(WFRV) – Gov. Tony Evers and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) have submitted the state’s final proposal to unlock hundreds of millions in federal funding aimed at expanding high-speed internet access across Wisconsin.
If approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) plan would help bring reliable internet to more than 174,000 homes and businesses. The proposal includes preliminary grant awards for internet providers, with projects expected to begin in 2026.
“Access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet is essential to Wisconsinites’ ability to learn, work, get connected to services, and stay in touch with loved ones.”
Gov. Tony Evers
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Wisconsin has invested more than $345 million in broadcast expansion since 2019, helping over 410,000 locations get connected. The BEAD program, created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is expected to provide another major boost with over $360 million in matching funds pledged by recipients.
While Gov. Evers and PSC officials said recent policy changes under the Trump administration forced the state to alter parts of its plan, they emphasized the submission keeps Wisconsin on track to receive its share of historic federal broadband funding.
