Gov. Tony Evers | Facebook
Gov. Tony Evers | Facebook
About $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will provide broadband service to nearly 30,000 locations in 40 counties and three tribal lands in Wisconsin.
The funding was applauded by Gov. Tony Evers.
“High-speed internet access isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity for our schools, families and businesses alike, especially as many folks turned to their homes for working and learning," Evers tweeted. "This $100 million investment will help make sure folks across our state bounce back even better.”
The lack of broadband access plagues many rural areas throughout Wisconsin. According to an FCC report for 2019, more than 430,000 people or 25% of the state’s rural population lacked access to high-speed internet. Wisconsin ranked 36th among states for accessibility in rural areas.
Significant gaps existed when it comes to broadband service in rural areas. Richland County had the worst access with an estimated two-thirds of its residents without high-speed internet. By comparison, 92% of residents in Vernon, Pierce and Kewaunee counties have broadband access.
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