Broadband Office, in an effort to understand Wisconsinites’ experience with internet, including their needs, barriers, and network performance, are encouraging all households to take the Wisconsin Internet Self-Report (WISER) survey. This information will help shape the state's internet planning efforts as we continue to prepare for BEAD funding and connecting all of Wisconsin.

WISER is an online survey with a speed test; it is designed to capture the complexity of residents’ experience with internet service or lack thereof (i.e., service quality, cost burden, and more) so the Wisconsin Broadband Office can accurately understand a variety of broadband needs. Through this collaborative effort with all Wisconsin residents, we will be able to understand associated costs to residents, and support internet adoption for Wisconsin residents by identifying areas where internet is not available, too expensive, underperforming, or difficult to subscribe.

The WISER survey is available online HERE or via phone by calling 608-261-6026.

If communities or organizations would like additional WISER outreach materials please contact milena.bernardinello@wisconsin.gov.