The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provides $65 billion to connect all Americans to high-speed broadband internet that is affordable and reliable. Within BIL there are several programs that support broadband planning, infrastructure, and adoption. Wisconsin will administer funding under the BEAD program and Digital Equity Act (DEA) programs. BIL also provides funding to the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for federally administered broadband programs, as described below.
BIL grant programs are not intended for household or individual applicants. Instead, states will lead planning and grantmaking efforts to provide funding to internet service providers which will build and provide service to households and businesses. Households that need assistance accessing the internet should visit the
Broadband Consumer Resource page.
Draft BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 & Webinar
The comment period for the Draft Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal Volume 2 closed on Monday December 11, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. Submitted comments can be viewed under docket 5-BP-2023 on the PSC's Electronic Records Filing (ERF) system. On December 1, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., the Wisconsin Broadband Office and our Federal Program Officer from National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) co-hosted a webinar to review the DRAFT BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2. The webinar provides an overview and information of the DRAFT proposal, explains the federal program requirements from the Bi-partisan Infrastructure Law and Notice of Funding Opportunity for BEAD, and how Wisconsin will meet these requirements.
Please note this webinar is just a preliminary review of the draft for the BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 and the goal is to provide information during the comment period. The final version of the BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 will be shared following Commission ruling and subsequent approval from the federal agency administering the program, the NTIA.
View December Webinar Recording
View December Webinar Slides
VIEW DRAFT BEAD INITIAL PROPOSAL VOLUME 2
Wisconsin-Administered Funding Opportunities
Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment Program
$1,055,823,573.71
| Every Wisconsinite has access to reliable, affordable, high speed internet.
| - Highest priority: unserved households and businesses lacking 25/3 Mbps.
- Eligible: underserved households and businesses lacking 100/20 Mbps.
- Also eligible: community anchor institutions lacking 1 Gbps, and other digital equity and adoption activities.
|
The BEAD program will provide approximately $42.5 billion nationwide in funding to build broadband infrastructure. BEAD will support the deployment of primarily fiber internet technology that provides service of 100/20 Mbps to all households and residences in Wisconsin that lack access to 25/3 Mbps service.
Wisconsin’s allocation of $1,055,823,573.51 was determined through a formula based on the state’s proportion of locations lacking access to broadband service, calculated using updated Federal Communications Commission (FCC) maps. For more details on this allocation, please visit NTIA's
press release.
Wisconsin Submits Five-Year Action Plan to NTIA
Wisconsin has submitted the Five Year Action Plan that establishes the State's broadband goals and priorities to NTIA. The plan serves as a foundational guide for the deployment of the BEAD funding to ensure Internet for All Wisconsin. The required Five-Year Plan is the result of comprehensive and robust outreach, local coordination, and survey data along with data on broadband access, affordability and adoption. The plan has been submitted and will be finalized upon review and approval by NTIA.
Submitted (8/27/2023)
Wisconsin Five-Year Action Plan
Estimated Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program Timeline
*These are estimates and actual dates are contingent upon NTIA actions. 2022: May 17. Governor Evers submits letter of intent. June - Dec. Initial planning fund application submitted. $5 million in planning funds will be allocated to WBO starting December 1.
2023: Jan. - Aug. WBO BEAD Planning: Workforce and Local Planning Grant programs, Listening Tour, and surveys. Allocation June 26. Aug 28. 5-year state action plan due. Dec. 27. Initial Proposal due. 2024: Jan - Dec. State Challenge Process. BEAD competitive subgrant rounds begin after approval of Initial Proposal.
2025: Jan. - Dec. BEAD competitive subgrants awarded to successful applicants. Final proposal due 365 days after initial proposal approval. 2026+: Ongoing implementation. Subgrantees complete projects within four years of subaward receipt.
Since fall 2022, the Wisconsin Broadband Office (WBO) has been developing a comprehensive statewide five-year broadband implementation plan in consultation with local governments, providers, and community partners. As early as 2024, the Commission will begin to award Wisconsin’s allocation of BEAD funding to internet service providers and other eligible entities.
For more details, visit
NTIA’s BEAD program website.
Digital Equity Act Programs
| State Planning Program:
$952,197
State Capacity Grant Program:
$24 to $30 million over 5 years
| Broadband adoption efforts for targeted communities
| - Residents of rural areas
- Individuals of color
- Aging individuals
- Individuals with disabilities
- English language learners
- Veterans
- Incarcerated individuals
|
The Digital Equity Act (DEA) consists of three separate planning and implementation grant programs that promote digital equity. Digital equity is the condition where all citizens have the skills, devices, and broadband service necessary to fully participate in the economy and society of Wisconsin.
Funding will be distributed through three programs, two of which are administered by the PSC:
The State Planning Program provides funding to states based on a formula for the development of a state digital equity plan. Wisconsin’s share of planning funds is $952,197.
The State Capacity Grant Program provides funding to states through a formula to support digital equity projects and implement each state’s digital equity plan. Wisconsin’s estimated share of capacity grant funding is approximately $24 million to $30 million over five years.
The Competitive Grant Program, administered by NTIA, will support digital equity projects nationally over a five-year period.
Wisconsin Digital Equity Plan Accepted by NTIA
Wisconsin submitted the Digital Equity Plan approved by the Commission to NTIA in November of 2023. The plan establishes the digital equity goals, values, and measurable objectives for the State. The required Digital Equity plan is the result of comprehensive and robust outreach, local coordination, and survey data along with data on broadband access, affordability, and adoption. On March 7, 2024 NTIA approved the Wisconsin Digital Equity Plan.
Wisconsin Digital Equity Plan Approved March 7, 2024
Estimated Digital Equity Act Programs Timeline
2022: August - December Initial Digital Equity Planning Funds applications submitted. $952,197 in planning funds allocated to Wisconsin starting October 1. Internet for All Wisconsin Kick Off Event. UW Extension Outreach Partnership begins.
2023: Jan. - July Commission awards $335,000 to 7 digital equity outreach projects. Outreach and engagement, data collection and analysis, and drafting of Digital Equity Plan. August WI State Digital Equity Plan out for 30-day public comment period. Sept 30 WI State Digital Equity plan due to NTIA.
2024: State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program opens for WI applicants. Plan implementation begins.
2025+: Federal Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program opens for applicants nation-wide. Implementation continues.
Other Broadband Funding Opportunities
The following broadband programs funded under BIL will be administered by federal agencies.
Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program
The Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program is a new $1 billion competitive grant program administered by NTIA to expand middle mile internet infrastructure across the country. Middle mile refers to high-capacity fiber internet lines that carry data between local networks that connect to households (“last mile”) and large-scale national networks (“backbone”).
On June 16, 2023, it was announced that Dairyland Power Cooperative was awarded $14,890,077.79 to implement its
Tri-State Fiber Deployment Project (TSFDP), which will retrofit 240.23 miles of fiber optic communications network in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.
For more details, visit
NTIA’s middle mile program website.
ReConnect Loan and Grant Program
The Reconnect Loan and Grant Program is an existing program administered by USDA that funds construction, equipment, and facilities for the expansion of high-speed internet access in rural areas. BIL allocated an additional $2 billion for this program. For more information on the ongoing implementation of Reconnect, visit USDA’s ReConnect website.
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is an existing program for tribal governments that supports broadband deployment, telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability, and digital inclusion. BIL allocated an additional
$2 billion for this program. For more information on the ongoing implementation of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, visit
NTIA's Tribal Broadband Connectivity website.
Internet for All Wisconsin Listening Tour
Governor Evers, together with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, hosted the Internet for All Wisconsin Listening Tour, a series of nine in-person and two virtual interactive meetings to help develop the state 5-year Action Plan and state Digital Equity Plan. These events were an opportunity for the public to share their experiences, ideas, and vision for a more connected Wisconsin. Participants learned about the two Internet For All programs: BEAD and Digital Equity Planning, being administered by the Commission. For more information, please visit the Internet for All Wisconsin Listening Tour
webpage.
Internet for All: Connecting Wisconsin Kick-Off Event
On October 25th, 2022, the NTIA and PSC hosted an Internet for All: Connecting Wisconsin Kickoff event in Wausau, WI. The event was developed in a partnership between the PSC and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Office of Rural Prosperity, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, and the Educational Communications Board.
This day-long event brought together critical stakeholders in Wisconsin from state and local governments, Tribal communities, federal agencies, and industry to discuss coordination on high-speed Internet infrastructure deployment and digital equity efforts as the state prepares to implement programs from the BIL and launch Wisconsin’s Internet for All initiative under the BIL. Connecting everyone in Wisconsin to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service is critical to the overall success of the state, ensuring the health and well-being of residents and a strong state economy. This event provided an opportunity for us to discuss ways we can work together to efficiently and effectively utilize these dollars to achieve the highest possible level of high-speed Internet deployment and adoption.
Event Agenda
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